Authored by: Lafayette College EGRS 451 group (Kelsey Lantz and Kristin Tuttle)
Date: Spring 2013
Course Instructor: Professor Cohen
Project Links: Memo and Proposed Syllabus
Abstract: This project’s main research question was: How can we effectively prepare Lafayette College students to tackle engineering problems in developing communities? We decided to cater a new course curriculum to a three-week interim course to be taught at Lafayette’s new IDEAL center. To address this question, we conducted a thorough literature review to identify relevant readings to facilitate meaningful class discussions and proposed five objectives to which we catered the course material. Our objectives are:
- Define the developing world
- Describe the importance of engineering for development
- Identify key issues that engineers face in projects in developing countries
- Assess engineering practices that have both failed and succeeded in developing countries
- Relate non-engineering contexts to engineering solutions in the developing world
These objectives are met by a series of discussions, interpretations, and hands-on participation at two separate field trips. The course strives to teach students to apply a wider perspective when approaching engineering problems in developing communities.
Tags: EGRS 451, Spring 2013, development, study abroad, IDEAL, curriculum