Cutting-edge Tools & Technologies: Teaching Engineering Online

Abstract University and College instructors use a rich collection of methods of teaching in conventional classrooms to impart knowledge to students. Traditional classroom teaching includes lectures, PowerPoint presentations, class discussions, laboratory demonstrations, team projects, simulations, and games. Popular teaching methods appeal to different levels of student participation such as listening to lectures and participating in group discussions or practical work. Teaching Engineering courses always evolves with changes and innovations from year to year with different perspectives of pedagogy. Covid-19 virus accelerated the position of colleges and universities to move towards online learning for the past year. In addition, it created a situation wherein the new online teaching methods and technologies are developing with a great frenzy. Currently, the use of the internet is increasing, and it is making a tremendous influence on the lives of people. Many of the educational institutions started offering 100 % online courses. Some of the colleges are encouraging their faculty to conduct in-person classes also. However, the decision is made by students and faculty involved. Some classes are conducted fully online, while some classes are conducted on the hybrid mode (half of the students online and the rest of them in-person class). In hybrid classes, the instructor teaches in-person while at the same time; the classroom technology will facilitate learning for the online students equally. Online classes shall be as effective as in-person classes provided the instructor is familiar with the online technology tools and the availability of them to the instructors are possible. In addition, the way of learning among students always varies largely that it influences the instructors to adopt different ways of teaching. The diverse web technologies are in need in order to institute a solid set of teaching methods in an online course. The traditional "Learning Management System" is not equipped with all possible tools that can handle good communication and collaboration among students and faculties. This paper is going to bring out the different online tools and technologies that are available for online teaching with their appropriateness for use and salient features.