从科学主导迈向科学与实践平衡——1945年以来美国高等工程教育课程的变革

From Science Dominance to the Balance Between Science and Practice:Reform of American Higher Engineering Education Curriculum Since 1945

美国高等工程教育在第二次世界大战之后逐步深陷“科学主义”的泥潭。为了对这种科学导向的工程教育进行纠偏,美国高等工程教育以课程为突破口进行了改革。课程思想从前一时期的极端科学主义转向强调课程整体性的整体知识观;课程内容大大地提高了实践性课程的比例,强调学科内容的综合性和交叉性;课程结构以整体工程观为指导,调整了各类课程之间的关系,回归到工程实践本身;课程体系采用使多门专业课程和学生个人实际相结合的一体化设计,培养综合型工程人才。通过这四方面的改革,美国高等工程教育逐步从科学主导迈向科学与实践的平衡。

American higher engineering education fell into the dilemma of scientism after the Second World War.In order to solve the problem,American higher engineering education conducted reformed with curriculum as a breakthrough.Curriculum thought changed from extreme scientism to holistic knowledge view that emphasized the integrity of curriculum.Curriculum content greatly increased the proportion of practical courses,emphasizing the comprehensiveness and cross-cutting of subject content.Curriculum structure adjusted the relationship among various courses and returned to engineering practice itself with the guidance of overall engineering concept.Curriculum system adopted integrated design that combined professional courses with students’personal situations to cultivate comprehensive engineering talents.Through the reforms,American higher engineering education managed to transform from science dominance to the balance between science and practice.