Both lecture and design projects are valuable learning tools. One tool lends itself to mass production, however, and the other learning tool does not. Emerging technology will produce multi-media learning modules and remote delivery of lectures. Students learn to make logical and ethical decisions by watching role models, by practicing, and by responding to feedback. We, as engineering educators can serve as role models and we can solicit practicing engineers to serve as role models also.
Students can practice with each other.
Guided practice in which a facilitator keeps a team moving in a constructive direction is valuable early in a student's college education. And finally, we must provide the feedback, the nudge which gets a student back on course. Providing effective feedback to students is surely an art. Knowing what to say and when to say it must develop over years of experience. Engineering educators teaching together as a team can share their experience and enhance their development into effective mentors.