An important aspect of the current crisis in engineering education is the need to improve the state of undergraduate engineering and science laboratories. Recent advances in computer and instrumentation technology have increased computational power and versatility while dramatically reducing cost. Thus the individual scientist and engineer now has the potential for conducting experiments with a precision and sophistication not achievable previously. Industries are already using automated computer-assisted measurement and control systems to increase productivity and universities are starting to realize the value of workstations. However, educated faculty are needed to transmit the capabilities of the workstation to students. Bucknell began the implementation of engineering workstations across the undergraduate curricula three years ago, and currently it is using them in most of its engineering laboratories. Bucknell will conduct two five-day workshops for a total of 40 engineering and science faculty on the use of integrated engineering workstations in undergraduate laboratories. The participants will develop an experiment and class material for implementation at their institution. Bucknell faculty will sustain the development of the experiments by providing continued interaction through BITNET. Participants will be educated in current laboratory technologies by interacting with workstations to perform science and engineering experiments. The project will emphasize the philosophy and techniques required to develop modern computer-controlled experiments for students developing a creative problem-solving ability.
