GIFTS: “What’s Your Superpower?”: Connecting Entrepreneurial Mindset, DEI, and Character

Krista M Kecskemety; Tyler James Stump; Peyton OReilly; Sydney Cooper

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Conference: 15th Annual First-Year Engineering Experience Conference (FYEE)
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Publication Date: July 28, 2024
Start Date: July 28, 2024
End Date: July 30, 2024
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 3
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--48612
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/48612
Download Count: 39

Paper Authors

biography

Krista M Kecskemety The Ohio State University orcid.org/0000-0003-1192-4172

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Krista Kecskemety is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Engineering Education at The Ohio State University and the Director of the Fundamentals of Engineering for Honors Program. Krista received her B.S. in Aerospace Engineering at The Ohio State University in 2006 and received her M.S. from Ohio State in 2007. In 2012, Krista completed her Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at Ohio State. Her engineering education research interests include investigating first-year engineering student experiences, faculty experiences, and the research to practice cycle within first-year engineering.

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Tyler James Stump The Ohio State University orcid.org/0000-0002-1264-858X

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Tyler Stump is a first year Ph.D. student in the Department of Engineering Education at The Ohio State University. Tyler received his B.S. in Biosystems Engineering at Michigan State University in 2022 and received his M.S. from Michigan State University in 2023 also in Biosystems Engineering. His engineering education interests include assessment instrument development & validation, computing education, and first-year engineering course design.

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Peyton OReilly The Ohio State University

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Peyton O'Reilly is pursuing her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at The Ohio State University. She is involved in the Department of Engineering Education as an Undergraduate Research Associate. Her research interests include sense of belonging in engineering.

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Sydney Cooper The Ohio State University

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Abstract

This GIFTS paper aims to connect first-year engineering students with STEM figures through shared character strengths. A character strength acts as a figures “superpower” or exemplary value they exhibit in their contributions to STEM The intention of the activity is to support student connection building in how one’s values can be intertwined with professional engineering practice by showcasing exemplary examples of STEM figures how have done so. These STEM figures were intentionally designed with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in mind to represent a diverse population of professional engineers to support the diverse population found within first-year engineering. The profiles include present day and historic figures and also intentionally highlight the stories of members of minoritized populations, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, and neurodiverse people. Since these figures are more than a singular character strength care was taken to include the figure’s journey, as these STEM figures all are multidimensional with unique lives, behaviors, personalities, and stories. This journal was accompanied by identifying the ways in which their character strength, motivation, impact and the 3C’s (Curiosity, Connections, and Creating Value) are demonstrated in their impact to engineering and the world. Students in the second course of a first-year engineering sequence were assigned to complete a survey and engage in the connection of their identified character strengths through reflective practice. Students were asked to complete the VIA Character Strength survey, which asks students a series of character alignment questions to report students’ top character strengths. After receiving their character strengths, the students were then given the profiles of three Engineering/STEM figures that exhibit similar traits to highlight examples of how their identified value have been showcased in the engineering workforce. Students then reflect on the value they created by connecting their character strengths with other STEM figures while engaging with curiosity. The assignment exists at the intersection of Entrepreneurial Mindset, DEI, and Character to give students a chance to intertwine their personal values in hopes of supporting their identity alignment with engineering.

Citation
Format

Kecskemety, K. M., & Stump, T. J., & OReilly, P., & Cooper, S. (2024, July), GIFTS: “What’s Your Superpower?”: Connecting Entrepreneurial Mindset, DEI, and Character Paper presented at 15th Annual First-Year Engineering Experience Conference (FYEE), Boston, Massachusetts. 10.18260/1-2--48612

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - This GIFTS paper aims to connect first-year engineering students with STEM figures through shared character strengths. A character strength acts as a figures “superpower” or exemplary value they exhibit in their contributions to STEM The intention of the activity is to support student connection building in how one’s values can be intertwined with professional engineering practice by showcasing exemplary examples of STEM figures how have done so. These STEM figures were intentionally designed with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in mind to represent a diverse population of professional engineers to support the diverse population found within first-year engineering. The profiles include present day and historic figures and also intentionally highlight the stories of members of minoritized populations, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, and neurodiverse people. Since these figures are more than a singular character strength care was taken to include the figure’s journey, as these STEM figures all are multidimensional with unique lives, behaviors, personalities, and stories. This journal was accompanied by identifying the ways in which their character strength, motivation, impact and the 3C’s (Curiosity, Connections, and Creating Value) are demonstrated in their impact to engineering and the world.   Students in the second course of a first-year engineering sequence were assigned to complete a survey and engage in the connection of their identified character strengths through reflective practice. Students were asked to complete the VIA Character Strength survey, which asks students a series of character alignment questions to report students’ top character strengths. After receiving their character strengths, the students were then given the profiles of three Engineering/STEM figures that exhibit similar traits to highlight examples of how their identified value have been showcased in the engineering workforce. Students then reflect on the value they created by connecting their character strengths with other STEM figures while engaging with curiosity. The assignment exists at the intersection of Entrepreneurial Mindset, DEI, and Character to give students a chance to intertwine their personal values in hopes of supporting their identity alignment with engineering.   
AU  - Krista M Kecskemety
AU  - Tyler James Stump
AU  - Peyton OReilly
AU  - Sydney Cooper
CY  - Boston, Massachusetts
DA  - 2024/07/28
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - GIFTS: “What’s Your Superpower?”: Connecting Entrepreneurial Mindset, DEI, and Character 
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/48612
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--48612
ER  -