REAL WORLD FOCUS IN EDUCATION - A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS FROM CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

The present paper analyses the pedagogicalexperience at Cape Peninsula University of Technology –CPUT, in the Electric Engineering course at highlights ofComplex Thought theory from UNESCO cathedra. Someimplemented examples like, the Service Learning andDevelopment which delivers a service to the community toimprove their standard of living with low cost electricalinstallations, the utilization or thermal solar energyapplications where sun energy can be converted to heat,through a gas or liquid as energy carrier, and, thedevelopment of a prototype fuel cell-based vehicle, enhancehow real world focus concept in education can be effective.Real World is equivalent to relevant knowledge, a coreconcept in complex thought theory. Real World focus showshow education can offer opportunity to students toparticipate in projects, creative way, supported by alreadydisposable world knowledge. This way, CPUT teachingproposal can affect new curricular organization towardsintegrative view in education.

Index Terms - Complex Thought, Integrative Education,Real World focus, Engineering Education