Assessment of initial formation level of students' engineering thinking

Technical progress puts forward the requirements for the training of future engineers. The issue of training of engineers is particularly important in Russia. We need specialists who can create breakthrough technologies. Domestic specialists should be trained in their country. To prepare a competent engineer, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of engineering activities, engineering thinking, and the state education standards. The article presents the results of the analysis of documents (educational standards, professional standards, syllabus) for training future engineers. The analysis showed that the curriculum of future engineers does not contain such disciplines as pedagogy, psychology, which, as well as other disciplines of the curriculum are aimed to form engineering thinking. The article presents the results of an ascertaining experiment aimed to assess the initial level of formation of students' engineering thinking. The criteria and levels of formation of engineering thinking are given. The following diagnostic methods were used: E. Torrence`s nonverbal creativity test, E. Torrence`s verbal creativity test, Bennet's technical thinking test. The respondents were the 3rd year students of different technical specialties studying at South Ural State University. The results of the experiment showed that the majority of students have an average level of formation of engineering thinking. This requires further development and formation of engineering thinking.