LEARNING NOT BURNING (OUT): SUSTAINABLE TIME MANAGEMENT IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION

• Published in: Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA) 2021-06
• Main Authors: Rupar, Nicholas J., Strong, David S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2371-5243; 2371-5243
• DOI: 10.24908/pceea.vi0.14965

In recent years, there has been some concern raised regarding decreased mental health andwellbeing and increased reports of surface-learning tendencies in Canadian engineering students. Prior papers have noted possible links between these trends and the manner in which students use their time. Having completed a study on student time use, this paper presents some initial results – including a frequency assessment of reasons for student absences – which seem to support some of the previously hypothesized systemic problems. Following this, an overview of institution- andinstructor-imposed constraints precedes a discussion on how these constraints may be contributing to student time use difficulties, and ultimately to decreased wellbeing and learning capacity. A sampling of possible interventions are then presented, and important validity considerations for conducting such research are discussed. Research into the efficacy of these interventions, due to lack of existing empirical proof, should be conducted.