The Diploma in Chemical Engineering (DCHE) course of Singapore Polytechnic (SP) adopted the CDIO framework as the basis for its curriculum in 2007. Since adoption, specific CDIO skills have been successfully integrated in various core modules in the 3-year diploma program. A range of Interpersonal Skills, such as teamwork and communication, and Personal & Professional Skills are now established curriculum components.
This paper focuses on the efforts taken to enhance curriculum integration in the chemical engineering curriculum using a core module entitled Process Instrumentation & Control (PI&C) taught to Year 3 students. It firstly presents an overview of the integration approaches used; and some limitations of existing approaches, including the Final Year Project and Plant Design Project. It then shares how we redesign the P&IC module, which is widely perceived to be difficult, to become more interesting for students through a well-integrated curriculum.
Secondly, it presents our experience in designing real-world learning tasks that integrate across modules, CDIO skills and within domain knowledge areas from multiple disciplines. Findings from our evaluation re summarized and certain challenges identified. The paper concludes with a reflection on CDIO teaching experiences by the first author, who is relatively new to the teaching profession, as well as some recommendations for future action.
NOTE: Singapore Polytechnic uses the word "courses" to describe its education "programs". A "course" in the Diploma in Chemical Engineering consists of many subjects that are termed "modules"; which in the universities contexts are often called “courses”.
Proceedings of the 9th International CDIO Conference, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 9 – 13, 2013.
Conceive
Design
Implement
Operate
