Designing a Compelling Learning Experience

Dr. Susan McCahan
Professor Mechanical Engineering
Vice-Dean for the Faculty, Undergraduate
University of Toronto, Canada

Lecture 1

3:30pm - March 14, 2013
(ETLC) 1-001

Abstract:

The traditional mode of teaching at Universities is starting to undergo a massive change in response to technology and research on learning. It is not clear yet what a university course of the future will look like, but it is clear that the primary function of the professor will be less heavily situated in information transmission or translation. This creates the opportunity for instructors to reconsider their role in teaching from information source to designer of a compelling learning experience. In this talk Prof. McCahan will explore some of the basic principles of designing a compelling learning experience, and discuss examples of the diverse ways in which university education is being reinvented.

Biography:

Dr. Susan McCahan: B.S. (Mechanical Engineering), Cornell University and M.S., Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, currently holds the position of Vice Dean, Undergraduate in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto. Dr. McCahan is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. She is active in engineering education research. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of contributions to engineering education and is the recipient of several major awards related to teaching and teaching leadership including the 3M National Teaching Fellowship and the Engineers Canada Medal of Distinction in Education. Dr. McCahan led the team of instructors that received the 2007 Alan Blizzard Award for implementation of a highly innovative first year learning experience that integrates design and communication.