Trends in Computer Instruction in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo Part 2: Microcomputer Instruction in First Year

Abstract

Following an evaluation of undergraduate computing requirements in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo (see Part 1 of this paper), students in Mechanical Engineering were ‘strongly recommended’ to purchase their own microcomputers. To complement this recommendation, introductory lectures in microcomputer basics were presented in the autumns of 1987 and 1988 to all first-term general engineering (includes civil, computer, electrical, geological and mechanical) and chemical engineering students as part of existing courses on engineering concepts. The introduction included hands-on experience on the *WATSTAR microcomputer network during a two-hour tutorial in the first week, followed during the term by eight lectures on microcomputer hardware, selected software, and some engineering applications of microcomputers. Wordprocessor and spreadsheet software were taught in sufficient detail for students to use them for some of their course assignments.

A survey of students in December 1987 indicated that the microcomputer lectures had been well received. Further, in their second term at university, students of both years exhibited a significant increase in familiarity and acceptance of microcomputers. For example, second-term computer language courses in FORTRAN and PASCAL were completed with fewer late assignments and significantly fewer failures. A further benefit to engineering students was the ability of all students to utilize more effectively microcomputer software during the first work term of their cooperative or thin sandwich program.