Sharing courseware resources through the NEEDS (National Engineering Education Delivery System) database

The Synthesis Coalition and NEEDS are at the forefront of courseware creation, delivery and evaluation. NEEDS is the architecture developed by the Synthesis Coalition to enable new pedagogical models based on Internet-mediated environments for learning. The NEEDS database provides an access mechanism for students and faculty to a diverse range of engineering educational materials. The database consists of collections of modular digital courseware and courseware elements. The user is able to access and use courseware developed nationwide. In addition, the existing courseware and courseware elements can be adapted to local use in whole or by distilling several modules and joining them together to create a new customized module. The Synthesis Coalition has the directive of making the NEEDS database available to other NSF undergraduate engineering education coalitions and other universities. The requirements for and the feasibility of making courseware available on the NEEDS database are discussed. Critical issues facing courseware developers are identified. The NEEDS Editorial Board is being established to develop a comprehensive review procedure that will result in three tiers of courseware on the NEEDS database: non-reviewed, endorsed and premier courseware. The process of reviewing the courseware on NEEDS will not only benefit the users of the NEEDS database, but it will also benefit authors by recognizing the scholarly and creative efforts that they have expended in developing effective, high-quality courseware. Both the Editorial Board and the review procedures are discussed.