International Journal of Higher Education Pedagogies

Integrating Active Pedagogy into Engineering Education: Perspectives from the SPARK-ENG Professional Learning Program

Xiong Wang, Mijung Kim, P. Janelle McFeetors, Kerry Rose — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The need to shift from traditional to active pedagogy in higher engineering education has garnered significant attention. In response to institutional demand for supporting our engineering educators, we developed SPARK-ENG (Scholarship of Pedagogy and Application of Research Knowledge in Engineering), a modular professional learning program at a major Canadian university. This study explored how engineering educators integrate active pedagogy into their teaching practices through their engagement with the program. Using situated learning theory and the model of teacher change as theoretical frameworks, along with thematic analysis for data interpretation, we found that participants employed a variety of strategies to understand and integrate active pedagogy in post-secondary engineering courses, and student learning, which positively influenced their professional growth. This study captures what active pedagogy looks like in the context of engineering educators’ engagement with the SPARK-ENG program, providing an example for empowering educators to integrate active pedagogy into their teaching practices.

The Evolution of Asynchronous Instruction Pre and Post COVID: Program Review of an Accelerated Teacher Credentialing Program

Tamara J Andersen, Elizabeth T Ashline — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

At one time, the leading approach to a traditional credentialing educational preparation program (EPP) was typically conducted in an on-campus, face-to-face synchronous learning environment. In 2017, an accelerated graduate-level teacher credentialing EPP, shifted from a traditional synchronous instruction to an asynchronous distance learning modality. Although the program’s enrollment was steady, there was a lack of engagement, creativity, and rigor in courses and with instruction. In 2020, all EPPs had to pivot their learning environments and instructional modalities due to COVID-19. To comply with COVID guidelines and flexibilities, EPPs embraced a non-traditional learning experience through virtual instruction, taking the term distant learner to new heights. To ensure EPPs continued to meet accreditation requirements, identifying research-based innovative instructional strategies became a priority. In this program review, the researchers will examine the impact of instructional methods on teacher candidates enrolled in an accelerated, asynchronous teacher credentialing EPP. Our focus will be on identifying innovative strategies to enhance engagement, foster creativity, increase academic rigor, and program completion rates.

Composites and Lattice Structured Materials as Innovations of Courses in Study Programs of Mechanical Engineering

Zuzana Murcinkova, Tibor Krenický — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

An ordinary mechanical engineering graduate of the bachelor and master level of university studies has a knowledge focusing mainly on computer support, CAX technologies, manufacturing technologies, smart technologies, production management, and last not least the traditional monolithic technical materials. One of the features that would distinguish that student in the labour market is knowledge of non-standard construction materials, and their applications to the design of e.g. machines to solve engineering problems such as stiffness, lightweight, thermal conduction, and damping of structures. In addition, this knowledge provides the "added value" of the graduate and also makes the study program more attractive. The analysis clearly calls for the need to incorporate the topics of composites and lattice structured materials into the curriculum of existing courses or to create a new course in mechanical engineering study programs. The paper provides and describes the base points for the curriculum of course/s resulting from our own experiences and skills focusing on advanced materials such as composites and lattice structured materials.