A SYSTEMIC APPROACH IN AN ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING CURRICULUM

Abstract

This article describes the process followed by the Electronics Engineering Program in order to redesign its program using a CDIO-based approach. The new structure of the curriculum in the program was conceived from the solving problem paradigm. In that sense, we are looking for a systemic perspective of learning to improve the application ability of the engineering students. It means the new curriculum searches that students will be able to analyze the context identifying the problems and from that point, developing different general skills and tools from the discipline to solve the problems. This is indeed, a curriculum with a top down fabric that agrees with a constructive alignment composed by three particular emphases, which come from the Colombian needs: Communications, controls and energy, digital systems and signal processing. In this context, the student will conceive, design, implement and operate complex engineering systems in these areas. The presented emphases are the final stage of a formation plan which begins understanding the physic phenomena and the different mathematical tools that simplify those phenomena through signal processing which in our case is a fundamental part of the curriculum. This is why our program has an intensive formation in signal processing since the first year. We strongly believe that an electronic engineer requires to understand how to process a signal in a digital or analogic way.

The first part of the article explains why a new program is necessary. Then, it is explained how the different competences are taken into account. After that, general structure of the curriculum is presented where each unit is described. Some preliminary results are given since this new curriculum is currently being implemented. The final part of the paper is devoted to conclude and identify the future work.

This is a novel approach in Colombia. The electronics program from our university is the first accredited program that implements the CDIO methodology in the country.