Computers in Education: Activities, Contributions, and Future Trends

Abstract

The Computers In Education (CIEd) technical committee focuses on educational issues and advances related to the usage of computing technologies in mechanical engineering courses and curricula. This paper provides a retrospective on CIEd activities, issues, and advances beginning with its formal start in 1983 and continuing through the present. Throughout the years, many different topics were explored, new technologies emerged while others disappeared, and many issues were investigated. Current CIEd activities are in six areas: CAD in higher education, robotics in higher education, software tools in the classroom, mechatronics and data acquisition, multimedia for higher education, and the role of the internet in higher education. The first four areas date from 1983, while the last two emerged in the late 1990’s. Future trends and issues are proposed to stimulate further investigations.