Implementation of information technologies in higher technical education

Abstract

Today, engineering education, especially for technical subjects, is quite a challenge due to the high amount of new technologies available in the modern world along with the market competition. Implementation of the modern information technologies (IT) in engineering education provides a good foundation for acquisition of knowledge and skills wich are necessary in engineering practice. This paper describes distance learning concept and web technology application in teaching mechanics and machine mechanisms in higher technical education. Online practical exercises were designed with the aim to supplement traditional theory lectures and practicals. A complete review of practicals via Internet is provided, from reading a short theoretic description of the topic and guidelines to final calculation, answering the questions and evaluation of the practicals by the students (questionnaire is a non-standard measuring instrument used at the Technical Faculty "Mihajlo Pupin" in Zrenjanin to estimate and give opinion on distance learning). In addition, a description of practicals "Calculation of piston mechanism" is given as an example.