Engineering curriculum design - understanding motivational variables and their influence on self-directed learners when using 1:1 mobile devices

Engineering curriculum design and delivery within the framework of budget restraints, learning outcome policies and industry standards, is a complex task that understandably universities and the engineering industry invest significant resources. It would be expected that what is actually occurring within the engineering learning space is a reflection of the constraints upon the industry, producing graduates, and products and services that provide a return on investment through intellectual capital. Firstly, the literature review will contextualise and explain the engineering student’s motivational variables to actively engage in their learning spaces, and how this may be applied by curriculum designers to improve the quality and delivery of courses. In particular, what are the intrinsic and extrinsic motivational variables and associated values that student’s desire during their engineering learning experience. Secondly, the research study will explore how motivational theory can be applied to the stages of ‘active learning’ when integrating 1:1 mobile devices for engineering learning. 1:1 mobile devices include iPad, mobile phones, Surface Tablets or handheld Wi-Fi or Internet accessible device used for learning purposes. It is not fully understood how to influence ‘active learning using existing teaching and learning strategies. How to influence an engineering undergraduate student to prioritise the use of 1:1 mobile devices as a means to source prescribed and unprescribed curriculum resources to improve learning outcomes. Is it unreasonable to expect engineering students to be constrained to the learning resources supplied by the engineering course facilitated, or should engineering students be encouraged to use their own initiative and find their own supporting information?