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“Everyone involved with educating engineers should read this book twice—once for inspiration and a second time for planning. A Whole New Engineer provides a roadmap for overhauling the stale, soul-deadening, plug-into-the-equation style of engineering education. In its place will emerge a system built on creativity and collaboration and initiative. If that sounds like fantasy, think again: The authors have already made it happen, and their students are reaping the rewards.”

Dan Heath, Co-Author of the New York Times bestsellers Made to Stick, Switch, and Decisive

A-Whole-New-Engineer

A Whole New Engineer (WNE) Quick Overview
  • One book. WNE tells the unlikely story of an unlikely collaboration with a surprising conclusion (Introduction)–that culture and emotional change are the key variables for successful educational change, not content, curriculum, or pedagogy.
  • Two schools.  WNE tells the story of the founding of Olin College (chapter 1) and the iFoundry incubator at the University of Illinois (chapter 2), and the lessons about 21st education they learned together.
  • Three missed revolutions. WNE gives an historical review (chapter 3) going back to the 19th century, and the 3 missed (missed in universities) revolutions since WW2, the entrepreneurial, quality, and information technology revolutions.
  • Four technologies of trust. WNE surveys important theories and practices surrounding 4 technologies of trust: intrinsic motivation (chapter 6), executive and leadership coaching (chapter 7), organizational culture (chapter 8), and change management (chapter 9).
  • Five pillars of transformation. WNE surveys (chapter 5) the cultural-emotional pillars of change: joy, trust, courage, openness, and connection.
  • Six minds of the whole new engineer. WNE goes beyond the narrow technical framing of engineering education to invoke six minds (chapter 4): analytical, design, people, linguistic, body, and mindful minds.
  • Collaborative disruption.  WNE calls (Epilogue) for the formation of a social movement called Big Beacon to promote open innovation for engineering educational transformation, leading to collaborative disruption of the status quo.

“This isn’t just a book about engineering. It’s a book about education, entrepreneurship, and — ultimately — the future. Read it and prepare to take notes!”

Daniel H. Pink, Author of the New York Times Bestsellers To Sell is Human, Drive, and A Whole New Mind