Conference Session

Technology Literacy for Engineering Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Shayna Stanton, Student; Michael Bailey, Brigham Young University

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

AC 2007-1316: WHOSE JOB IS IT? TECHNOLOGICAL LITERACY IN SOCIETYShayna Stanton, Student Shayna is an undergraduate student at Brigham Young University earning her degree in Facilities Management from the College of Engineering and Technology. She has worked as a research assistant studying the effects of technology on society. She spent 18 months in France as a service missionary and some time in West Africa participating in humanitarian efforts. After graduation, Shayna plans to pursue a graduate degree in Urban Planning for developing countries.Michael Bailey, Brigham Young University Page

Conference Session

Technology Literacy for Non-Engineers

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lawrence Whitman, Wichita State University; James Steck, Wichita State University; David Koert, Wichita State University; Larry Paarmann, Wichita State University

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

was designed as an independent unit of instruction. The lesson plan for eachmodule included: title, objective, connection to SCANS (skills, reading, math, science Page 12.12.5objectives), the essential concepts, vocabulary words and terms, background information andknowledge base, real-world connection, activity, materials, and assessment. The modules were:Introduction (to class and LEGO MINDSTORMS), Gearing Principles, Flight Controls,Engineering Graphics, Information Transmission and Storage, Sensors, and Production Systems.Each of these modules used a consistent format. Day 1 (scheduled for 2 hours) had a lecture andsome basic hands-on. Day 2

Conference Session

Technology Literacy for Engineering Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Krupczak, Hope College

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

offeredby various departments across campus. However, it had been uncommon for anyone buta fully committed engineering major to appear in engineering classes. Few engineeringdepartments offered service courses for non-engineers.Notable exceptions existed to this rule, and recent developments have fostered a morereciprocal relationship between some engineering programs and liberal arts departments.In 1996 the National Science Foundation’s Shaping The Future: New Expectations forUndergraduate Education in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology called Page 12.1553.2for greater attention for the 80 percent of college students who are not planning

Conference Session

Technology Literacy for Engineering Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Byron Newberry, Baylor University

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

and wireless plan for your needs, or even how to download ringtones ontoyour phone.In the end Bucciarelli determines that he has a pretty good understanding of how the telephoneworks in some of these senses, a more limited understanding in others, but is relatively cluelessas to the rest. So who has the complete understanding? “I can claim fairly confidently,” heconcludes, “that there is no single individual alone who knows how all the ingredients thatconstitute a telephone system work together to keep each of our phones functioning.” That is,there is no one who is technologically literate about telephones in any absolute andcomprehensive sense. Yet we all adapt them to our own needs and purposes.Another example of an engineer expressing

Conference Session

Technology Literacy for Engineering Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Camille George, University of St. Thomas; Elise Amel, University of Saint Thomas; Christopher Greene, University of Saint Thomas

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

interested in how gender affects career choice. She believes strongly in the scientist-practitioner model, using her academic background to solve practical problems and using her problem solving experiences to enhance her teaching. She has received an award for excellence in service learning. Professor Amel has specific expertise developing assessment plans and dissemination approaches through her work on the UST Bush Foundation Grant. She has completed pedagogical presentations and publications about international education and service learning.Christopher Greene, University of Saint Thomas Dr. Chris Greene comes to the University of St. Thomas following a 20+ year career in industry

Conference Session

Technology Literacy for Non-Engineers

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Barbara Oakley, Oakland University; Lorenzo Smith, Oakland University; Yin-ping (Daniel) Chang, Oakland University

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

recruitment for theengineering school (further studies in this area are planned). Moreover,approximately 80% of the students who have elected to take the course are men. Inthis sense, then, the course appears to have strong appeal to the problematicdisengaged male students who are most at risk in the widening gender imbalance thatis occurring on college campuses throughout the country.23 Related types ofengineering outreach courses could also easily be envisioned: Table 3 provides titlesfor a range of “technological literacy” courses that have been taught nationally—many of which are based out of schools of engineering.Table 3: Examples of courses that provide outreach to non-engineering/science students17, 24 Course title