In December, Amy Smith, senior director for CSU Online, traveled to Southeast Asia to meet with engineers and educators and to present at a seminar of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers-Air Movement and Control Association, discussing an energy efficiency index called the Fan Energy Index. The event was hosted by Taylor’s University in Malaysia.
Smith’s presentation to the ASHRAE Malaysia Chapter drew 140 participants interested in hearing about how engineers learn, and how they can more effectively use techniques rooted in neuroscience research to advance their careers.
“Engineers are a great audience for teaching how to learn – their jobs depend on keeping up with technology, practice, codes, and standards,” said Smith, who has many years of experience teaching soft skills to engineers. “For example, by applying multiple senses while reading and studying, brain neurons fire in pairs, making learning faster and retention longer.”
Smith also met with executives from the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) to discuss partnerships on engineering professional development and education programs. IES is Singapore’s top national association for adult education programs for working engineers.
Smith plans to return to to Malaysia to engage with the university’s teaching faculty on the neuroscience of learning.
“My aim is to expand the conversation to talk through how CSU Online may be able to support their mission,” Smith said.
About CSU Online
Colorado State University Online is the University’s division of continuing education, offering more than 40 different undergraduate and graduate degree programs to meet the needs of learners worldwide.
Of those, 12 programs are fully online graduate-level engineering programs, including a Ph.D. in systems engineering. Additionally, an online practitioner-focused professional doctorate degree in systems engineering will roll out next fall.
CSU’s online students receive the same education, learn from the same faculty, and earn the same degrees and certificates as students on campus. For more information about CSU’s online programs, visit online.colostate.edu or call (970) 491-5288.
