Learner Preferences and Continuing Engineering Education

Abstract

Using a quantitative descriptive research design, the learner characteristics of preferred learning strategy and verbal-visual preferences of 291 working engineers were studied in relation to the demographics of gender, age, job position, ethnicity, native country, and native language. Learning strategy and verbal-visual preferences were measured with the ATLAS and the VerbalVisual Learning Style Rating instruments, respectively. The overall learning strategy preference profile for the engineers was 26.8% Navigators, 57.7% Problem Solvers, and 14.4% Engagers. This profile is statistically significantly different from the established distribution for the general population which is an approximately even split among the three strategy types. This suggests that learning content for engineers should include problem solving. The overall verbal-visual preference profile was 4.1% more verbal, 46.0% no strong preference, and 49.1% more visual. This profile is also statistically different from the general population and suggests learning content for engineers should include highly visual instructional materials. This paper reports on the relationships found between learner characteristics and demographics. It also includes recommendations for instructional practice and future research.

Continuing Engineering Education Practices and Preferences

“…The survey was anonymous. Some of the data collected on learning style and verbal-visual preferences are not reported here and are part of an ongoing study of learning preferences for working engineers [7].…”

Industrial Advisory Board Open Forum

“…11 In a somewhat unique partnership, two companies and two universities partnered to deliver a face-toface and online version of a senior elective course. 12 Industry can partner with universities to provide guest speakers to educate students about various aspects of the "real world" of engineering. 13 Companies can host field trips where universities visit local industrial facilities to see actual equipment in operation.…”

Learning Strategy and Verbal-Visual Preferences for Chemical Engineering Students

“…Learning strategy and verbal-visual preferences are briefly discussed in this section. More detailed discussions of these are available elsewhere [2].…”