2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Learning Engineering- A System Design Approach for Engineering Education

Presented at Systems Engineering Division (SYS) Technical Session 2

Learning engineering is a process and practice that applies the learning sciences, incorporating human-centered design methodologies and data-driven decision-making to support learners and their development [1]. As a systems engineering approach, learning engineering follows a repeatable process as a closed-loop control system to iteratively design, test, refine, and enhance learning conditions. Key components of the system include how people learn, influencing factors, learning technologies, instructional methods, and evaluation techniques.
More than a half century ago, artificial intelligence pioneer and Carnegie Mellon University Professor Herb Simon coined the term “learning engineering” [2]. In recent years, the process and practice has been more formally defined to include system engineering concept, learner modeling, and learning analytics. In 2018, the Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC) of the IEEE Computer Society established the Industry Connections / Industry Consortium on Learning Engineering (ICICLE). The work of IEEE ICICLE resulted in a foundational definition of learning engineering as a multidisciplinary practice and process adopted in 2019 [3].
This paper seeks to engage engineering educators by demonstrating how engineering concepts and methodologies can enhance engineering education. The discussion will be framed with an introduction to learning engineering, which combines systems engineering principles with practices rooted in the learning sciences. The goal is to encourage educators to explore and discuss how they can use these approaches as a cohesive system to improve educational outcomes.
Later part of the paper will introduce tools that are used for understanding the challenges, learning sciences, teaming, lean-agile development team, human-centered design, data instrumentation, software and technology standards, implementation, data analysis, and ethical decision making. The paper will conclude with several case studies that showcase tools used to facilitate an effective and sustainable learning process through the learning engineering approach.

References:
[1] J. Goodell and J. Kolodner, Eds., Learning Engineering Toolkit: Evidence-Based Practices from the Learning Sciences, Instructional Design, and Beyond (1st ed.). Routledge, 2022. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003276579
[2] H. A. Simon, “Job of a college president,” Educational Record, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 68–78, 1967.
[3] J. Goodell, M. Jay, N. Olaniyi, J. Rogers, “Should IEEE Establish Learning Engineering as a New Engineering Profession?” in IEEE 2022 International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT). https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9853721

Authors

Prof. Abul K. M. Azad Northern Illinois University [biography]

Abul K. M. Azad is a Professor in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at Northern Illinois University in the US. With over 40 years in academia, his research focuses on the Internet of Things, remote laboratories, mechatronic systems, mobile robotics, and educational research. Dr. Azad has published more than 140 refereed journal and conference papers and has edited five books.
Dr. Azad is a member of the editorial boards for multiple professional journals and actively participates in various professional organizations, including IEEE, IET, ASEE, ISA, IAOE, and the CLAWAR Association. He has chaired numerous conferences and workshops in these fields. Additionally, he has served as a program evaluator for ABET and is involved in assessing research and development projects for funding agencies across the U.S., Europe, and Australia.
Jim Goodell INFERable and IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee [biography]

Jim Goodell is editor and co-author of Learning Engineering Toolkit and Chair of the IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee. He is founder of INFERable, a Public Benefit Corporation. He was Director of Innovation at Quality Information Partners where he helps lead development of the US Department of Education sponsored Common Education Data Standards and co-facilitates the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s T3 Innovation Network and leads Architecture and Development for the Jobs and Employment Data Exchange (JEDx). He co-led development of the Learning and Employment Record (LER) Wrapper Specification. He served as a judge for the XPRIZE Digital Learning Challenge.
Aaron Kessler Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology [biography]

Dr. Aaron Kessler is Associate Director of Learning Sciences and Teaching at MIT Open Learning. In his role within the residential education group, he is responsible for working with faculty and course teams on the development and iterative improvement of courses that use
educational technologies. As part of that process, he utilizes research from the learning sciences, educational psychology, and discipline-based educational research combined with data to help inform design decisions that are situated within complex learning settings. He currently serves on the IEEE International Consortium for Innovation and Collaboration in Learning Engineering (ICICLE) Steering Committee, and co-chairs the ICICLE Design for Learning SIG.
Scotty D. Craig [biography]

Scotty D. Craig is an Assistant Professor in the Human Systems Engineering Program within the Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. Dr. Craig received his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology with a focus in Cognitive Psychology from the
Prof. Hamadou Saliah-Hassane ing. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3654-6649 TELUQ University [biography]

Professor Saliah-Hassane holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from McGill University in Montreal, a Bachelor's degree and a Master of Applied Science degree from École Polytechnique de Montréal, Canada. He has retired as a full professor from TELUQ University in Montreal where he taught Computer Science and Computer Networks and Security. . His research interests include intelligent distributed systems and mobile robotics. Professor Saliah-Hassane was the Vice-President of Educational Activities and awards of IEEE Education Society (2022-2024), has chaired the Montreal IEEE Education Society Chapter (2005- 2022). He was the Past Chair of the IEEE Education Society Standards Committee (2010 - 2021) and the Past Chair of the Working Group of the joint standardization activity on "Secure and Trusted Learning Systems" (2019 -2021) sponsored by the IEEE Education Society, the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES), and the IEEE Computer Society Learning Technology Standards Committee (CS/LTSC).
Professor Saliah-Hassane has received many awards in recognition of his achievements, including the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions (LACCEI) 2024 Medal of Academic Merit and the IEEE Education Society EdWin C. Jones, Jr. Meritorious Service Award (2019). And, consistent with his work in distributed embedded systems, the IEEE Standards Association's award with recognition for chairing and contributing to the development of IEEE Standard 1876™ - 2019 on "Networked Smart Learning Objects for Online Laboratories" (2019), the IEEE SA 2019 Emerging Technology Award to the IEEE SA 1876™ - 2019 Working Group.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025

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