Conference Session

Curriculum in Telecommunications Engineering Technology

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kim Nankivell, Purdue University, Calumet; Joy Colwell, Purdue University, Calumet; Jana Whittington, Purdue University, Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

AC 2010-613: PREPARING THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYPROFESSIONALS OF TOMORROW: WHAT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYPROGRAMS CAN DO TO ENSURE THEIR GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYABLEKim Nankivell, Purdue University, CalumetJoy Colwell, Purdue University, CalumetJana Whittington, Purdue University, Calumet Page 15.976.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Preparing the Information Technology Professionals of Tomorrow: What Information Technology Programs Can Do to Ensure Their Graduates Are EmployableAbstractIt is well understood that technical graduates need more than technical skills to be professionallyemployed; they also need the so-called “soft skills

Conference Session

Issues and Directions in ET Education & Administration: Part III

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Saeed Khan, Kansas State University-Salina; Lucy Kollhoff, Kansas State Univerty; Michael Kollhoff, Salina South High School

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

recruitment. 3. 52 percent of respondents thought that articulation between high schools and four- year schools was either important or very important form of STEM articulation. 4. 58 percent of respondents thought that 3-tier articulation between high schools, two-year schools and four-year schools was either important or very important form of STEM articulation. Page 15.583.5The survey data also provides insights into educator thinking in other areas e.g. theimportance of hobbies; the influence of family and friends; etc. Data of this nature willhelp us with tailoring the curriculum.An Argument for Inclusion of Soft Skills as a Part of

Conference Session

Capstone and Senior Design in Engineering Technology: Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Fernando Rios-Gutierrez, Georgia Southern University; Youakim Al Kalaani, Georgia Southern University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

achievingthe TAC2000 outcomes. In particular, our Senior Design capstone course (TEET4010/ 4020) isa comprehensive three-credit, two-semester engineering design course, that all engineeringmajors are required to take as their capstone experience. We view this course as a veryimportant component in the preparation of a trained EET professional. The course emphasizesboth hard and soft skills and serves as an emulation of a real world engineering project. We useboth, projects proposed by the faculty and projects contributed from local industry and wepartner the teams of student with faculty and industry mentors. As a result of their participationin this course, students are subjected to a real world engineering project development experiencefor the first

Conference Session

Assessment & Continuous Improvement in ECET: Part II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Youakim Al Kalaani, Georgia Southern University; Shonda Bernadin, GSU

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

- Conducting field trips and inviting guest speakers - More involvement in IEEE student chapter - Participation in student robotic competitionsChallengesAs emphasis in higher education is shifting toward a multifaceted approach to assessment3,traditional evaluation techniques based on collecting samples of student work, such as tests,quizzes, and assignments are no longer adequate in measuring student achievements. In fact,many of the ABET accreditation criteria (a-k) are related to soft, intangible skills that aretypically difficult to measure using traditional methods4. Therefore, innovative strategies thatprovide methods of assessment and measurement for these soft skills are constantly needed toadequately document and assess

Conference Session

Issues and Directions in ET Education & Administration: Part II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kim Nankivell, Purdue University, Calumet; Jana Whittington, Purdue University, Calumet; Joy Colwell, Purdue University, Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

, outsourcing and cost reductions. Thecurrent belief that IT professionals are devoted to the technology and will not be interested inmanagement decisions has create a perceived shortfall of qualified IT leaders. The statement bySteers, Mowday and Shapiro (2004) that “Managing knowledge workers continues to perplexexperienced managers”22 is based on many of the complexities associated with the skill set of ITprofessionals.The literature demonstrates that the leadership skills required to be competent in IT are evolvingnot only in the explicit skills required but also in the soft or professional skills such as leadership,which are more ambiguous. These soft skill requirements are a function of the new roles that ITprofessional must take on. As stated by

Conference Session

Issues and Directions in Engineering Technology Education & Administration: Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gary Mullett, Springfield Technical Community College

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

at least add the term systems to the title (i.e. ESET). A systemsengineering technology (SET) degree might more accurately reflect the skill sets needed by theperson that deals with the electronics based systems of the future. Furthermore, this technician ofthe future will most likely be equipped with a handheld, web connected, multi-purpose“electronic measurement /diagnostic toolkit” as opposed to small hand tools! The need for asoldering iron with today’s and tomorrow’s reliance on surface-mount technology, multilayerprinted circuit boards, and system-on-a-chip technology will be extremely rare! Not to beoverlooked, hand-in-hand with the evolution in technology is the need for the technician of thefuture to have the soft skills necessary

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Engineering Technology Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rocio Alba-Flores, Georgia Southern University; Youakim Al Kalaani, Georgia Southern University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

of AC vector analysis, transientresponse, and resonant RLC circuits were expanded to allow students to grasp a betterunderstanding of these concepts. However, major changes were made to the laboratorycomponent of this course for which a lab manual was developed with a completely new set ofexperimentations dealing with renewable energy and instrumentation.Since this course is used in the assessment process for ABET accreditation, the learningoutcomes were also expanded to include soft skills such as commitment to quality, timeless, andcontinuous improvement. These new learning objectives and summary of topics are listed inTable 1 and Table 2 respectively

Conference Session

Capstone and Senior Design in Engineering Technology: Part II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

William Leonard, Rochester Institute of Technology; Robert Merrill, Roch Inst of Tech; Elizabeth Dell, Rochester Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

experienceCurrently, there are a series of core courses in which our integrating experience has beenimplemented with enough detail as to ascertain a reasonable experience as to the effectiveness ofthis new ‘backbone’ process.Benefits: 1. Can cover more and have more face time with instructor. Capstones are usually 20 weeks with minimal student/ instructor time and a great deal of independent/group time. 2. Exposure to several instructors through several courses. 3. Allows greater detail of topics such as the student being responsible for independently designing an experiment, statistically validating the results and presenting their findings. 4. Integrates not only the technology of the courses but also greatly enhances the soft skills. 5. Gives

Conference Session

Engineering Technology Progress Reports: Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth Stier, Illinois State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

program outcomes. This provides the possibility of gettingdisciplinary norms on the group summary report that is provided for each course. The secondassessment instrument under consideration for addressing the sustainability issue was a Page 15.1280.12questionnaire survey given to the graduating seniors in the capstone course. Additionalquestions with regard to the soft skills or professional outcomes could be added to this surveywithout increasing the work involved in the data collection process.Summary and lessons learnedThis paper overviews how Engineering Technology faculty at a university in the Midwest (calledMU in the paper) transitioned

Conference Session

Importance of Technical & Professional Writing in Engineering Technology Curriculum

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peilin Fu, National University; Shekar Viswanathan, National University, San Diego; Ronald Uhlig, National University, San Diego; Howard Evans, National University, San Diego

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

Graduates,” IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 43.2 (June 2000), 137-1524. http://abet.org/Linked%20Documents-UPDATE/Criteria%20and%20PP/E001%2010- 11%20EAC%20Criteria%2011-03-09.pdf5. Silyn-Roberts, H. “Using Engineers’ Characteristics to Improve Report Writing Instruction,” Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, vol. 124, no. 1, January 1998, pp 12-166. Tharp, H.S. “Improving Writing Skills through an Upper-Division Course,” 28th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference, 1998. FIE '98, Nov 19987. Sinha, B. private communication8. Platt, J.R. “Eight Unusual Ways to Improve Your Soft Skills,” http://www.todaysengineer.org/2008/Aug/soft_skills.asp9. Fenton, N. “Improving Your technical

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Engineering Technology Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Cottrell, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

criteria for engineering technology1 into a junior-level seminar course. Withenrollment open to electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering technology as well asconstruction management students, this course provides a unique, multi-disciplined atmosphereto address the many aspects of engineering “soft” skills both as a student and as a futurepracticing engineer. In particular, this paper will discuss innovative, strategic teaching initiativesfor assessment and evaluation of specific Program Outcomes noted under TC2K Criterion 3 andrecognized throughout the engineering community as essential skills that allow engineers toeffectively function and grow as members of the society that they serve. These outcomes arenoted below lettered appropriately