Exploring the essence of productive pedagogy in fluid mechanics and material and process curricula for second year engineering

A Curriculum development in the fluid mechanics and material and processes subjects for foundation levels for the engineering students at university level has been assessed against the requirements of engineering education productive pedagogy in the new era. Four corners are essential for productive pedagogy namely Intellectual quality, Connectedness, Supportive learning environment and Recognition of difference. These are checked against the contents during the developments of curricula of the two subjects to comply with the outcomes which match the international standards. The Teaching and learning styles can be enhanced when predominantly considering student based learning strategies. Case studies development and structure are encouraged to be considered in teaching material and process subjects. Employing problem based and project based styles of learning will lead to good practice, and ideas for optimum designer and consultant in materials and processes starting from engineering student level through productive engineering education. Computer simulations are discussed and recommended as they have impact on the understanding of fluid mechanics and Material and processes by engineering students. Student difficulties with fluid mechanics and material and processes concepts can be dissolved through collegial support when they discussing a real life project they might be involved with in industry. The industry requires self directed engineers with minimum supervision and able to search and find solutions of the problems bearing in mind that not every thing available in the lectures and the textbooks. Therefore an engineer should be able to gain knowledge and also be a researcher. Intellectual quality and connectedness have to be taken further in laboratory classes and require not to be imparted from the theory classes. The ideas of virtual fluid mechanics and materials and processes laboratory has been developed and initially will be tried in fluid mechanics subject for second year engineering students where four groups of students are far away from the central laboratory. The curricula development reflect the challenges for a graduate engineer of professional design, project management, communication, industrial relations, application of technology and specific knowledge in Fluid mechanics and material and processes areas. This would add new excitement and immediate future in the ever-changing world of engineering. Considering the productive pedagogy in engineering education will support that teaching and learning are enjoyable arts when considering the great changes in teaching and research of the disciplines. This paper discusses how we can make our young engineers to be professional designers and future consultants for the two subjects through a productive pedagogy environment in engineering education.