Examining Student Learning of Engineering Estimation from METTLE

Abstract

Engineering estimation is the determination of any physical quantity up to a specified level of accuracy. It is an important activity done before and during engineering design. Therefore, engineers need to be able to make estimates, but research suggests that even graduating students are unable to make good estimates. This is because they are not trained in estimation as part of their curriculum. We designed a technology-enhanced learning environment (TELE) based on progressively higher order modelling to train students in engineering estimation. We evaluated the TELE to explore what students learn from it. We found that students learned the various reasoning processes involved in performing estimation, recognized the role of evaluation in estimation and the need for practical considerations in estimation. These results have implications for redesign of our TELE to improve student learning of estimation.