Use of the 4MAT system in engineering education

The authors examine the application of a learning cycle to engineering education. The learning cycle was patterned after B. McCarthy´s (1987) 4MAT system and was based on elements of learning style theory from the work of D.A. Kolb (1984). The cycle provides a simple model which may be applied by all faculty, independent of their particular teaching styles, to improve and enhance engineering education. It is concluded that students who are guided through the learning cycle are exposed to a wider variety of learning experiences and increased opportunities for self-discovery and independent thinking. In addition, the learning cycle provides a rational basis for faculty, who may have hesitated to bring creativity into the classroom, to expand activities beyond the traditional lecture. In the authors´ experience, application of the learning cycle in the engineering classroom leads to renewed enthusiasm for the educational process and a greater commitment to teaching and learning