Teaching/learning methods: from Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) in 1970s to cooperative method in 1990s. An educational evolution, necessity, or a fashion?

Summary form only given. Most of the engineering educators are graduates of engineering schools in the 1970s, when Personalized System of Instructors (PSI) method. The PSI method of teaching is actually based on B.F. Skinner´s idea of Operand Conditioning which focused on the individual student´s behavior. Globalization of the economy, which depends highly on technological competition, caused many changes in American industries. Such changes as adoption of teamwork and emphasis on communication skills among the industrial workforce are taking place literally in all American corporate. Therefore, PSI method, which emphasized on individual accomplishment and success, has to be replaced with a cooperative learning method. Nevertheless, a question may arise which is: are engineering educators and engineering students ready to adapt themselves to new ideas of teaching and learning? Is it possible to depart from the individualism of PSI method to the collectivism of teamwork without cultural changes and perception of both students and educators on many issues including social? This paper intends to discuss these issues. To investigate whether a cooperative learning method is applicable in engineering continuing education program, it is necessary to know if an engineers´ problem solving skill, study habit, learning style, attitudes, personality, and social behaviors will coincide with goal and idea of cooperative learning. To accomplish this, this paper reviews the Myers-Briggs psychological Types Indicator and Gregore-Ward learning styles to find out the characteristics and learning style(s) of engineers