New paradigms in engineering education have emerged in recent years. These educational models emphasize a visual lecturing style and correspond with the growing trend of online courses. A main objective in modernizing engineering education is bridging the gap between academia and industry. We propose a new teaching approach, based on these paradigms, that is specially designed for engineering courses. We have developed interactive, self-paced computer-based lectures in which students learn abstract concepts on their own. In this approach, classrooms have been allocated for problem solving, student-teacher interaction, and industry-related applications. The proposed teaching methodology combines the constructivist approach-which enables students to acquire knowledge meaningful to them through interaction -and the objectivist approach-in which students passively receive information via computer-based lectures. Computer Based Virtual Classroom (CBVC)-a computer program that mimics traditional classrooms by presenting lectures in chronological order, an approach critical to the success of engineering curriculums-was developed as a new educational model. CBVC employs computer animation and other virtual visual tools that cannot be employed in traditional classroom settings. In CBVC, interactive questions are integrated within lectures-a model that reinforces the assimilation of fundamental topics. Surveys conducted on the efficacy of CBVC show that 80% of students questioned benefit from using CBVC, and 20% believe CBVC may replace conventional classrooms.
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