Higher Education Academy Engineering Subject Centre

Are you interested in finding out more about how you could improve the learning experience of your students or how education theory and research could inform your teaching? Do you want to publish in the field of engineering education?

The Engineering Subject Centre supports academics in undertaking engineering education research through activities such as our Mini-Project funding scheme and Introductory workshops.  Opportunities for publication as provided through our Journal and Engineering Education International Conference series.

Activities

Engineering Education Journal of the Higher Education Academy Engineering Subject Centre

Engineering Education is a peer-reviewed, international journal.  The journal is published twice a year and aims to promote, enhance and disseminate research, good practice and innovation in all aspects of engineering education.  The journal publishes a range of original articles on engineering education at the higher education level.

Mini-Project Funding

The Engineering Subject Centre offers small pots of funding for learning and teaching research or development Mini-Projects. Projects are awarded up to £3500 over 12 months to complete small scale research or development projects within their own department or institution.  The findings and resources from each project are all applicable to the wider engineering community and will be published on the Engineering Subject Centre website for you to make use of. 

Engineering Education Research Special Interest Group

The Engineering Education Research SIG will act as a focus for educational researchers in the UK and will help to facilitate collaborative opportunities for working and become a forum for exchanging information and promoting communication in the field of engineering education research.  For more information or to express an interest in being involved with the group please contact Robin Clark.

Resources to get you started

Introduction to pedagogic research – a tool kit for engineering academics

The Introduction to pedagogic research tool kit, developed by the Engineering Subject Centre and the engCETL, aims to provide a general introduction to those new to pedagogic research in engineering and comprises a series of briefing papers linked to examples of pedagogic research and evaluation from the engineering disciplines:

• What is pedagogic research? - explaining key terminology and the different levels of engagement.
• Writing for publication – including top tips, refereeing and submission guidelines for engineering education publications.
• Bibliography - offering a beginner’s guide to finding pedagogic research literature, accessible educational research methods, books and writing handbooks.
• Research methods in practice - showcasing pedagogic research and evaluation examples from engineering education.

Education Theories on Learning: an informal guide for the engineering education scholar, Jenni Case (2008)

Building on the assertion that teaching is about making insightful judgements rather than applying technical solutions, 'Education Theories on Learning' focuses primarily on learning theory. It is aimed at newcomers to the field, such as:

• engineering teachers who want to be able to use education theory and research findings to inform their teaching; and
• aspiring engineering education researchers who want to launch their own projects.

Using a view of a theory as a set of ‘thinking tools’, the guide offers a selection for building up a tool kit. Six ‘tools’ have been identified:

• Tool 1: Concepts
• Tool 2: Ways of experiencing
• Tool 3: Approaches to learning
• Tool 4: Community of practice
• Tool 5: Identity
• Tool 6: Discourse.

EvidenceNet

The aim of EvidenceNet is to promote evidence-informed practice in learning and teaching in Higher Education.  Through EvidenceNet activity the Higher Education Academy aims to:

• raise awareness of the evidence base around learning and teaching issues,
• enhance and improve people’s understanding of the nature of evidence and its implications for student learning,
• encourage people to contribute appropriately to that evidence base.

It provides access to the Evidence through a resources section allowing users to search and browse through evidence spanning a number of key themes in learning and teaching including assessment and feedback, personal development planning and lifelong learning, events listings and a networks section allowing you to browse and join existing education research focussed groups.

Engineering Subject Centre Guide: Learning and Teaching Theory for Engineering Academics, Warren Houghton (2004)

The 'Learning and Teaching Theory for Engineering Academics' guide was published in 2004 and aimed to provide an introduction to how learning and teaching theory could assist engineering academics.  Whilst there is now new literature available in a number of areas covered by the guide, for example learning styles theory, the guide illustrates how a number of learning and teaching theories could apply within the engineering education context for those new to education research.