Taking place 2 and 3 July 2024
A conference to explore the learning that happens when students get hands-on in workshops and laboratories.
Engineering is rife with theoretical concepts, but let's be honest: all engineering boils down to making things work in the real world. Yet, too often, the spark of curiosity ignited in theoretical lectures gets dimmed by the cold reality of static equations. That's where "practical engineering education" comes in – the thrilling playground where theory dances with reality.
Join us at the Diamond (Home of Practical Engineering Education) at the University of Sheffield for the Practical Engineering Education Conference 2024, where the dusty confines of textbooks give way to the buzz of laboratories and the clang of workshops. Here, we celebrate the messy magic of teaching that lets students experiment, invent, and build.
Share your innovative pedagogy! Do your sessions crackle with the energy of build-and-test challenges or the methodical hum of laboratory experiments? Have you revolutionised how students grasp abstract concepts through tinkering and creation? We want to hear from you!
This conference is not just a showcase; it's a catalyst for a revolution in engineering education. Join us to:
Spark fresh ideas: Ignite new approaches to practical teaching and inspire others.
Connect with a vibrant community: Share your passion for hands-on learning with like-minded peers.
Shape the future: Contribute to building a curriculum that ignites lifelong passion for real-world engineering.
So, come, let's turn theory into tangible triumphs, together, the Diamond at Sheffield awaits – where your engineering ideas take flight!
History of Conference
In September 2021 the University of Sheffield hosted the first-ever Practical Engineering Education conference, welcoming delegates from more than 20 Universities from UK and Ireland and sponsors from 4 of the UK's leading equipment suppliers. We hosted the second PEE conference in 2022 in conjunction with Sheffield Hallam University. Following overwhelmingly positive feedback and interest from the event, the third PEE conference will be hosted again at the University of Sheffield on 2 and 3 of July 2024.
More information will be added to this website on a regular basis. If you have any questions or would like to be added to the mailing list to be updated with information and news, please email: pee@sheffield.ac.uk
What do we mean by Practical Engineering?
All engineering is practical. Using a theoretical concept to solve a tutorial sheet problem invariably involves applying engineering science to real world applications. But when we talk about “practical engineering education” in this context, we mean the type of hands-on teaching that typically occurs in laboratories and workshops, where students conduct experiments and fabricate artefacts and are allowed to play. If your teaching involves laboratory experiment or build and test type sessions, and you have thought about the pedagogy associated with these activities, we would love to hear about your work.