Work in progress: curiosity in the education of the engineer

摘要

It is assumed here that the development of intrinsic motivation to learn is critical to the success of the engineer and to the process of lifelong learning. This paper presents a theory of the role of curiosity in engineering education, and describes an ongoing project to encourage the development of curiosity. The paper begins by making a case for curiosity. Kuhn's concept of a paradigm and Kolb's concept of learning are then used as the basis for a theory of curiosity development. The paper then moves to the implications that these ideas have for teaching and learning. The parallel to the ABET continuous improvement cycle is noted.