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Creating a Nature-Inspired Entrepreneurially Minded Manufacturing Podcast to Bolster Technical Communication Skills

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Conference

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Baltimore , Maryland

Publication Date

June 25, 2023

Start Date

June 25, 2023

End Date

June 28, 2023

Conference Session

Engineering Technology Division (ETD) Technical Session 8

Tagged Division

Engineering Technology Division (ETD)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

12

DOI

10.18260/1-2--42793

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/42793

Download Count

154

Paper Authors

biography

Thomas Lucas Purdue University

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Dr. Lucas' primary goal as a professor is to engage with students in the classroom and inspire them to develop their passion, understanding, and appreciation for STEM-based research and industry roles. This is accomplished by providing well-crafted and innovative learning experiences in engineering technology courses and through extracurricular outreach. His research background is in 3D (out-of-plane) micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor and actuator design. His current teaching load primarily consists of courses related to advanced embedded digital systems.

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biography

Bhavana Kotla Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Purdue University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-5163-7664

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Ph.D. Candidate at the Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation, Purdue Polytechnic, Purdue University, Indiana, USA. Current area of research: Program Assessment in Entrepreneurially Minded Curriculum/Programs.

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biography

Lisa Bosman Purdue University

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Dr. Bosman holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering. Her engineering education research interests include entrepreneurially minded learning, energy education, interdisciplinary education, and faculty professional development.

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Abstract

Manufacturing-oriented engineering degree programs have traditionally emphasized strong scientific content but without a robust curriculum dedicated to communication across national, cultural, contextual and disciplinary boundaries. The interconnected economic environment of modern manufacturing requires graduates with the communication skills to thrive in an environment of entrepreneurially driven innovation and collaboration. The emphasis on socio-technical communication within the manufacturing-oriented engineering curriculum remains sparse. This calls for the need to develop innovative pedagogies that can help enhance the employability of students. In response to this need, an exploratory study was conducted at a satellite campus of a large, Midwestern research-focused university. The intervention included the implementation of an entrepreneurially minded and communication-focused project, developed by the instructor of an upper-level undergraduate manufacturing course. Post-completion of the project, a metacognitive reflection assignment was administered to the participants and subsequently, data was collected. Participant responses were qualitatively analyzed using thematic analysis which led to the discovery of three themes: (1) identifying value in nature-inspired design, (2) confidence in communication and self-expression , and (3) benefitting from peer feedback . The study aims to supplement traditional teaching techniques with an entrepreneurial and multidisciplinary-minded project that helps students reinforce skills that are relevant for the globally connected world. The findings of this study showcase the effectiveness of entrepreneurially minded and communication-focused projects that engineering instructors should consider integrating into mid-level discipline specific engineering coursework.

Lucas, T., & Kotla, B., & Bosman, L. (2023, June), Creating a Nature-Inspired Entrepreneurially Minded Manufacturing Podcast to Bolster Technical Communication Skills Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--42793

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