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This work presents a unique education resource for both process engineering students and the industry workforce. The learning environment is based around spherical imagery of real operating plants coupled with interactive embedded activities and content. This Virtual Reality (VR) learning tool has been developed by applying aspects of relevant educational theory and proven instructive teaching approaches. Principles such as constructivism, interactivity, cognitive load and learner-centred design have been central considerations when constructing and structuring this resource. Structural challenges include determining a framework for the basic environment, the repository for the VR and activities, as well as the development of a learning platform arrangement to support self-directed learning in the interface. The system's current functionality is demonstrated through video imagery of a user performing activities as well as snapshots of the current screen configuration. Current feedback regarding the interface is acknowledged and future work responds to the key issues presented by these studies.

Concept maps are used to assess student and cohort learning of sustainable development. The concept maps of 732 first-year engineering students were individually analyzed to detect patterns of learning and areas that were not well understood. Students were given 20 minutes each to prepare a concept map of at least 20 concepts using paper and pen. The maps were then analyzed using three different methods. The first method considers only the structure of the map by quantifying its features. The second method considers the content and comprehensiveness of the map by classifying every concept included using a new taxonomy. The third method scores the maps against a rubric that considers the correctness of the maps' propositions as well as the maps' comprehensiveness and complexity. The results show that concept maps are a useful tool in assessing the knowledge and understanding of sustainable development concepts and that the students surveyed have a good awareness about the technical, social and environmental aspects of the domain. They did not include many concepts relating to equity and economic impact of sustainable development policies.

This paper addresses the issue of engineering education for sustainable development. In an attempt to facilitate a better integration of sustainability teaching into the engineering curriculum, it seeks to provide answers to the following fundamental questions: (1) How much do engineering students know about sustainable development? (2) What are the knowledge gaps? (3) What could be the best approach to educating engineering students for sustainable development? Some answers to the first two questions have been provided by carrying out a world-wide survey of engineering students on their level of knowledge and understanding of sustainable development. The survey results suggest that, overall, the level of knowledge is not satisfactory and that significant knowledge gaps exist. However, an encouraging result is that students believe that sustainable development is important for engineers, although they often have difficulties in making a direct link between the theory of sustainable development and engineering practice. To address the third question, the paper then discusses the implications of these findings for the engineering curriculum. It also illustrates an approach to teaching sustainability that could help to stimulate students' interest in this subject during their studies and to ensure their commitment to practising sustainable engineering later as professionals. (Contains 2 tables, 6 figures, and 1 note.)

The Thames Barrier is an iconic engineering structure protecting London from dangerous storm surges that might otherwise flood the city. Built in the 1970s, engineers considered many different designs before settling on the final one featuring six rising sector gates and four falling radial gates. The design of the Barrier and the many different design iterations that the engineers went through in response to the changing requirements of the client provide an excellent context within which to teach first year general engineering students design and design criteria in an introductory context. The design process of the Thames Barrier has been used as a case study in a general first year engineering subject at the University of Melbourne for several years. This paper describes several of the original designs proposed to close the Thames before the final design was developed. A detailed description of the Thames Barrier as built is given before the application of the case study to the classroom is discussed. An analysis of 226 concept maps prepared by the class 10 weeks after the material was delivered provides an insight into how the students integrated and retained the material from the case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a unique education resource for both process engineering students and the industry workforce. The learning environment is based around spherical imagery of real operating plants coupled with interactive embedded activities and content. This Virtual Reality (VR) learning tool has been developed by applying aspects of relevant educational theory and proven instructive teaching approaches. Principles such as constructivism, interactivity, cognitive load and learner-centred design have been central considerations when constructing and structuring this resource. Structural challenges include determining a framework for the basic environment, the repository for the VR and activities, as well as the development of a learning platform arrangement to support self-directed learning in the interface. The system's current functionality is demonstrated through video imagery of a user performing activities as well as snapshots of the current screen configuration. Current feedback regarding the interface is acknowledged and future work responds to the key issues presented by these studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the issue of engineering education for sustainable development. In an attempt to facilitate a better integration of sustainability teaching into the engineering curriculum, it seeks to provide answers to the following fundamental questions: (1) How much do engineering students know about sustainable development? (2) What are the knowledge gaps? (3) What could be the best approach to educating engineering students for sustainable development? Some answers to the first two questions have been provided by carrying out a world-wide survey of engineering students on their level of knowledge and understanding of sustainable development. The survey results suggest that, overall, the level of knowledge is not satisfactory and that significant knowledge gaps exist. However, an encouraging result is that students believe that sustainable development is important for engineers, although they often have difficulties in making a direct link between the theory of sustainable development and engineering practice. To address the third question, the paper then discusses the implications of these findings for the engineering curriculum. It also illustrates an approach to teaching sustainability that could help to stimulate students' interest in this subject during their studies and to ensure their commitment to practising sustainable engineering later as professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]