Conference Session

Projects in Alternative Energy

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

José Colucci Ríos P.E., University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez; Efrain O'Neill-Carrillo, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez; Miriam del Rosario Fontalvo

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

supported by grants from theAlfred P. Sloan Foundation, Air Force Research Laboratory, Department of Homeland Securityand more important the Department of Education. The latter sponsors CIVIS, a Center forResources in General Education established at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez (UPRM)campus to provide a new perspective in general and STEM education [6]. CIVIS, which means“citizen” in Latin, brings together faculty from Business Administration, Arts and Sciences,Agriculture and Engineering in order to develop interdisciplinary activities that further theuniversity’s mission of shaping productive and committed citizens. CIVIS challenges thetraditional classification of “technical skills” and “soft-skills”, substituting it by an

Conference Session

Accreditation and Outcomes-based Education

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jens Kabo, Chalmers University of Technology; Xiaofeng Tang, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Dean Nieusma, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; John Currie, University of Sydney; Hu Wenlong, Beihang University; Caroline Baillie, University of Western Australia

Tagged Divisions

Liberal Education/Engineering & Society

, segregation has endured betweenprofessional (math, science and engineering analysis courses) and general education (H&SScourses) or “hard” and “soft skills”4 or, in yet other words, technical and social content. In theeyes of Leydens and Schneider, the outcomes-based criteria of ABET EC 2000 have providednew opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and integration of H&SS (in their case,communication content specifically) approaches into engineering education.5As a counterpoint, Seron and Silbey highlight difficulties for innovative engineering educationinitiatives to align with the instrumentality of ABET requirements.6 Studying efforts at FranklinL. Olin College of Engineering and Smith College’s Picker Engineering Program, Seron

Conference Session

Relevance of and Models for Community Engagement in Engineering Education

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Karinna M. Vernaza, Gannon University; Theresa M. Vitolo, Gannon University; Barry J. Brinkman, Gannon University; Scott Steinbrink, Gannon University

Tagged Divisions

Community Engagement Division

for those suffering from cerebral palsy. A recent exerciseallowed clients to participate in a geocaching activity which integrated retention of presentedmaterials with recall of known facts about their home area.9One of the ways adults with disabilities are supported through the Barber Institute is byproviding vocational training and work-site opportunities. Clients proceed through an initialassessment, hard and soft skills training, individualized and specific site-training, and exposureto labor incentives. Once clients are prepared and qualified, they may move into supportedemployment services.While in supported employment, a client is guided and supported by an employment specialist, ajob coach. Clients (1) may become direct hires, (2) may

Conference Session

Student Entrepreneurial and Innovative Mindset

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth W. Van Treuren, Baylor University; Buford Randall Jean, Baylor University; Cynthia C. Fry, Baylor University

Tagged Divisions

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation

found in any engineering program and can be mappeddirectly to courses that are very similar from program to program.4 However, the “soft”outcomes raise some interesting questions. These soft skills as stated in the a-k Student Page 25.1246.2Outcomes include: (d) an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams (f) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility (g) an ability to communicate effectively (h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context (i) a recognition of the need for, and an

Conference Session

Thinking About the Engineering Curriculum

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Geoffrey L. Herman, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Mark H. Somerville, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; David E. Goldberg, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Kerri Ann Green, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

thempursue their personal goals. Rather than learning only about how a computer works, this teamused the opportunity to develop many of the “soft skills” or nuances of engineering. Theydeveloped teamwork skills, explored the tradeoffs of different design methods, found ways touse their engineering skills to help their fellow students, and learned how to conduct backgroundresearch on a topic that they had never seen before. Learning Team 2 experienced mixed success. The team struggled to find an identity thatcaptured the imagination and motivations of the members, but many of the members discoveredthat success in education is achieved more by effort rather than by ability. The team pursuedharder challenges as the semester progressed, despite an

Conference Session

Progress in Manufacturing Education III

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hugh Jack P.Eng., Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Manufacturing

Quarter-Century of Manufacturing Education”, ASEE AnnualMeeting, Louisville, KY, June 2010.6. Waldorf, D., Alptekin, S., Bjurman, R., “Plotting a Bright Future for Manufacturing Education: Results of aBrainstorming Session”, ASEE Annual Meeting, 2006. Page 25.1276.11Appendix A - Manufacturing Engineering Curriculum CommentsNote: Underlined text indicated items not addressed in the survey. • Project management and collaboration is important in today's environment. Soft skills will help one's career as much as technical education. • Focus on design and how it facilitates lean manufacturing. • I believe the portion of

Conference Session

Factors Affecting Student Performance

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Karen J. Horton P.E., University of Maine

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

articles have been written about teamwork and team development in engineering andengineering technology programs. In the ASEE Proceedings data base alone, since 1998, 67articles appear with the word “teamwork” in the title.Edmonson and Summers write about the Engineering Technology Department at the Universityof Dayton, “The ability to work on teams is a very important business skill. Some educators Page 25.1076.12choose to call it a “soft skill.” However, our Industrial Advisory Committee members and thebusinesses hiring our graduates choose to call it a “critical skill”.”15 They focus both on teamdynamics and individual characteristics using

Conference Session

Innovative College-Industry Partnerships for the Future

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Samuel P. Clemence, Syracuse University; Sharon W. Alestalo, Syracuse University; Shobha K. Bhatia, Syracuse University; Eric M. Lui, Syracuse University; Ossama M. Salem, Syracuse University

Tagged Divisions

College Industry Partnerships

Conference Session

Professional Aspects of Graduate Engineering Programs

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joy Watson, University of South Carolina; Jed S. Lyons, University of South Carolina

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

. Researchersmust discuss subjects and ideas outside of their comfort zone when it comes to research. Hiscompany wants passionate people who can work in teams. Being able to think broadly is alsoimportant. He did state that if a person is passionate, the “soft” skills can be developed. Page 25.860.9Chris had several internships as a graduate student sponsored by his current company. Hecommented that one of the biggest challenges many Ph.D.s face in transitioning from academiato industry is their way of thinking. They have to be able to think of not only a specific topic, asthey do in academia, but the big picture as well. The big picture is often missed by