Conference Session

Improving Technical Understanding of All Americans

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mary Rose, Ball State University; Jim Flowers, Ball State University

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

: 1. Develop inquiry skills which support technological decision-making and policy development, including planning, collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting empirical data. 2. Analyze product usability and perform usability research. 3. Develop proficiencies in planning, implementing, and reporting a technology assessment. 4. Identify and forecast the risks and impacts of technological decisions upon society and the environment. 5. Make informed, sound decisions regarding technology based upon empirical evidence and sustainability principles.Essentially, the course is organized around two themes with approximately six weeks of the 16-week course dedicated to a

Conference Session

Improving Technical Understanding of All Americans

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Daniel Engstrom, ITEA/Cal U

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

on student learning is shown by the pre-test/ post-test results and Page 13.811.7examples of student work. Students scored higher on post-tests than pre-test indicating theirunderstanding of unit content. In addition, the project director has numerous and varied examplesof student work that demonstrates students’ understanding and application of the EngineeringDesign Process. This work supports teacher perceptions that the students did learn skills such asusing the Engineering Design Process, thinking skills, problem solving, planning skills, use ofmaterials, vocabulary, and sketching ideas. Numerous examples of student use of these skillswere

Conference Session

Engineering for Nonengineers: Ideas & Results

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mani Mina, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

manufacturing that is totallydependant on manual labor will be moving countries with lower labor cost. Consequently, themain part of the non-engineering US workforce (especially those who will not have engineeringor technological trainings) will have to have fundamental understanding of technology, the usageof technology and issues related to technology.In addition fundamental understanding of technology is becoming necessary for many managers,directors, CEOs, as well as policy makers. However, most such key decision makers do not haveengineering degrees. At the same time such individuals are defining policies, companydirections, and future planning for technologically related or technologically affected disciplines

Conference Session

Improving Technical Understanding of All Americans

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Elaine Cooney, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis; Karen Alfrey; Steve Owens, Indiana University - Purdue University-Indianapolis

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

thosetechniques through repetition of contrived problems designed to have a “right” answer, isnot giving our students enough opportunity to hone their skills as independent, criticalthinkers.Whatever the reason for the results, it is clear that our Engineering and Technologystudents do not believe that their education enhances their ability to think critically andanalytically to the same extent as do other IUPUI students. Engineering and Technologyfaculty, however, believe that we are providing skills in this area consistent with theguidelines of ABET and with our Principles of Undergraduate Learning. In short, wehave a gap between what the faculty thinks it has taught the students and what thestudents think they have learned. We plan to narrow this gap

Conference Session

Engineering for Nonengineers: Ideas & Results

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Vince Bertsch, Santa Rosa Junior College

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

received news that the Engr 12 course hadbeen approved for transferability to the UC and CSU systems. The next hurdle would be the UCGeneral Education Review Committee whose official decisions would be sent in April of ’08.The Engineering & Physics Department at SRJC would continue the planning for offering theEngr 12 class in the Fall of 2008.In the middle of January ’08, the author received unofficial feedback through the college’sarticulation officer that the UC GE committee had performed an initial screening of the Engr 12submission. The feedback was not good. The committee will be rejecting Engr 12 for inclusionas a science GE for the UC and CSU system.The SRJC Engr 12 course outline is included below and is also available at:http

Conference Session

Engineering for Nonengineers: Ideas & Results

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gregory Zieren, Austin Peay State University; John Blake, Austin Peay State University

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

of 19th and 20th century technology and American inventions and innovations. Theuniversity core requirements include two courses in American history, and the focus ondevelopments in the United States let students to build on this foundation.In the planning stages for the course, the authors discussed and selected specific topics forpresentation. Lecture topics presented by the authors included - Machinery in the First Industrial Revolution, - Resistance to Technology: Luddites, Child Labor, - the Early American Industrial Revolution, - the American System of Machine Tools, - the Brooklyn Bridge, - the Steam Engine: Revolution in Power, - the Steam Engine in Transportation – Railroads, - the Age of Electricity