An online intelligent system for teaching engineering design technologies

This study was based on a project, which was initiated by the author to respond to the needs of today's market for the design and development of an online intelligent teaching system for engineering design technologies. The research project took place over the period of November 2005 to September 2010. Engineering design is a knowledge intensive process that encompasses conceptual, detail analysis and evaluation, which involves various areas of knowledge and
experience. The sharing between these tasks is critical to increase the capacity for new product development, while maintaining its quality. Engineering Design Technologies (EDT) describes the use of a wide range of computer-based tools to assist engineers in their activities. The rapid growth of such technologies in engineering design industry is considerable and it is important that education moves into this area of work. As this industry evolves, students in Higher Education (HE) seek to learn technologies that can best facilitate their future careers. Teaching EDTin the traditional way may involve standing in front of an audience and explaining instructions step by step. One of the main tasks of competent teaching is to provide a continuous training course with a wide diversity of problems and supporting activities. This study presented the design, development, implementation and evaluation of an online system for teaching EDT to engineering students. The system was designed to guides them, according to their abilities and offers progression through an intelligent individual learning plan that enabled them to access and navigates various
engineering design tools and theoretical topics, supported by appropriate guidance remotely. The developed system incorporated a number of facilities to aid effective interaction and to promote experiential learning. Students were able to understand design concepts, perform different tasks, and therefore achieve the learning outcomes of individual modules. Their performance was continuously being
evaluated and guided through appropriate assessment according to their learning styles, knowledge and needs. Results of different groups of students were analysed in details to determine the system's effectiveness, this included change of pattern and level of students' achievements. It determined the benefits and limitations of the operational procedures and the functions of the individual components.