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21 January 2004
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uwstudent.org
Federation of Students 
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Students question co-op courses
Students reacted with furrowed brows and a flood of questions when they found out about proposed work term courses at least week's Eng Soc meeting. Jonathan Fishbein, Eng Soc A VP Education, who was reporting, as he should, about academic issues described the proposal. The proposal, which has passed through the necessary committees to go to senate, would require engineering students to take five professional development courses over five work terms. Students at the meeting reacted with dismay, largely, I think, because it was the first time they had heard of these courses and they didn't have any details. There concerns included the possibility of extra work, extra cost, and that the courses might be useless. Based on what I know of the proposal I support it. It will help to enhance and direct learning on co-op work terms rather than let it happen inadvertently. Certainly there is a great variety of experiences, skills and knowledge students gain from work terms that could not be shoehorned into specific courses. These courses with their themes of leadership, professionalism, critical analysis and communication are themes common to almost all work terms. These themes are also a foundation necessary to being a productive engineer. Professor Wayne Loucks has said that the courses should not add significant work because much the course experience will occur naturally during the work term. The courses involve enrichment of the experience by preparing students with theory and then requiring a write up to ensure the student learned from the experience. The proposal is based on there being no extra cost to students; the courses would have no tuition. The use of the courses in addition to helping students learn is to quantify some of the value of co-op work terms. Now that engineering accreditation under the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board is based on absolute course work rather than proportion of course time these courses can add additional value as measured by accreditation. This issue affect all students, because after this initiative by engineering other faculties may introduce their own co-op courses. Also, if these courses are introduced students on work term will have a normal course weight of two one-term courses bringing them that much closer to full-time status. If students have questions about these courses I understand that there will be forums organized through EngSoc and Loucks will be invited to an EngSoc meeting. Since Loucks has agreed to answer ten reader-submitted questions, people can also submit questions through uwstudent.org. |