Engineering professor at “vanguard” of new teaching techniques

AN engineering professor at the University of Huddersfield is in the vanguard of new teaching techniques that encourage students to learn by a process of discovery, aided by the technology of virtual learning environments (VLE).  He is presenting his ideas and describing his experiences at international conferences.

John Allport is Professor of Automotive Engineering at the University, where he has pioneered a module on Advanced Chassis Analysis that adopts a “flipped classroom” approach coupled with blended learning techniques.  Using the Brightspace VLE – successfully implemented at Huddersfield – instead of a traditional lecture, he provides his students with a wealth of material in many different formats.  It even includes clips from TV’s Top Gear.

“It puts the onus on the students to go out and learn.  You rely on them to read the material beforehand and you then use your contact time with them to reinforce it, clarify it and make sure they fully understand it,” said Professor Allport.

He devised the module as part of an intense brainstorming session that took place before the adoption of Brightspace at the University of Huddersfield, and he has found that it works well for him and for his students.

At the recent D2L (Desire2Learn) conference in Dublin, which showcases many aspects of teaching and learning within Brightspace, he described his experiences of developing and introducing the module, which has generated high levels of interest across the University.

Also speaking at the conference was the University of Huddersfield’s Academic Development Advisor, Dr Sue Folley, who provided an overview of the introduction of Brightspace into the University.

International Conference on Mechanical Engineering Education

Professor Allport is now due to give a plenary address at the 2019 International Conference on Mechanical Engineering Education, taking place in Shanghai, China, in his role as immediate Past Chair of the Academic Standards Committee of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).  He will be speaking about the past, present and future of engineering education in the UK and the role of accreditation in shaping it.

Professor Allport believes that the future will include an important role for the approach known as Project-Based Learning.

“Rather than teaching a set of facts to the students, you set them a problem and they need to then go and learn what facts they need and what techniques they need to solve it.  You are essentially teaching students to learn what they need for themselves, which might not be what you’ve got in your original curriculum,” he said.

Professor Allport points to the speed of technological change and the importance for today’s engineers to be highly adaptable.

“Things progress so quickly, but many of the methodologies and pedagogies behind how we learn haven’t changed.  How do we develop engineers with the skillsets that we actually need,” he asks. “Project-Based Learning could help provide the answer.”

Professor Allport is a Fellow of the IMechE and, serving on several of its committees and panels.  He is also an active promoter of engineering in schools and at the University of Huddersfield he is Director of the Turbocharger Research Group.