Wednesday March 1st, 15:30-17:00
This event will take place in hybrid form.
If you would like to attend as non-MUSTS member, please register by sending an email to: j{dot}bruyninckx{at}maastrichtuniversity{dot}nl
How philosophical beliefs about science affect science education in academic engineering programs: the context of construction
(University of Twente, dept. of Philosophy)
Abstract
Science education in academic engineering programs: aims and claims: Academic (i.e., university level) engineering programs, such as BSc and MSc programs at Technical Universities in Europe, aim to educate future engineers for academic and professional roles in solving complex (socio-)technological problems. An important learning objective described in policy documents is that academically trained engineers are able to use scientific approaches. My central claim is that a dominant view of science, called a physics paradigm of science, hinders the effectiveness of science courses in promoting students’ ability to conduct relevant scientific research. I propose an alternative view of science, called an engineering paradigm of science, better suited to understanding scientific approaches in technological design and development, and to developing more effective science education. The philosophy of science can contribute to a better understanding of the epistemic strategies in knowledge construction. I propose to call this domain of study the context of construction.