Conference Session

Engineering Design: Implementation and Evaluation

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jennifer Cole, Northwestern University; Robert Linsenmeier, Northwestern University; Ann McKenna, Northwestern University; Matthew Glucksberg, Northwestern University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

literacy.” Sinceour focus is on mathematical modeling in the context of engineering design, we usedGainsburg’s2 framework to structure our activities and data collection. (Other authors3-5 havepresented additional, similar frameworks for the creation of mathematical models.) Specifically,Gainsburg identified six steps for what mathematical modeling should include: 1. Identify the real-world phenomenon 2. Simplify or idealize the phenomenon 3. Express the idealized phenomenon mathematically (i.e., “mathematize”) 4. Perform the mathematical manipulations (i.e., “solve” the model) 5. Interpret the mathematical solution in real-world terms 6. Test the interpretation against realityShe studied the use of mathematical models in

Conference Session

Engineering Design: Implementation and Evaluation

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Shanna Daly, University of Michigan; Seda Yilmaz, University of Michigan; Colleen Seifert, University of Michigan; Richard Gonzalez, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

to a design problem totake the designer to a different part of this space of potential design solutions.Evidence for Design HeuristicsIn a previous study, the application of heuristics that transformed previous concepts wasobserved within an expert designer’s ideation process18. For example, in one design concept, theexpert combined three structural heuristics: (1) changing the configuration of the identical designelements utilized in the previous concept in order to repeatedly use a swiveling motion around acommon base, while (2) changing the physical interaction of the user with the system, and (3)adding multiple functionalities to the same component. In a set of designs that were quite varied,several specific heuristics were observed

Conference Session

Educational Research & Methods Poster Session

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ming-Chien Hsu, Purdue University; Monica Cardella, Purdue University; Senay Purzer, Purdue University; Noemi Mendoza Diaz, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

educate engineering literate citizens, who can make informeddecisions about technology use 1. From an individual standpoint, engineering literateindividuals can get benefits at home and work, such as operating systems correctly andchoosing the best consumer products. “Engineering literacy” relates to understanding issuesinvolving conceiving, building, maintaining and designing objects or processes in theman-made world. It is synonymous with “technology literacy” used in the national sciencestandards 2. In this paper, we will use the term design, engineering, and technology (DET) tocapture the broader meaning of engineering education. In comparison to science andmathematics education, engineering education at the K-12 level is underdeveloped 3

Conference Session

New Learning Paradigms II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ming-Chien Hsu, Purdue University; Monica Cardella, Purdue University; Senay Purzer, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

design task that prompts students tocritique someone else’s design process, as it is documented in a Gantt chart with a brief verbaldescription7. In addition to administering the task to many different populations of engineeringstudents, Bailey has also administered the task to practicing engineers in order to further validatethe instrument8.We have changed the task description to ask the teachers to examine a students’ design processas depicted in Figure 1. The task description asked the teachers to “Imagine that you asked yourstudents to design a container to keep an egg safe during an egg drop contest. Now imagine thatwe were able to capture one of the students’ design process and create the following tableshowing the different activities

Conference Session

New Learning Paradigms II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Juyeon Yun, Purdue University; Monica Cardella, Purdue University; Senay Purzer, Purdue University; Ming-Chien Hsu, Purdue University; Yoojung Chae, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

classrooms, and, finally, behavior pertains to parents’engineering-related activities with their children in their daily life. The following are thedefinitions of the three domains used in the study: ≠ Definitions 1. Parents’ engineering knowledge: comprehension of the basic principles and concepts of engineering 2. Parents’ engineering attitudes: feelings and beliefs about engineering Page 15.423.4 3. Parents’ engineering behavior: the frequencies of activities parents do with their childrenMethodologyPrior to beginning the process of developing this instrument, the Parents’ EngineeringAwareness

Conference Session

Knowing our Students, Faculty, and Profession

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Katherine Winters, Virginia Tech; Holly Matusovich, Virginia Tech; Ruth Streveler, Purdue Universtiy

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

faculty members.1 Aspart of the undergraduate education process, faculty guide students through thousands of hours inclassrooms and laboratories. To design better educational experiences for engineering students,faculty must understand how students perceive these interactions and how such interactionscontribute to engagement in learning. Using self-determination theory 2 and analyzinglongitudinal interview data, we explored students‟ perceptions of interactions with faculty andhow these interactions changed during their four undergraduate years.Literature ReviewSelf-determination theory (SDT) posits the importance of socio-contextual factors in humanmotivation.3, 4 In learning environments, socio-contextual factors include social aspects such

Conference Session

ERM Potpourri

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mitchell Nathan, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Amy Atwood, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Amy Prevost, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Allen Phelps, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

significantly lessinclined to use students’ interests and backgrounds to shape classroom instruction. The primarychange attributable specifically to the intervention was the increased belief among newly mintedPLTW teachers that they were providing engineering instruction that effectively integratedscience and math concepts. While this is seen as desirable and in keeping with current educationefforts, the final section examines some of the challenges of implementing effective STEMintegration in high school classrooms.The Importance of Studying Teacher Beliefs about Engineering EducationAs U.S. high schools respond to calls for improving student learning in math, science and pre-college engineering 1 and the availability of increased funding

Conference Session

ERM Potpourri

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Pao-Chi Chen, Lunghwa University Science and Technology; Kwannin Kuo, Lunghwa University of Science and Technology; Meei-Ruey Hsu, Ming-Chuan University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

-interviewed according to their rich experiences in teaching, research, andindustrial performance were invited to be the interviewees. Seven of them are from industries;eight of them are academic scholars and five are from research institutes. Most ofexperts-interviewed are invited in Taiwan, while 2 of 20 experts-interviewed are invited fromIndia and America, respectively. The profile of interviewees is shown below: 1. 12 experts-interviewed with PHD degree 2. 17 experts-interviewed have working experience over 20 years: 5 in industry, 7 in universities and 5 in Research Institutes Underpinned by employment and certificate guidance, fourteen questions (as tabulated inAppendix 1) were listed to be used for the interviews. These

Conference Session

Measurement Tools

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Laura L. Pauley, Pennsylvania State University; Jonna M. Kulikowich, Pennsylvania State University; Nell Sedransk, National Institute of Statistical Sciences; Renata Engel, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

.  Background and MotivationThe purpose of this paper is to introduce mathematical and spatial-reasoning constructs that arekeys to academic success in engineering. The term, “construct”, is defined as a latent,unobservable trait, such as an ability or skill that directs how students select or generate answers totest items.1 Several constructs or latent traits have been identified as important in engineeringeducation. The authors illustrate how test items can be designed given various classroomassessment goals (e.g., course examinations, homework assignments) for two sets of constructsthat can result in reliable and valid scores. Specifically, two mathematical constructs and twospatial-reasoning constructs are the focus of this paper. The mathematical

Conference Session

Classroom Engagement

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joanna DeFranco, Pennsylvania State University; Colin Neill, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

CCM could be part of the answer.CCMThe main goal of the CCM is to assist in facilitating critical thinking and effective problemsolving among the collaborators. The CCM described briefly in this paper is made up of sixstages: Problem Formulation, Solution Planning, Solution Design, Solution Translation, SolutionTesting, and Solution Delivery. Each stage is further broken down into three phases.For the purposes of this paper we will only focus on the details of the first two stages of theCCM: problem formulation and solution planning. The three phases of the problem formulation Page 15.701.4stage (stage 1) are: Preliminary Problem Description

Conference Session

New Learning Paradigms II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Chandra Austin, Utah State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

AC 2010-30: AN INVESTIGATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOLSTUDENTS' CAREER DECISION SELF-EFFICACYChandra Austin, Utah State University Page 15.167.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010An Investigation of African American High School Students’ Career Decision Self-efficacy Underutilization of minorities in science and engineering is a national problem 1. If Americais to maintain its global competiveness, we must educate our populace in high priority areas.African Americans continue to be hesitant to undertake the more rigorous math and sciencecourses that provide a base for preparation in engineering. Research states that this

Conference Session

Measurement Tools

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Adam Carberry, Tufts University; Matthew Ohland, Purdue University; Chris Swan, Tufts University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

responses to the EBAE were used to validate the instrumentand analyze the epistemological beliefs – certainty of knowledge, simplicity of knowledge,source of knowing, and justification for knowing – of first-year engineering students. Results ofthis study produced thirteen validated items, which gauged first-year engineering students’epistemological beliefs as slightly sophisticated – mean score of 63.8 ≥ 8.4 out of 100.IntroductionIn 2006, a special report addressing The Research Agenda for the New Discipline of EngineeringEducation identified five research areas to “inform how the content should be taught as well ashow future learning environments should be designed”;[1] one of these areas was EngineeringEpistemologies. Epistemology is a branch

Conference Session

Knowing our Students, Faculty, and Profession

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Samantha Brunhaver, Stanford University; Russell Korte, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Micah Lande, Stanford University; Sheri Sheppard, Stanford University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

education is to prepare students for engineering in the 21stcentury. Yet critics of engineering education point to the lack of preparation students obtain inschool. This paper examines the career supports and barriers that one cohort of recentengineering graduates experienced in the workplace. Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT)describes supports and barriers as environmental factors that individuals perceive as having thepotential to either aid or hinder their pursuit of a particular career goal.1 In this study, supportsand barriers are identified in the engineering departments of four U.S.-based companies. Thedata were gathered from semi-structured interviews with 59 newly hired engineers who hadrecently graduated from college. In two of the

Conference Session

Educational Research & Methods Poster Session

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Denise Grant; Julie Trenor

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

Use of the Critical Incident Technique for Qualitative Research in Engineering Education: An Example from a Grounded Theory StudyAbstract The critical incident technique is a well-established qualitative research method that isuseful in exploring significant experiences in order to better understand resulting behavior. Thecritical incident technique is emerging as a tool for research and for building theories inengineering education.1, 2 This paper describes the initial state of a grounded theory study. Thepurpose of the larger study is to develop a theory that relates how students perceive the role oftheir family in making engineering-related academic decisions. The population

Conference Session

Student Attitudes and Perceptions

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Justin Micomonaco, Michigan State University; Jon Sticklen, Michigan State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

can be better understood by examining the studentexperience holistically.Theoretical Framework Veenstra et al. proposed a few minor changes to Tinto’s model to reflect the departuredecision of undergraduate engineers (See Figure 1).23 In their retention model, pre-collegecharacteristics affect how students experience college both academically and socially. Thestudent experience in turn impacts two broad commitments and academic success that influencea student’s decision to persist in the discipline. Thus the student experience is a critical variableand is defined by the student’s academic and social integration. Accordingly students’ academicand social integration is a key predictor of persistence in the Model of Engineering

Conference Session

Student Attitudes and Perceptions

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tracee Gilbert, Virginia Tech; Janis Terpenny, Virginia Tech; Sharnnia Artis, The Ohio State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

; ≠ a participatory method to elicit, identify, and document student success needs; ≠ a mapping process to develop precise need statements that holistically capture a comprehensive set of engineering student needs of students; and a ≠ questionnaire to evaluate the S2ONA frameworkII. Student Success Theoretical Perspectives The S2ONA framework (within the S2OSD methodology) is motivated by a collection ofstudent success theoretical perspectives. A cursory review of the most comprehensive andinfluential theoretical perspectives is presented in Table 1 to provide an understanding of those Page 15.1122.2factors associated

Conference Session

Special Session: Next Generation Problem-Solving

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Eric Hamilton, United States Air Force Academy; Mary Besterfield-Sacre, University of Pittsburgh; Barbara Olds, Colorado School of Mines; Nora Siewiorek, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

-solving,and build collaborative skills emphasized in reform literature. Modeling as a key strategy toengineering education carries risk that exclusively didactic and sequential approaches do not, butit appears that much of this risk can be mitigated.IntroductionThe word curriculum has two related lineages from the original Latin term currere. One refers tothe rut in the ground that wheelbarrows would follow in ancient agrarian cultures. The rutguides, but is inflexible and uni‐directional. Another involves a more literal meaning of currere,to run. This implies a sense of dynamism and motion [1]. Curriculum development traditionallyhas largely involved following a pedagogical, instructional and representational scheme as it canbe used to render a

Conference Session

Classroom Engagement

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Edward Greco, Arkansas Tech University; Jim Reasoner, Arkansas Tech University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

1− 2∃3 4 % ( ∗ # # ∃ 0 567 − ∃ )67

Conference Session

Measurement Tools

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Patricia Ralston, University of Louisville; Cathy Bays, University of Louisville

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

understand the differences in grading an artifact and rating itaccording to the rubric.1. OverviewSection 2 of this paper gives a brief background on critical thinking in general, a short review ofcritical thinking primarily with respect to engineering education, and explains why the Paul-Elder framework was selected by the University of Louisville as a specific model to guide the Page 15.1022.2implementation and emphasis of critical thinking throughout the university and engineeringcurriculum. Section 3 discusses the relationship between critical thinking and the ABEToutcomes, emphasizing why critical thinking and its assessment, both as an

Conference Session

Educational Research

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Lattuca, Pennsylvania State University; David Knight, The Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

of terms and definitions, raising an important methodological question. Shouldwe exclude discussions of educational practices and activities that did not meet our definition?How we answered the question of what to count as “interdisciplinary” would have a substantiveimpact on our analysis. If we prioritized the extant theoretical definitions in the literature (whichguided the study) over the definitions-in-use of our study participants, we would eliminate fromconsideration of interdisciplinary teaching activities that 1) were not clearly focused on theintegration of disciplinary knowledge, and 2) designed solely for engineers.This question of what to “count” as interdisciplinary is philosophical, as well as methodological.Qualitative

Conference Session

New Learning Paradigms I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nora Siewiorek, University of Pittsburgh; Larry Shuman, University of Pittsburgh; Mary Besterfield-Sacre, University of Pittsburgh; Kara Santelli, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

implemented.CNC Machine Replacement. This is a two part MEA. Specifically, the chief engineer isinterested in replacing an aging but quite functional CNC machine with a newer model. He viewsthis as a significant opportunity, especially since the purchase would not come out of hisoperating budget. Consequently, the chief engineer requests a group of consultants (i.e., thestudent team) to demonstrate that the new machine will outperform the current one as measuredby unit production time, cost, and quality; thus building a strong case for purchase (Part 1). In Page 15.499.5Part 2, the team is asked to re-do their analyses to show that the replacement is

Conference Session

Knowing our Students, Faculty, and Profession

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew Holsapple, University of Michigan; Donald Carpenter, Lawrence Technological University; Janel Sutkus, Carnegie Mellon University; Cynthia Finelli, University of Michigan; Kelley Walczak, University of Michigan; Trevor Harding, California Polytechnic State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

competenciesnecessary for the next generation of engineers, suggests that future engineers will need to“possess a working framework upon which high ethical standards and a strong sense ofprofessionalism can be developed,”1 and the Accreditation Board of Engineering andTechnology (ABET) has stressed the importance of colleges and universities providing studentswith effective ethics engineering education2.Despite these calls, ethics education efforts have differing levels of success. In another report,NAE expressed concern that students are not being well-educated to understand the “social andethical implications” of their technical skills3, and empirical evidence suggests that some of thepractices used in engineering ethics education, including case studies and

Conference Session

Engineering Design: Implementation and Evaluation

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Xaver Neumeyer, Northwestern University; Ann McKenna, Northwestern University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

student and faculty perceptions of productive conflict. Themain conflicts that were reported in our study included conflicts of commitment, differentideas about the project direction as well as different working styles.Results from this research will enable us to rethink common models of team conflict anddevelop direct and indirect intervention strategies that can help students to better integrateemotion and intellect in engineering design and innovation.IntroductionAlthough design projects and course structures may vary, there has been a consistentattempt to integrate team experiences into the engineering design curriculum 1-5. Whilethere has been significant work that describes instructional approaches for integrating andassessing teamwork

Conference Session

Student Attitudes and Perceptions

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jennifer Atchison, Drexel University; Dorothea Holmes-Stanley, St. Cyprian's School; Adam Fontecchio, Drexel University; Eli Fromm, Drexel University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

fromgroups traditionally underrepresented in science and technology fields. Seventy percentof the participants qualified for Title I remediation and the school ranked in the top 12%of the bottom tier in the district-wide standardized test. The current 7th and 8th gradeclasses have had a NSF GK-12 fellow in the science class for 13 months. The 5th and 6thgrade classes have only had 3 months of dedicated science class with the GK-12 fellowand this is their first long term project in science. To date the 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes Page 15.1325.3have completed their graphic novel. The completion percentages per class are tabulatedin table 1. As

Conference Session

Special Session: Innovation through Improv

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter Ludovice, Georgia Institute of Technology; Lew Lefton, Georgia Institute of Technology; Richard Catrambone, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

responsible for its lack of effectiveness in technical areas, such as engineering.IntroductionThe importance of creativity was aptly described by Dr. Joseph Bordogna, Deputy Director andChief Operating Officer of the National Science Foundation as “what societal progress… is allabout,” in a 2002 speech at the Rochester Institute of Technology.1 Numerous others haveextolled the importance of creativity, including the Editor in Chief of “Power ElectronicsTechnology” who points out that Engineering Innovation requires creativity.2 Given recentscience and technology challenges for new enabling technologies in the fields of energy, healthand the environment, it is generally agreed that creativity is of critical importance to produce thisrequired technical

Conference Session

Knowing our Students, Faculty, and Profession

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anna Pereira, Michigan Technological University; Michele Miller, Michigan Technological University; William Helton, Michigan Technological University; Leonard Bohmann, Michigan Technological University; Chris VanArsdale, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

traditionalmale traits and is male dominated, women often attempt to assimilate by disqualifying theirfemininity and by matching the male styles of behavior12.Survey Version 1In the first survey, we asked respondents to rate the relative importance of various attributes(including hands-on ability) for new engineering hires. Our list of nine attributes looks similar tothose compiled by various engineering organizations, including the NAE. The surveys wereadministered to exhibitors at an engineering conference in October 2008 and to recruiters at an Page 15.149.3on-campus career fair in February 2009. Respondents rated the nine traits on a scale of 1

Conference Session

Conceptual Learning

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aidsa Santiago Roman, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez; Ruth Streveler, Purdue Universtiy; Paul Steif, Carnegie Mellon University; Louis DiBello, University of Illinois at Chicago

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

the Fusion Model toCATS. Each phase had a specific objective that was tied to a primary research question. Thispaper focuses on phase 1 – the generation of a Q-matrix that relates a set of cognitive attributesto specific CATS questions. The process used in this phase of the study consisted of analyzingthe items in CATS and determining the cognitive attributes required for students to choose thecorrect answer. These attributes were identified based on Minstrell’s framework – facets ofunderstanding. Results from this study led to the development of a Q-matrix in which 13attributes were identified among the 27 items. Six of those attributes were identified andexpected to be more problematic. Identification of these attributes provide an

Conference Session

Special Session: Next Generation Problem-Solving

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tamara Moore, University of Minnesota; Brian Self, California Polytechnic State University; Margret Hjalmarson, George Mason University; Judith Zawojewski, Illinois Institute of Technology; Barbara Olds, Colorado School of Mines; Ronald Miller, Colorado School of Mines; Heidi Diefes-Dux, Purdue University; Richard Lesh, Indiana University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

. Page 15.1085.2© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Model-Eliciting Activities: A Construct For Better Understanding Student Knowledge and SkillsIntroductionThe ABET criteria for engineering programs include that students should have “an ability toapply mathematics, science and engineering”, “an ability to design a system, component, orprocess to meet desired needs”, “an ability to identify, formulate and solve engineeringproblems”, and “an ability to communicate effectively”, and “a knowledge of contemporaryissues”1. One manner of integrating teamwork and engineering contexts in undergraduateengineering is through the educational construct of Model-Eliciting Activities (MEAs). MEAsare a class of

Conference Session

Educational Research & Methods Poster Session

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Ryan; Nhut Ho; Shelley Bartenstein

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

; defining specific learning objectives for the course;and assigning a rating of student performance from 1 to 4 for each of the program outcomes andlearning objectives. A rubric has been developed to assist with the assignment of scores for theprogram outcomes. Other aspects of the Department’s assessment plan include senior exitinterviews, review of course assessments by members of our Industrial Advisory Board (IAB),and senior design presentation reviews by IAB members. One of the weaknesses of theassessment process has been a lack of consistency among faculty members in terms of therubrics used for evaluation of student work. The development of the rubrics discussed in thispaper is an effort to create consistent instruments which can be used for

Conference Session

Modeling Student Data

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

P.K. Imbrie, Purdue University; Joe Jien-Jou Lin, Purdue University; Kenneth Reid, Ohio Northern University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

among the various toolswithin the machine learning community. During the past decades it has been widely usedin technical applications involving prediction and classification, especially in areas ofengineering, business and medicine22,23. The neural network model is especially attractivefor modeling complex systems because of its favorable properties: universal functionapproximation capability, accommodation of multiple non-linear variables with unknowninteractions, and good generalization ability24. More modeling details on applying NN topredict student retention in engineering can be found in Imbrie et al.4.C. Retention ModelsFive different forms of retention models (A, B, C, D and E as shown in Table 1) wereused in this study to evaluate the