Title: Learning strategy preferences of working engineers

Authors: Charles E. Baukal, Jr.; Lynna J. Ausburn

Addresses: Occupational Education, Oklahoma State University, 10721 S. Canton Ave., Tulsa, OK 74137, USA ' Occupational Education, Oklahoma State University, 217 Willard Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA

Abstract: Many continue to call for increased continuing education for working engineers, but relatively little research has been done on how to most effectively teach that group. Many have also recommended using learner characteristics to enhance learning, but relatively little is known about the learner characteristics of working engineers. In the experimental study reported here, engineers at a medium-sized US manufacturing company were surveyed to determine their preferred learning strategies as defined by the ATLAS instrument. There was a much higher percentage of problem solvers among these engineers compared to the general population. This suggests that instructional designs for continuing engineering education should include a significant amount of problem solving activities.

Keywords: ATLAS test; instructional design; learning strategy preferences; problem solvers; supplantation; working engineers; learning preferences; continuing education; engineering education; USA; United States; manufacturing industry; problem solving activities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2016.078449

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2016 Vol.26 No.3, pp.309 - 329

Accepted: 16 Dec 2015
Published online: 19 Aug 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article