Conference Session

Collaboration Provides the Best Education

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Cheryl Cates, University of Cincinnati; Anita Todd, University of Cincinnati

Tagged Divisions

Cooperative & Experiential Education

programs have historically collectedemployer and student performance evaluation data each term. These evaluationshave been used to reflect on and improve student or employer performance,however, the data has not been used in a formal way to provide feedback toengineering departments relative to academic educational goals, nor were theassessment tools designed to do so. 2Cooperative education evaluation data has become increasingly important toengineering department administration as part of the overall measurement of thedepartmental education quality. This primarily stems from the fact that co-opprograms work very closely with engineering employers soliciting their feedbackon a term by term basis throughout the co-op process. Immediate feedback

Conference Session

Cooperative Education Addresses ABET

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Stwalley, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Cooperative & Experiential Education

available to both the student and their Page 12.528.10Faculty Coordinator. This will be of use in counseling the student and helping them toself-reflect upon the previous term’s practical learning experience. Additionally, FacultyCoordinators will have access to the student’s evaluation of the work term. Differentialsbetween the supervisor and the self-evaluation should provide indications of perceptiveerror on the part of either the student or supervisor. While the Faculty Coordinator willhave to engage in a credibility evaluation at this point, the information provided willcertainly identify areas of concern for the individual. Over time, it will be

Conference Session

Collaboration Provides the Best Education

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brian Koehler, North Carolina State University; Susan Matney, North Carolina State University; Jerome Lavelle, North Carolina State University; Mary Clare Robbins, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Cooperative & Experiential Education

the opportunity to forge a strongerrelationship. This is viewed as another opportunity for improvement.Question: Do you believe an organized relationship with a MENTOR would have beenhelpful when you were a First Year Engineer? Year-2 Year-1 9 Yes, it would have been helpful 39.5% 38.5% 9 Yes, somewhat helpful 39.5% 33.9% 9 Maybe, for other students 12.6% 21.1% 9 No, not at all 8.4% 6.4%Analysis: Most of Year-2 mentors did not have a MENTOR Program available whenthey were first-semester engineers. On reflection, almost 80% believe it would have beenhelpful to have a mentor during their first semester