Conference Session

Assessment and Continuous Improvement in Engineering Technology: Part I

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Xian Zhao, Inner Mongolia University of Technology; Joy Colwell, Purdue University, Calumet; Carl Jenks, Purdue University, Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

AC 2009-486: TECHNOLOGY CURRICULA IN CHINA AND THE UNITEDSTATES: WHAT ROLE DO "SOFT SKILLS" PLAY?Xian Zhao, Inner Mongolia University of Technology Xian Zhao, ABD, is an Associate Professor of Management at Inner Mongolia University of Technology (IMUT) in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China, where she teaches courses in Finance, Investment, International Business and other related subjects.Joy Colwell, Purdue University, CalumetCarl Jenks, Purdue University, Calumet Page 14.1169.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 Technology Curriculum in China and the United States: What Role

Conference Session

Innovative Curriculum and Practices in Engineering Technology

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gary Mullett, Springfield Technical Community College

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

for the design, manufacturing, sales, and updating/maintenanceof sophisticated electric/electronics systems. While soft skills have been a buzz word in theUnited States for some time (late 1990s), the European Union has more recently undertaken aprogram of change (Education and Training - 2010) to incorporate more of these soft skills intotheir post-secondary technician education system and to move towards a student centeredapproach to teaching[21] that focuses more on outcomes and competencies and promotes a cultureof life-long learning for all citizens. It is unclear in this author’s research whether or not asystems approach has been at the center of any discussions associated with this initiative.Recently, there seems to be more

Conference Session

Innovations in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Programs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Omer Farook, Purdue University, Calumet; Chandra Sekhar, Purdue University, Calumet; Essaid Bouktache, Purdue University, Calumet; Jai Agrawal, Purdue University, Calumet; Jared Goodall, South Lake Automation

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

thelearning outcome of the course. The laboratory performance of the course is performedin teams of four students. This mode provides a platform for horizontal learning throughactive and engaged discourse and discussion. Students are empowered to charter theirlearning and feed their curiosity. The course culminates in a Final Project which isassessed based upon its comprehensiveness and originality. Students are required tomaster the soft skills of comprehensive report writing on a weekly basis through technicalproject report writing and an oral presentation based upon the Team’s Final Project.These classroom practices and laboratory environment provides a challenging andinvigorating environment that prepares them for a lifelong learning process and

Conference Session

Critical issues in IT and IET: Focus Group

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Susan Scachitti, Purdue University, Calumet; Juan Salinas, Purdue University, Calumet; Deepthi Karanam, Purdue University, Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

layout concepts and conceptualized important soft skills such as“selling” their ideas to management. Ultimately five simulation assignments were developed forthe course. These five assignments focus on the main topics that faculty had found to beimportant during their real life experiences with simulation modeling. The objectives of eachassignment are as follows: Objectives for Assignments Assignment #1: • Identify components required to create a basic process simulation model. • Implement graphics to appropriately visualize process changes. Assignment #2: • Test what-if scenarios for increasing throughput of process flow. Assignment #3: • Collect and validate existing data in a simulation model

Conference Session

Curriculum in Electrical Engineering Technology

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jay Porter, Texas A&M University; Joseph Morgan, Texas A&M University; Wei Zhan, Texas A&M University; George Wright, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

) ≠ What attributes are necessary to be a successful product/system developer? (ie, technical skills, “soft” skills, personality) ≠ What educational components would serve the future product/system developer best? (While we know that companies will probably not hire new graduates directly into product/system development roles, we want to prepare them with an interest in this area, and the skills to maximize the likelihood of success.) Page 14.1101.2An immediate action that resulted from working with these industrial experts was the need todevelop a more holistic approach to product development. It was recognized that for

Conference Session

Issues and Direction in ET Education and Administration: Part II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Enrique Barbieri, University of Houston; Wajiha Shireen, University of Houston; Farrokh Attarzadeh, University of Houston; Raresh Pascali, University of Houston; Miguel Ramos, University of Houston; William Fitzgibbon, University of Houston

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

business and entrepreneurship, an awareness of the globalenvironment, and soft-skills development in engineering education was made clear. However, inthe authors’ opinion, it has also become clear that out of the typical 4-year plan, the roughly 2 ½years worth of engineering courses are not sufficient to do justice to both the theory and thepractice of engineering, let alone all the other skills required of the 21st Century Engineer.References1-20 discuss some of the major developments in the world order, in the engineeringfield, and in the educational structure of engineering and engineering technology of the lastcentury leading to the present situation. Despite the obvious pressures to meet the demands of atechnologically advanced and