Conference Session

Research Informing Teaching Practice I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Chris Venters, Virginia Tech; Lisa D. McNair, Virginia Tech; Marie C. Paretti, Virginia Tech

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

AC 2012-4530: USING WRITING ASSIGNMENTS TO IMPROVE CON-CEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING IN STATICS: RESULTS FROM A PILOTSTUDYMr. Chris Venters, Virginia Tech Chris Venters is a Ph.D. candidate in engineering education at Virginia Tech. His primary research in- terests involve studying conceptual understanding among students in early undergraduate engineering courses. He received his B.S. in aerospace engineering from North Carolina State University and his M.S. in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech.Dr. Lisa D. McNair, Virginia Tech Lisa McNair is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech, where she also serves as Assistant Department Head for Graduate Education and co-directs the

Conference Session

ERM Potpourri

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

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

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

discussion matter including study skills, stress management, study abroad opportunities,and time management. As seen through both academic results (GPA, % honors, % probation, %transfers) and quantitative survey results, the program has been demonstrated to have a positiveeffect and has been lauded as a major success [6]. Page 25.678.3Similarly, the Graduate, Undergraduate Initiative for Development and Enhancement (GUIDE)program at Michigan Technological University groups entering 1st year engineering studentswith a sophomore, junior, or senior student as well as a graduate student mentor. Together, thesegroups of 3 are required to attend weekly

Conference Session

Contextual Competencies

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hyun Kyoung Ro, Carnegie Mellon University; Lisa R. Lattuca, University of Michigan; Dan Merson, Pennsylvania State University; Patrick T. Terenzini, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

with quantitative social science studies of collegestudent experiences and outcomes, an engineering faculty member, and doctoral students whohad worked in colleges of engineering, had previous engineering experience in both college andindustry, or were graduate engineering students. Once drafted, the survey instruments were reviewed by engineering faculty andadministrators at Penn State who met in focus groups with the members of the team to revise andrefine the individual items. The faculty, four-year student, and two-year college studentinstruments were then pilot tested as described in a subsequent section. After the pilot test, theresearch team again met with focus groups of engineering faculty members and administratorsfrom Penn

Conference Session

Thinking About the Engineering Curriculum

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Olga Pierrakos, James Madison University; Anna Zilberberg; Christopher W. Swan, Tufts University; Angela R. Bielefeldt, University of Colorado, Boulder; Kurt Paterson P.E., Michigan Technological University; John J. Duffy, University of Massachusetts, Lowell; Sean Mcvay, James Madison Univeristy

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

AC 2012-5229: FACULTY SURVEY ON LEARNING THROUGH SERVICE:DEVELOPMENT AND INITIAL FINDINGSDr. Olga Pierrakos, James Madison University Olga Pierrakos is an Associate Professor and founding faculty member in the School of Engineering, which is graduating its inaugural class May 2012, at James Madison University. Pierrakos holds a B.S. in engineering science and mechanics, an M.S. in engineering mechanics, and a Ph.D. in biomedical en- gineering from Virginia Tech. Her interests in engineering education research center around recruitment and retention, engineering design instruction and methodology, learning through service (NSF EFELTS project), understanding engineering students through the lens of identity theory