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Educational Evaluation of a Faculty-Led Education Abroad Program in Renewable Energy

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Conference

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

New Orleans, Louisiana

Publication Date

June 26, 2016

Start Date

June 26, 2016

End Date

June 29, 2016

ISBN

978-0-692-68565-5

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

International Division Technical Session 4

Tagged Division

International

Page Count

18

DOI

10.18260/p.26889

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/26889

Download Count

422

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Paper Authors

biography

Tony Lee Kerzmann Robert Morris University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-9445-3814

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Dr. Tony Kerzmann received both a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Duquesne University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 2004. After graduating, Tony Kerzmann enrolled in graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated with a Master in Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering, in 2007 and 2010, respectively. Currently, Tony Kerzmann is an associate professor at Robert Morris University, where his research areas include, hybrid concentrating photovoltaic systems, energy systems, life cycle assessment, sustainable product development, engineering entrepreneurship, alternative energy systems, renewable energy education and active learning.

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Casey James McAndrew

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Kendra Slis

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Maria Elisabeth French

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Katelyn Maione P.E. Robert Morris University

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Abstract

In recent years, there has been increasing demand and push for global experience through an academic setting. For would-be engineers this is even more important in this world of ever-increasing global collaboration and commerce. In an effort to provide students with global education opportunities, our university has developed and enhanced a Faculty Led Education Abroad Program (FLEAP). The FLEAP program provides students an opportunity to participate in short-term study abroad programs where they are taught curriculum within an international setting. These programs have proven to be an excellent example of engaged learning and provide students with a global perspective that is unparalleled in any classroom. This paper will present learning and global awareness gains. The data presented are from a survey that was conducted on all the students who participated in the ENGR2012 FLEAP and have travelled to Germany as part of the course. The results were very positive with focus categories in personal growth, education, cultural awareness, engineering concepts and energy awareness. The averages in these categories ranged from 3.51 – 3.73 on a Likert scale. This shows that the ENGR2012 Renewable Resources FLEAP course provided students with learning increases that were well above “slightly improved” in all of the focus categories, with the greatest gains in the Engineering Concepts category. Through the use of the survey results and interviews, we have garnered meaningful conclusions that quantify and qualify learning gains of the ENGR2012 course as compared to a traditional on-ground course. Along with the survey data and results, this paper contains the design and layout of the course as well as the learning objectives and experiential learning components of the trip.

Kerzmann, T. L., & McAndrew, C. J., & Slis, K., & French, M. E., & Maione, K. (2016, June), Educational Evaluation of a Faculty-Led Education Abroad Program in Renewable Energy Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.26889

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