Conference Session

General Topics in Graduate Education

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

A. Mark Doggett, Western Kentucky University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

Package (ESP), aninstitutionally supported on-line software package. Twenty-five responded for a response rate of55%.The quantitative findings were compiled and are shown following. In the first question, subjectswere asked to check the online or web-based items where they had the most experience. Of theresponses, 100% has experience with online discussion boards or forums and 76% used socialmedia such as Facebook or My Space. A majority utilized online presentations, U-tube videos,and Google docs. Almost half of the respondents had experience with blogs and online projects.See Table 1. Page 23.523.3Table 1.Question 1: Of the following, check the

Conference Session

Research and Graduate Studies

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mary Katherine Watson, Georgia Institute of Technology; Alexandra Coso Strong, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

transmit course content to students. The opposite end of the continuum describesstudents as the agents of their own learning and instructors as facilitators during this process.Different categorizations of conceptions along this continuum have been defined in theliterature4,8,9,10. For this research, five contemporary philosophies of education will be used tocapture differences in conceptions of teaching and learning9,10. Two are instructor-centered,while the other three are learner-centered philosophies (See Table 1).Table 1. Comparison of philosophies of education, including differences in focus of studyinstructor role (Adapted from Koch11). Philosophy Focus of Study Role of Instructor Perennialism

Conference Session

Graduate Student Experience

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Benjamin Ahn, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Monica Farmer Cox, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Heidi A. Diefes-Dux, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Brenda M. Capobianco, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies, Student

importance of graduate mentors for UR students is highlighted by researchers whoclaim 1) UR students have more frequent meetings and interactions with their graduate mentorsthan their faculty advisors and 2) graduate students are often asked by their faculty advisors to bethe main points of contact for UR students. The relationship between graduate students and URstudents, however, is not without challenges. Among the challenges include graduate students’lack of knowledge in skills and practices in mentoring UR students. Therefore, the purpose ofthis study is to identify skills and practices that graduate mentors have successfully employed inan UR research setting and that undergraduate students have found to be beneficial.Undergraduates enrolled in

Conference Session

Research and Graduate Studies

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Vincent Capece, University of Kentucky; John R. Baker, University of Kentucky

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

graduate student and the advisor. This paper provides an overview ofthe experience of the authors in the development of research programs in mechanical engineeringin a distance education setting from an extended campus.Introduction and BackgroundWith the widespread availability of the internet and increased ownership of computers, it isnatural that distance education would develop that uses the online environment. Currently mostpublic and private universities and colleges have online courses. Moreover, there are for-profituniversities with online degree programs. The online courses have evolved to include advanceddegree programs involving a research component that could include a student thesis (see forexample References 1-5). A key part of these

Conference Session

General Topics in Graduate Education

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Katy Luchini-Colbry, Michigan State University; Korine Steinke Wawrzynski, Michigan State University; Megan Shannahan, Michigan State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

Engineering Education, 2013 Feeling Like a Grad Student: A Survey of Undergraduate Researchers’ Expectations and ExperiencesIntroductionParticipating in faculty-mentored research as an undergraduate can have a profound impact onstudents’ decisions about graduate school. Students are more likely to persevere in challengingundergraduate coursework when they have support from faculty mentors and can see theconnections between classroom knowledge and their research activities.1–3 This effect can beparticularly powerful for students from populations that are historically underrepresented inSTEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields.4–7 Undergraduates who participate

Conference Session

General Topics in Graduate Education

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mahnas Jean Mohammadi-Aragh, Virginia Tech; Lisa DuPree McNair, Virginia Tech

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

Page 23.647.2future teachers must demonstrate their ability and knowledge before they will be licensed toteach. The less common institutional portfolio consists of artifacts gathered from student andteaching portfolios, and is used to evaluate the institution rather than assessing the individualstudents. In this paper, we are investigating institutional portfolios for programmatic assessment.In other words, while student portfolios may be judged to individually provide feedback andfurther student degree progress, students do not receive a grade, per se. Student portfolios arebeing used to grade or assess the graduate program.Suskie15 gives five criteria for evaluating assessment. Specifically, good assessment should 1)originate from clear and

Conference Session

Training and Mentoring of Graduate Teaching Assistants

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rachel Louis Kajfez, Virginia Tech; Holly M Matusovich, Virginia Tech

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

theirFYEPs, but they do indicate that training is provided through other venues at the universitywhich helps them improve their teaching.IntroductionGraduate teaching assistants (GTAs) are a vital component to engineering courses includingmany first-year engineering programs (FYEPs). FYEPs tend to be large in size, having multiplesections of the same class requiring the use of GTAs whose roles vary across institutions frominstructional staff to lab supervisors to graders.1-4 Despite the widespread use of GTAs inengineering, especially in FYEPs, little is known about GTA’s experiences from the perspectiveof the GTA. While there are studies that describe and evaluate preparation courses for GTAs,evaluations tend to be short-term (e.g., right after the

Conference Session

Methods, Techniques, and New Programs in Graduate Education

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Niaz Latif, Purdue University, Calumet ; Joy L Colwell, Purdue University, Calumet (Tech)

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

interms of, 1) needs and justification, 2) planning process, 3) program description and objectives,4) curriculum, 5) implementation issues related to faculty, students, and resources, and 6)examples of MSV related industry projects. The description also includes the process, startingfrom a concept paper development through approval of the program by the State Commission ofHigher Education.IntroductionAdvanced modeling, simulation, and visualization technologies provide an innovative way forhumans to learn and understand extremely sophisticated concepts and problem solving skills aswell as effectively design and optimize complex systems and processes. Through visualizing,manipulating, and interacting with computer-generated simulations and models

Conference Session

Research and Graduate Studies

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Erika A. Mosyjowski, University of Michigan ; Shanna R. Daly, University of Michigan; Diane L Peters, University of Michigan; Steven J. Skerlos, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

practitioners betweencompleting their undergraduate degree and enrolling in a graduate program. In engineering andother STEM PhD programs, graduation age data suggests that a majority of doctoral students aredirect-pathway students, students who enroll in a graduate degree almost directly aftercompleting their undergraduate work1. Though returners are a minority of engineering doctoralstudents, their unique background and experiences make them an important group to study for anumber of reasons: 1. Returners represent new pathways to engineering graduate education. Highly trained engineers are critical to continued competitiveness in our global economy but there are currently too few students enrolling in engineering graduate programs2. The

Conference Session

Methods, Techniques, and New Programs in Graduate Education

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dominic R. Primé, Arizona State University; Bianca L. Bernstein, Arizona State University; Amy K. Way, Villanova University; Liza Cohen Hita Hita, Arizona State University; T Michael Liddell, CareerWISE, Arizona State University; Arti R. Sarma, Arizona State University; Jennifer M Bekki, Arizona State University, Polytechnic campus

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

details the process and development of the second major phase of the CareerWISEintervention: communication training aimed at strengthening the knowledge and skills helpful towomen as they navigate the varied interactions that may arise in mostly male environments. TheCareerWISE communication training modules are organized in a hierarchical structure withthree overarching categories: (1) Communication Elements, (2) Essential Skills, and (3)Advanced Strategies. The design protocol for module development employed a cyclical loopwhereby content material was developed, piloted, and revised based on participant feedback. Allof the CareerWISE communication training materials are interconnected, but also function asstand-alone pieces; this provides

Conference Session

Methods, Techniques, and New Programs in Graduate Education

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard Chiou, Drexel University ; Tzu-Liang Bill Tseng, University of Texas, El Paso; Yalcin Ertekin, Drexel University (Tech.); M. Eric Carr, Drexel University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

topics thatcan be integrated into manufacturing coursework at DU to include sustainabilityprinciples. Finally, the graduate online course has been evaluated and reviewed toindentify barriers and inclusion of sustainable green manufacturing course into currentcurriculum.1. IntroductionThe United States (U.S.) is on the cusp of transformational changes in how green industryis developed. Accelerating U.S. clean innovation, green manufacturing, and sustainabilityis an environmental necessity. Without new innovations and a robust clean technologypolicy, the United States will not be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) toneeded levels, unless the price of GHGs rises to politically unsustainable levels. Asimportant as these environmental

Conference Session

Graduate Student Experience

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Daniel P. Dempsey, University of Massachusetts Lowell; Carol Barry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell; Joey Mead, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies, Student

showed not only a high degree ofsatisfaction among the graduate student population, but also a general improvement of skills ineach of the three main focus areas.IntroductionAlthough industry requires young Ph.D.s. with well-rounded professional skills,1 many newgraduates lack these skills. First, with large number graduate students matriculating frominternational undergraduate programs, many students lack the ABET-required skills such asworking in multidisciplinary teams; understanding professional and ethical responsibility; andunderstanding the economic, environmental, and societal impact of their decisions.2,3Communications skills are also an issue.4 Second, for many universities the typical target forplacement of doctoral students is in

Conference Session

Training and Mentoring of Graduate Teaching Assistants

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tershia A. Pinder-Grover, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

“somewhat successful” or “very successful” with theirimplementation. Those respondents who did not use active learning were unsure how to usethese methods in their specific class, believe that their teaching responsibilities did not allowthem to use these approaches, or did not feel as though active learning was necessary. Thispaper examines these responses further to determine whether or not their teachingresponsibilities, their confidence with a variety of teaching-related tasks (e.g., lesson planning,working with students, etc.), and use of teaching peer mentors influence their decisions toincorporate active learning into their teaching practice. Recommendations for faculty supervisorsand TA training program organizers are provided.1

Conference Session

Graduate Student Experience

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Janet Y Tsai, University of Colorado at Boulder; Daria A Kotys-Schwartz, University of Colorado Boulder; Beverly Louie, University of Colorado, Boulder; Virginia Lea Ferguson, Mechanical Engineering; University of Colorado; Boulder, CO; Alyssa Nicole Berg, University of Colorado Boulder

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies, Student

of positive researchexperiences for future program participants.IntroductionEngineering colleges and universities are embracing mentoring programs as one strategy toimprove retention and persistence of their diverse undergraduate populations.1 A one-on-onementoring relationship provides individualized support for mentees, and a sense that a realperson actually cares about the mentee’s progress and development within their chosenengineering degree track. The connection between having a caring mentor and undergraduatepersistence in engineering was initially described in Seymour and Hewitt’s 1997 study TalkingAbout Leaving, as the ‘unsupportive culture’ of math, science, and engineering was one of theprimary reasons undergraduates chose to

Conference Session

Graduate Student Experience

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Irene B Mena, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Sven Schmitz, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies, Student

research experience do so from theundergraduate students’ perspectives; this paper focuses on this experience from the researchmentors’ perspectives. In this paper, the experiences of seven research mentors who wereinvolved with the course in the fall 2011 and spring 2012 semesters are described. The paperanswers the following research questions: (1) What benefits result from being a research mentor?and (2) In what ways does being a research mentor prepare graduate students for their futurecareers?Data were collected via individual interviews with the research mentors at the end of eachsemester. Using situated learning as the theoretical framework, the data were analyzed todetermine themes that characterized the research mentor experience. The

Conference Session

Research and Graduate Studies

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sarah Lyn Gassman, University of South Carolina; Michelle A Maher, University of South Carolina; Briana Timmerman, UVA Curry School of Education, Charlottesville VA; Charles E. Pierce, University of South Carolina

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

objectives were set forth:Students will demonstrate effective knowledge of 1. Common characteristics of primary literature and rationale for use; 2. How to read and synthesize primary literature like an engineer or scientist; 3. Information in and purpose of each research article section and how to evaluate the quality of each section; 4. Correct use of citations and references to others’ scholarly work; and 5. How to give, receive, and use constructive peer feedback on written materials.Twenty-two graduate students (1 master’s degree, 21 doctoral) enrolled in the course,representing the research efforts of nine separate civil engineering professors across four diverseareas of civil engineering (environmental

Conference Session

Methods, Techniques, and New Programs in Graduate Education

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Clara Pérez-Molina, DIEEC - National Distance Education University; Maria José Albert Gomez, UNED; Rosario Gil, Spanish University for Distance Education (UNED); GABRIEL DIAZ ORUETA, UNED; Elio Sancristobal, uned; Sergio Martin, UNED - Spanish University for Distance Education; Mohamed Tawfik, Spanish University for Distance Education (UNED); Manuel Castro, Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia; Alberto Pesquera, UNED; Félix García Loro

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

growing shortages of highly skilled workers in multiple areas ofengineering and information technology who have the knowledge to take full advantage ofwhat continually evolving technology has to offer and thus to ensure that their companies willstay competitive on the market. For this reason, Plovdiv University (Bulgaria) and theSpanish University for Distance Education UNED, along with several enterprises are workingin the PAC project, which has been funded with support from the European Commission.1. Introduction Universities, business and the employment world in general face continuous changesand needs of the today’s knowledge-based society, a society based on learning to learn to beable to address emerging developments in an ever

Conference Session

Training and Mentoring of Graduate Teaching Assistants

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nikitha Sambamurthy, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Jeremi S London, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Jeeyeon Hahn, Purdue University; Jiabin Zhu, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Monica Farmer Cox, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

performed in 15-second coding intervals usingvideotapes of engineering classrooms 3. This resulted in the development of a revised version ofthe Observer function (Figure 1), which provided phrases representing possible actions thatmight occur within an observed classroom. Page 23.1032.3 Figure 1. First revision of the Observer function of the G-RATEDespite of the advances made in the Observer function of the G-RATE from the VOS, inter-raterreliability was hampered by two factors. First, the researchers determined that the 15-secondtimeinterval was still too long. While 15-second time intervals may be an enough time for

Conference Session

General Topics in Graduate Education

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert M. Brooks, Temple University; Mehmet Cetin, Temple University; Jyothsna Kavuturu

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

United States will come from clean energysources by 20352.Most trips in almost all of the metropolitan regions in the country are driven by the owners of thecars with ridership ratio of 1:1 (between the number of riders and the cars). This process is notonly costly to individuals and society but also leads to air pollution and congestion. There areseveral solutions to this complex problem. One of the solutions is sharing cars. This is a moreefficient, but less convenient method. The objectives of this method are (1) to reduce traffic byreducing the number of cars needed by households and (2) allow commuters to bike, walk, and Page 23.1122.2use

Conference Session

Training and Mentoring of Graduate Teaching Assistants

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kevin Andrew Rosse-Richards, Purdue University; Juan Diego Velasquez, Purdue University, West Lafayette; David B Nelson, Purdue University; Chantal Levesque-Bristol, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

status, but not between time and TAs’ discipline affiliation.Recommendations for increasing TA self-efficacy and preparedness are provided as aredirections for future research.1. IntroductionAt large, research-intensive universities, many graduate students receive funding for their studiesthrough assistantships that involve research, teaching, or some combination of the two 1. Thosegraduate students who are funded as TAs are typically asked to become involved in a widespectrum of teaching activities ranging from grading undergraduate student work to serving asthe primary instructor for an undergraduate course1. Teaching opportunities are critical tograduate student development as those who plan to pursue careers in academia are likely to