Digitizing Mechanical Engineering Education: An Early Review

This practice paper presents how the Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering program at a technical university in northern Europe was adapted to be offered in an online format beginning in 2023. The curriculum and instruction were redesigned to better suit an online setting, with an emphasis placed on theory and pedagogy that would facilitate student motivation in a remote setting. This paper explores the program's development and early observations that could inform other efforts to digitize education to meet the needs and expectations of 21st century learners. We conclude that while online learning settings present challenges to student retention, existing educational programs can be successfully adapted to an online setting with careful attention to supporting students' motivation and engagement. However, future research is needed to understand how these programs can be refined to better meet the needs of both students and teachers in online settings.