Some aspects of disambiguation of multi-disciplinary knowledge
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(Published version)
Date
2013
Authors
Spuzic, S.
Abhary, K.
Fraser, K.
Mulcahy, D.
Narayanan, R.
Editors
Lemckert, C.
Jenkins, G.
Lang-Lemckert, S.
Jenkins, G.
Lang-Lemckert, S.
Advisors
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Conference paper
Citation
Proceedings of the 24th Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education: AAEE2013 : work integrated learning: applying theory to practice in engineering education, 2013 / Lemckert, C., Jenkins, G., Lang-Lemckert, S. (ed./s), iss.5D6, pp.1-6
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Conference Name
24th Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE2013) (8 Dec 2013 - 11 Dec 2013 : Gold Coast, Queensland)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The outburst in the internet-based sharing of knowledge has opened a Pandora’s Box of the third millennium (the phrase "to open Pandora's box" means to perform an action that may seem beneficial, but that turns out to have unexpected consequences). Scientific and engineering contents are distributed by means of the high-speed internet; however, this includes dissemination of misaligned and otherwise ambiguous concepts as well. Bearing in mind the increasing trends in knowledge migration between initially disunited disciplines, there is an urgent need to mitigate misunderstandings that block the communication avenues. This work presents a contribution to disambiguation of multidisciplinary knowledge, by means of exposing selected examples of ambiguity and proposing the disambiguation solutions.
PURPOSE: Ambiguous presentations obstruct knowledge sharing, application and expansion, and hence there is a pressing need to investigate the relevant causes and roots, and to propose appropriate remedies.
DESIGN/METHOD : A review of scientific and engineering databases enabled detecting acute examples. Selected cases of importance in engineering are subjected to systematic scrutiny based on ontology, semantics and epistemology.
RESULTS: The ambiguities are exposed and the causes explained. Engineering educators are prompted to recognise the damaging effects of conceptual misalignments and to consider the proposed improvements.
CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need to improve the definitions of key engineering concepts that are currently burdened by ambiguous interpretations. The examples of disciplines where the scientific taxonomy is well established (such as entomology and some branches of geology and medicine) should be followed and a systematic hierarchy of transparent definitions introduced.
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Copyright 2013 Spuzic, Abhary, Fraser, Mulcahy and Narayanan. The authors assign to AAEE and educational non-profit institutions a non-exclusive licence to use this document for personal use and in courses of instruction provided that the article is used in full and this copyright statement is reproduced. The authors also grant a non-exclusive licence to AAEE to publish this document in full on the World Wide Web (prime sites and mirrors), on Memory Sticks, and in printed form within the AAEE 2013 conference proceedings. Any other usage is prohibited without the express permission of the authors.