Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aleksandra Vinogradov, Montana State University; Carolyn Plumb, Montana State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

AC 2008-646: ENHANCING STUDENT UNDERSTANDING OF AND INTEREST INMECHANICAL ENGINEERINGAleksandra Vinogradov, Montana State University Dr. Aleksandra Vinogradov has extensive academic and industrial experience in mechanical engineering. Her academic career has been dedicated to teaching and research. She has taught a variety of courses in materials engineering, engineering mechanics, mechanical vibrations, engineering analysis, and finite element analysis. She has supervised award winning student projects in mechanical design. Dr. Vinogradov’s research interests are in the area of materials. Her recent research focuses on the performance and properties of piezoelectric polymers, durability of

Conference Session

Faculty Attitudes and Perceptions

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sarah Zappe, Pennsylvania State University; Natalia Kapli, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

that those students with a more positive perception of active learning techniques ingeneral will also likely find the activities used in the course to be positive.2. What is the relationship between students’ perceived relevance of course and their perceptionof active learning?We hypothesize that students who perceive the course to be more relevant to their future and ofgreater interest to them will be more likely to endorse principles of active learning. Many of thestudents in the class are planning careers in industry as opposed to academic positions. Wehypothesize that students who have a greater interest in teaching will also likely feel morepositive about teaching strategies that have an active component.3. What differences exist between

Conference Session

Influences on Female Interest in Pursuit of STEM Fields

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jacquelyn Mobley, Ecology & Environment, Inc.

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

evaluate the range of career options.I never took the battery of assessment tools used to help students narrow down their career choices. I wasnever presented with career choices. I had choices??? This was a failure on the administration’s part totrack my progress, recognize my potential and desire to gain the necessary information and providecompetent professional career guidance. I strongly believe that this was an injustice that went unnoticed.And I wonder how many other highly capable individuals go without proper guidance at such a crucial timein their lives. COLLEGE YEARS: THE ACADEMIC PRISONGetting acclimated into the University of Florida environment was very difficult my first academic year. Inoticed right away that

Conference Session

The Academic Environment

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Monica Young, Syracuse University; John Tillotson, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

AC 2008-1890: NEGOTIATING THE PATH TO THE PROFESSORIATE: A STUDYOF FACULTY PERSPECTIVES IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERINGMonica Young, Syracuse UniversityJohn Tillotson, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY Page 13.924.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 Negotiating the Path to the Professoriate: A Study of Faculty Perspectives in Mechanical EngineeringAbstractThis qualitative study investigated the factors that support or impede women’s interest andpersistence in the field of mechanical engineering and how these experiences influence theirdecision to complete a doctoral program and advance on to a career in academia. This studyexamined key variables

Conference Session

Recruitment & Retention in ET Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aram Agajanian, DeVry University-Chicago; William M. Timpson, Colorado State University; George Morgan, Colorado State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

). His forthcoming edited volume will be titled, Teaching Diversity.George Morgan, Colorado State University Dr. George Morgan is a professor emeritus in the School of Education, Colorado State University. He received his Ph.D. in child development and Psychology from Cornell University. During his 40 years of professional career, he has conducted programs of research on children’s motivation to master challenging tasks, and has held various teaching, research and administrative positions at Colorado State University, Stanford University and University of Colorado. Dr. Morgan has taught methods and applied statistics to graduate students in education at Colorado State University. In

Conference Session

Recruitment & Retention in ET Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth Dudeck, Pennsylvania State Univ.-Hazleton Campus; Wieslaw Grebski, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

on the two year degree, but concentrated in a specialization areaidentified by local industry.Recognizing the ProblemsDue to low enrollments and difficulty in recruiting students, many colleges and universities areeliminating their engineering technology programs because of high costs. However, high-techmanufacturing companies in the United States rely on graduates from engineering technologyprograms. The reluctance of students and the lack of encouragement from their parents toenter such programs, despite the demands of the workplace and career potential, have beenwell documented1. “Tech Prep” and other programs have sought to correct what has been seenby many as a simple problem of career awareness and curricular matching, but enrollments

Conference Session

Embedded Computing

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Holden, California Maritime Academy

Tagged Divisions

Computers in Education

been spent explaining how microcontrollers work. 14 12 12 10 9 8 6 4 2 2 1 0 0 Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Figure 10: Assessment 3The fourth statement, “I hope to use the microcontroller skills from this class in my career”,received all positive or

Conference Session

Marketing Engineering to Minority Students

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rafic Bachnak, Texas A&M International University; jack esparza, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

University – Corpus Christi in the Spring of 2008. Page 13.242.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 Attracting Minority Students to Science and EngineeringAbstractThis paper describes a number of outreach activities to attract minority students toscience and engineering careers. These activities include presentations by guest speakers,tours of a NASA center for K-12 educators, workshops for middle school students, andhands-on demonstrations and experiments. The paper presents details about the activitiesimplemented during the last year. Results are briefly described.IntroductionStrategies employed to recruit and retain

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Curriculum Innovation

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James Farison, Baylor University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

remaining 16-15required hours that may be from any subject area that is career oriented but not necessarily fromengineering. The entire package is then evaluated against the student’s Statement of Purpose(which indicates, by its career focus, why the student is not taking the ECE or ME curriculumand needs the flexibility of the Engineering major).Since the Engineering major does not have its own faculty or courses, it depends on the ECE andME courses and faculty for assessment. When a student has prepared the desired plan, a checksheet of outcomes assessment conducted in each course is used to assure that each Engineeringgraduate has been included in the full set of our required student outcomes measurement. Ourprimary sources for evaluation of

Conference Session

Educating for Results: Tools used in Engineering Technology

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alok Verma, Old Dominion University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

EngagedAbstract Low enrollment and high attrition rates have often plagued Engineering and EngineeringTechnology programs. Part of this problem can be attributed to the lack of engaging hands-onactivities during the first year of instruction. Most engineering and technology programs requirestudents to take natural science, math and some general education courses during the first twoyears with minimal technical content. To maintain student’s interest in the technical career path,it is important that students establish a link between the theoretical knowledge and its applicationto solve real life problems early in their learning experience. Simulation based activities have aproven record as instructional tool. Such activities have been used

Conference Session

Mentoring

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Terri Camesano, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; David DiBiasio, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Kristen Billiar, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Marsha Rolle, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Susan Zhou, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

was their first researchexperience of any kind. We had a positive impact on influencing the career path of the REUparticipants, according to their self-reported plans. The mentoring program has been verysuccessful, as indicated by the number of return attendees and alumni of the Bio-Discoveryprogram, who recommend their younger sisters or friends to the program. According to ourassessment data, the Bio-Discovery Program has been the most rewarding part of the programfor several of the REU participants, even though it also presented a challenge, as it limits theamount of time REU students can dedicate exclusively to their research projects. With ourrecommendations for improvement, this program can be adopted by other faculty who wish

Conference Session

Student Recruitment and Retention

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mary Anderson-Rowland, Arizona State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

, she is the PIC IV Chair and a frequent speaker on career opportunities in engineering, especially for women and minority students. Page 13.1287.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 Thinking About Graduate SchoolAbstractLess than 18% of graduating engineers in the US go directly full-time to graduate school andvery few women and underrepresented minority students go on to graduate school. Our countryneeds more diverse researchers in engineering, and students do not realize the creative andchallenging work that they can obtain with a graduate degree. There are many reasons for thelow

Conference Session

The Academic Environment

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stacy Birmingham, Grove City College; Mara Wasburn, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

the decreasing number of tenure-track positions,it become increasingly important to learn whether or not the declining number of tenure-trackpositions may hamper the ability of colleges and universities to attract and retain women facultyin these disciplines in the future. Page 13.944.2Women in STEM DisciplinesApproximately half the potential STEM talent pool at the entering undergraduate level consistsof women. Therefore, in 2000, a United States government commission, reporting to the Houseof Representatives, was charged with developing strategies to attract more women and minoritiesin STEM careers. The report indicated that significant

Conference Session

The Impact of Engineering Disciplines

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Venetia Dover, Howard University; Dawn Williams, Howard University; Lorraine Fleming, Howard University; Viara Quinones, Howard University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

study. Her research explores psychological and sociocultural factors affecting international STEM students’ undergraduate process. Page 13.1378.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008Variances in Coping Efficacy Among Women STEM Students: Is Gender or Discipline More Influential? Page 13.1378.2 Variances in Coping Efficacy among Women STEM Students: Is Gender or Discipline More Influential?AbstractThis study uses Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) to examine the coping efficacy of highachieving

Conference Session

Engineering Accreditation Around the World

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jaime Salazar, Ibero-American Association of Engineering Education (ASIBEI); Jorge Ignacio Velez Munera, Universidad Sergio Arboleda, ACOFI; Maria M. Larrondo Petrie, Florida Atlantic University

Tagged Divisions

International

1993 was integrated the CONEAU, Comisión de Evaluación y Acreditación Universitaria, as a consequence of university autonomy. ̇ The Ley de Educación Superior indicated the need for accreditation of careers whose practice had to be regulated by the government. Page 13.1267.5 ̇ In 1995 was conformed the CAP, Comisión de Acreditación de Postgrados. ̇ The initial call was first voluntary and then mandatory since 1999. ̇ In the CONEAU participate the CONFEDI, Consejo Federal de Decanos de Ingeniería (Miembro ASIBEI); the CU, Consejo de Universidades; and the CIN, Consejo Inter- universitario Nacional

Conference Session

Professional Development in Materials Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Kessler, Iowa State University; Emily Merrick, Iowa State University; Lawrence Genalo, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

Materials

engineers. These societies are also beneficial to the career progression of their members byproviding networking and professional service opportunities.1 Typically, engineers are firstexposed to professional societies as college sophomores or juniors through pre-professionalstudent chapters of the society, where students are able to join at substantially reduced fees andparticipate in a variety of networking, project, and service experiences.2 Most often, studentscontinue their membership upon graduation from college and as a way to stay abreast of thechanges in their field and enhance their professional and technical capabilities.3At universities, active student pre-professional societies can greatly enhance the engineeringcurriculum. Reid and

Conference Session

Issues in the Professional Practice of Faculty Members in Civil Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andrea Welker, Villanova University; Frank Falcone, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

notrestricted to the engineering profession only. The goal here is to raise the concept of self-awareness within each student such that he/she understands that their service to society, througha career in engineering, will be valuable and successful if they truly focus on the proper fit forthemselves within the profession.Leadership and ManagementBased on input from leaders in the engineering industry (design, consulting, and constructionmanagement) invited to speak as guest lecturers in this course, we can conclude that someengineers will find themselves in junior leadership and management positions not long aftercompletion of their undergraduate studies. Leadership and management, although related, are notthe same.Students are introduced to the

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Willis, Southern Methodist University; Paul Krueger, Southern Methodist University; Alice Kendrick, Southern Methodist University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

, Southern Methodist University Paul Krueger received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1997 from the University of California at Berkeley. He received his M.S. in Aeronautics in 1998 and his Ph.D. in Aeronautics in 2001, both from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). In 2002 he joined the Mechanical Engineering Department at Southern Methodist University where he is currently an Associate Professor. He is a recipient of the Rolf D. Buhler Memorial Award in Aeronautics and the Richard Bruce Chapman Memorial Award for distinguished research in Hydrodynamics. In 2004 he received the Faculty Early Career Development Award (CAREER) from the National Science Foundation. His research

Conference Session

Novel Courses and Content for ChEs II

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nichole Au, University of Maryland-Baltimore County; Taryn Bayles, University of Maryland-Baltimore County; Julia Ross, University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

Page 13.598.2solutions.BackgroundMost undergraduate chemical engineering programs face the challenge of continually evolving atraditional curriculum to meet the demands of the 21st Century. This very idea was presented toASEE in 1994 in “Engineering Education for a Changing World,” and it remains as valid todayas fourteen years ago. “Engineering education programs must be relevant, attractive and connected: o Relevant to the lives and careers of students, preparing them for a broad range of careers, as well as for lifelong learning involving both formal programs and hands-on experiences; o Attractive so that the excitement and intellectual content of engineering will attract highly

Conference Session

Assessment

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Olga Pierrakos, James Madison University; Maura Borrego, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Jenny Lo, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

Institute and State University MAURA BORREGO is an assistant professor of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. Dr. Borrego holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University. Her current research interests center around interdisciplinary collaboration in engineering and engineering education, including studies of the collaborative relationships between engineers and education researchers. Investigations of interdisciplinary graduate programs nationwide are funded through her NSF CAREER award.Jenny Lo, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University JENNY LO is an advanced instructor in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. Dr. Lo

Conference Session

Recruitment and Retention

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carol Gattis, University of Arkansas; Shannon Davis, University of Arkansas; Bryan Hill, University of Arkansas; Patricia Kirkwood, University of Arkansas

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

facing the engineering community totake advantage of the untapped talent among underrepresented ethic minorities and highlights thefact that these groups remain overlooked by current recruitment and retention approachesemployed by universities.This paper introduces the Engineering Career Awareness Program (ECAP) at the University ofArkansas. This program is an engineering diversity recruitment-to-graduation initiative toincrease the number of underrepresented students entering and graduating from engineeringdisciplines. This program combines several piloted and proven recruitment and retentionstrategies into one cohesive program to recruit and retain minority students. The recruitmentstrategy is grounded in the education of students previously

Conference Session

Innovations in ECE Education I

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gisele Ragusa, University of Southern California; Michael Khoo, University of Southern California; Ellis Meng, University of Southern California

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

Career outcomes. This paper reports both on baseline access, retention, andcareer data and a logic model associated with a comprehensive curricular reform resulting fromthe access, retention and career baseline data. As a result of this baseline data, the ERCeducational team has found innovative ways to infuse inductively based, situated curriculum andinstruction in addition to a student-centric outcome metrics into all aspects of the BMEcurriculum and associated laboratory experiences. These assessment measures build on theprinciples established in educational psychology and include pre and posttest BME conceptinventories, rubric-based laboratory assessments, BME efficacy measures and employersatisfaction measures. A comprehensive assessment

Conference Session

Learning Needs and Educational Success

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carol Gattis, University of Arkansas; Thomas Carter, University of Arkansas

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

, especially when transitioning from a diverse highschool to a predominantly Caucasian institution. At the University of Arkansas, the College ofEngineering has created a summer bridge program to help minority students successfullytransition from high school seniors to successful engineering freshmen.The Engineering Summer Bridge Program was a three week, all expenses paid, in-residenceprogram held on the University of Arkansas campus. During this program, students experiencedcampus life while also learning more about engineering. Through “engineering in action” fieldtrips, fun and challenging engineering design problems, team competitions and experiencingresearch labs, students became significantly more excited about their career possibilities

Conference Session

Engineering in Middle Schools

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Juanita Jo Matkins, College of William and Mary; John A. McLaughlin, McLauglin Associates; Eugene Brown, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Gail Hardinge, College of William and Mary; Nancy West, College of William and Mary; Robert Stiegler, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division; Kirk Jenne, Office of Naval Research

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

college and college-level teaching of geology and science instructional methods. She has served as coordinator of mathematics and science curriculum for a school district. Her interests and experience focus on field studies and problem-based learning.Robert Stiegler, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division Robert Stiegler is currently supporting the USMC Targeting and Engagement Systems and the Office of Naval Research, N-STAR initiative. His recent career experience has included service as a program manager for USMC science and technology programs, Science Advisor to the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic, and Head, NAVSEA Combat Systems Safety and Engineering

Conference Session

Metrology Laboratories

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Helga Alexander, Keithley Instruments Inc

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

manufacturing companies whose end products aredesigned to measure some physical quantity, whether it is chemical, electrical, or mechanical innature. The graduates’ college engineering training prepares them for careers in all kinds ofengineering areas, whether it be manufacturing processes, new product design, or testing. As partof their undergraduate or graduate work, they are taught sound engineering principles andreceive a thorough foundation in their chosen fields to become the designers of tomorrow’sproducts. However, although many end up designing measuring and test equipment, their collegetraining never introduced them to metrology, the science of measurement. They are unaware ofthe importance of traceability to the international system of

Conference Session

Programs that Serve Industry & Academia

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lakshmi Munukutla, Arizona State University; Carol Popovich, Corporate member, Microchip Technology Inc.; John McGrane, Microchip Technology Inc.

Tagged Divisions

Continuing Professional Development

modelers cannot predict tomorrow.”6 In other words, educators are currentlypreparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist.This continuing upward spiral of innovation imposes difficult challenges on companies, theeducational infrastructure, government and the individual to adapt and stay current. If thegraduating engineer will be working with technologies, products, applications and markets 10years or less into his/her career that did not exist at the time of graduation, where will he/she gainthat knowledge? How can companies address the time and cost pressures of having to constantlyre-train their engineering staffs to remain competitive? How can the educational infrastructureremain relevant and effective when the useful life of a technology

Conference Session

Learning from Entrepreneurship Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Phil Weilerstein, National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance; Angela Shartrand, National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance

Tagged Divisions

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation

AC 2008-600: A DECADE OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION: ARETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE FIRST DECADE OF THE NCIIAPhil Weilerstein, National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance Phil Weilerstein began his career as an entrepreneur while still a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts. He and his colleagues launched a start-up biotech company which eventually went public. This experience, followed by several other entrepreneurial ventures, brought him a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship, which he has pursued through his work as Executive Director of the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance or NCIIA. Phil’s tenure at the NCIIA is marked by his skill for network

Conference Session

Two Year College Tech Session III

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dorene Perez, Illinois Valley Community College; James Gibson, Illinois Valley Community College; Rose Marie Lynch, Illinois Valley Community College

Tagged Divisions

Two Year College Division

Industrial TechnologyEngineering Working for Advancement in Vocational Education or LITE WAVE, and designinga team logo. Team members spoke to community organizations about technical programs atIVCC, served as members of a technical curriculum advisory board, assisted with career and jobfairs, and mentored other technical students. Five members of the team gave a posterpresentation about their team activities at the American Society for Engineering EducationIllinois/Indiana Section Conference in Indianapolis in spring 2007. In the end-of-yearassessment, team members recommended more team meetings and election of team officers toprovide more structure. Two members of that team, currently sophomores and continuing on theteam, received an award to

Conference Session

Our Future in Manufacturing

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gilah Pomeranz, Sinclair Community College; Robert Mott, University of Dayton; Steve Wendel, Sinclair Community College; Shep Anderson, Sinclair Community College; Sean Falkowski, University of Dayton; Robert Wolff, University of Dayton; Jack Waintraub, Middlesex County College

Tagged Divisions

Manufacturing

engineering technology educators, MERC can provide both classroommaterials through its online clearinghouse, as well as professional development opportunitiesthrough the resource center.Another goal of MERC is to provide technical assistance to colleges and universities wanting tostart, expand or improve technology programs, especially in manufacturing. MERC is alsoactively working to increase the pipeline of students choosing careers in STEM fields, with anemphasis on engineering technologies, and in particular stressing the critical workforce shortagethat is facing advanced manufacturing. Page 13.327.3Perhaps less directly impacting the STEM

Conference Session

New Ideas for ChEs I (aka ChE Potpourri)

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tamara Floyd-Smith, Tuskegee University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

research careers andreporting their work at conferences and in journal publications. The factors investigated includevarious topics such as how candidates are identified, factors considered most important whenselecting an undergraduate, defining a project for an undergraduate and assessing theundergraduate. Forty eight individuals, the majority of whom where professors (88%) atresearch institutions (56%), responded to the survey. Although there were not any statisticallysignificant conclusions, the results suggest that (1) having a formal application procedure, (2)choosing undergraduates based on conceptual understanding and (3) assessing undergraduatesbased largely on critical thinking lead to more undergraduates attending graduate school