Megatrends in engineering and technology education : a call for the communicative imagination

Engineers and technologists increasingly have to confront socio-scientific issues and evolving communication technologies. Digital communication technologies, such as social media, are important drivers for growth and for changes in learning and in professions as well as and doing business. In the 21st century, to be a scientifically literate engineer and technologist means also to possess the communicative imagination. Thus, moving toward a future with more fully integrated social media into the world of knowledge and communication practices will be a challenging process of resolving tensions and dilemmas. This chapter presents an overview of current megatrends in communicative imagination and advanced approaches of various communication technologies in engineering and technology education. The chapter also reflects on the transformative nature of social media.