The problem to be addressed by this curriculum development proposal is the creation and implementation of a comprehensive, interdisciplinary laboratory course and environment for collaborative problem solving among senior design students in engineering and architecture. The present programs in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Architecture can be materially improved. The primary objective of the project is the development of an integrated syllabi for a two-semester course sequence to help construct the kind of extensive knowledge base necessary to build complex structures. A secondary objective is to create an hypertext learning environment in which students can obtain information on a need-to-know basis. The innovative aspect of the project is that it is interdisciplinary. The activities of the project are as follows: while delivering the course, develop courseware modules for the major repetitive elements in the sequence in each of the three disciplines, allowing latitude for the development of additional material in the future. These modules will be developed initially in a combined video and hypertext format and finalized in a completely hypertext format.
