programs.Confidence in digital tools was relatively high, with 49% feeling very confident. These resultshighlight the need for more interactive and adaptive content, robust technical support, and strongerfeedback mechanisms to enhance learning outcomes. This study provides actionablerecommendations for integrating these improvements into engineering and other higher educationcurricula, bridging the gap between technology and pedagogy to meet student needs effectively ina post-pandemic academic environment.IntroductionBefore the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online learning platforms, existingresearch had already explored student preferences and challenges related to online education [1-4]. Both synchronous and asynchronous modes were gaining
activities will be organized for each cohort of students in whichthey learn about the practical fieldwork of STEM professions. These activities will be designed insuch a way that students learn about the basics of automation, coding, and robotics. All studentswill be assigned a task over time to write simple codes and make simple projects. As the club willhave partnerships with Siemens Foundation and local colleges and companies, it will organizemonthly, quarterly, and annual meetings, seminars, and workshops to further give an insight to themiddle and high school students about the higher studies and fieldwork of STEM-related fields. Figure 1 AI Model (Majjate, et al., 2023) Also, as the present study aims to
engineering systems. As the worldbecomes increasingly data-driven, the ability to understand and apply statistical methods hasbecome a critical skill not only for specialists but for a wide range of professionals [1] [2]. Indisciplines such as biomedical engineering, pharmacology, and industrial engineering, statisticalliteracy enables advancements in patient care, drug development, and operational efficiency [3].Moreover, industries and organizations now rely heavily on statistical techniques to deriveactionable insights from vast quantities of data, underscoring its pervasive role in both innovationand routine operations [4].Despite the importance of statistics, student attitudes towards statistics education are often negativeeven before classes [5
from time to time and with digital labs.II. Two examples of PBL implementationAuthors of this paper use the PBL approach for first year engineering students. They arereflecting on how to enhance their practice for implementation in the Global South. The firstexample presents the way PBL is done in the engineering college at the Loyola University ofCongo (DRC, Global South) and the second is presented as an interview with a professor at theengineering college of University of Detroit Mercy (USA, North).II.1. Steps of a PBL at the Loyola University of CongoAt the engineering school of the Loyola University of Congo, PBL approach is used in severalcourses, among which the introduction to industrial engineering science. In the beginning of theyear
following steps: (1) participation in formalenrichment programs/seminars/trainings, (2) systematic review of course outlines and materials,(3) a monthly series of conversations that examined sustainability in the context of engineeringeducation from academic, social, and personal perspectives, and (4) conducting a student surveyto evaluate sustainability awareness. This formal process, along with the ABET accreditationcontinuous improvement process, deepened the awareness of how and what courses need to beimproved. Most importantly, the discussions improved the clarity and understanding of how thesame technical material can be delivered in different sections of the course with different coursemodalities across all engineering programs. In this work
is on recruiting, supporting, and helping students graduate by fostering a hands-on andsupportive learning environment. The PWS employs a Project-Based Learning method, givingstudents opportunities for real-world projects and faculty mentorship, beginning in theirfreshman year. Research on successful STEM programs identifies three key strategies forstudent retention: (1) early research involvement, (2) active learning in introductory courses,and (3) participation in STEM learning communities. The PWS research, classified as"efficacy research," targets two participant groups: (1) mostly first-year students who join theseminar course for a long-term study and (2) those who leave the program. The first cohort(N=10) joined in Fall 2021, followed
secured several federal (e.g.,NSF, DOL) and industrial awards to advance the developments in these fields. As part of thesesponsored projects, advanced curricula in industrial robotics and programmable logic controllers(PLCs) and complementary simulation tools have been developed. These have been disseminatedand become popular for teaching robotics and controls; educating faculty; and conducting K-12teacher/student outreach [1-13]. Recently, the College of Computing at Michigan Tech,pioneering in mechatronics education, launched BS and MS degrees and associated stackablegraduate certificates in Mechatronics.Considering the multidisciplinary nature of Mechatronics, experiential skills in robotics,mechanical, controls, and cybersecurity require
Social Cognitive Career ConstructsRachel E. Durham, 1 Michael L. Falk 2, Alexis Daniels2, Allison Riegel2, Alisha Sparks2, MargoWilliams2, Emily J. Yanisko 3This research is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DRL-2005790.Abstract (paper type: ERM) -- Performance in math, particularly algebra, is a major barrier tostudent success and participation in STEM among under-represented minoritized students,particularly Black U.S. high school students. This research applies Social Cognitive CareerTheory (SCCT) to measure impacts of an afterschool algebra-for-engineering program on mathself-efficacy and interest in STEM among high school students in a large urban district. To studythe program’s effects, a mixed methods research
Warfare Center (NSWC) facility at Crane, Indiana.The DoD and many employers seek skilled engineers who are highly innovative and are strongleaders in the workplace [1], and has developed leadership competency models specifically forits civilian workforce. In 2019, the 38th Marine Commandant’s Planning Guidance emphasizedthe combination of leadership with innovation, saying “For the Marine Corps, meaningfulinnovation is not just having great thoughts and concepts rather, it is about translating greatthoughts and concepts into action.” [2]. However, many engineering and computing degreecurricula, including at this institution, require neither any leadership training nor researchexperience that enables innovation (other than the practice of design
engagement in undergraduate research opportunities promotes improved criticalthinking and scientific reasoning, increased academic performance, enhanced retention bothwithin STEM majors and in college overall, and improved satisfaction with college. [1] However, there are several structural barriers to participation in research, including lackof information, time, and income. [2] Undergraduates may not participate due to lack ofawareness about opportunities, uncertainty about the recruitment process, uneven access tofaculty mentors, and personal responsibilities and living situations (e.g., living off campus). [3]First-year undergraduate students in particular may express interest in participating inundergraduate research experiences but may
look at the impacts onstudent self-efficacy. Those outcomes will be used to scale and tailor the program to addressadditional research topics across disciplines at the University of New Mexico.1. Introduction1.1. Undergraduate Involvement in Interdisciplinary ResearchUndergraduate participation in interdisciplinary research opportunities enriches educationalexperiences through the development of critical thinking skills, personal development, exposureto practical application of academic knowledge, and overall increased academic performance[1][2]. Tangible benefits of early-stage research involvement of college students can be observedthrough increased test scores, enhanced retention of class material, and the development ofprofessional
thread between the threethemes provides one answer for the research question. I propose spiritual knowledge as thebinding thread that connects the themes and (re)connects Indigenous knowledge and STEMeducation. Spirituality can become a theorizing space to help with the decolonizing ofengineering education by challenging the dominant knowledge types and bringing in other waysof knowing.Keywords: Culturally Relevant Education, Indigenous Knowledge, SpiritualityIntroductionThe United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) attempt to address theinequalities of our global society and tackle climate change, biodiversity, and nature restoration[1]. These complex issues affect our global community and require an approach that includes
students would benefit from moredeliberate, distributed practice with measurement and data acquisition [1]. Second, themeasurement and data acquisition activities were much more hands-on than the statisticscurriculum, creating very different energy and engagement in the class throughout thesemester. We wanted to modify the course to address these two concerns but decided to takea more holistic approach to the redesign.This paper outlines our comprehensive approach to redesigning Data Analysis. We not onlyconsider changes to the assessments and activities of the class, but we also re-evaluate thelearning objectives in the context of program and college level goals and students’professional careers. We utilize a curricular priority framework to
programs (#0849881 and #1458714) [1, 17,20,]. New York City College of Technology (City Tech), the designated college of technology inthe City University of New York (CUNY) system and a Hispanic Serving Institution, ranks 16thamong public schools and 18th in social mobility according to US News and World Report [3].Around one-third of our students self-identify as Black (non-Hispanic, 28%) and as Hispanic(34%); along with 21% as Asian/Pacific Islander, 11% as White (non-Hispanic), 2% as Other,and 4% as non-residents [19]. Eighty percent (80%) of incoming first-year students and 67% ofcontinuing students receive need-based financial aid. Fifty-five percent (55%) of students reportworking 20 or more hours per week while more than 61% report
focus of this paper, has experiencedsimilar outcomes. A notable uptick in graduation rates at CU occurred between 2009 and 2015,with six-year degree completions reaching 62.2%, yet recent years have witnessed plateaus inretention rates. Persistent disparities befall minoritized students [1], [2]. These stagnantcompletion rates occur in the face of substantial need for increased engineering talent, bothnationally and globally, to support fields including technology, security, transportation, andinfrastructure.The causes of student attrition from engineering are multifaceted and vary across demographics.A range of known issues includes an unwelcoming climate, conceptual difficulties in corecourses that hamper progress toward degree, lack of self
denial of STEM identities to their perceived social pressures[1], [2]. When researchers interview participants in STEM education experiences, we receivecertain responses that help us to learn about STEM identities. When we look to social mediacontent, which is sometimes shared publicly and voluntarily, we see a possible window into theperspectives and identities of African American youth and young adults that may help us learnabout STEM identities in a new way. Through this window, we may observe social mediacontent that reveals STEM identities and community involvement. Along with text, the socialmedia content may include non-text paralinguistic elements such as emoji, hashtags, images,videoclips, and GIFs (graphics interchange format
Teacher Training in DEI + STEM: A Collaborative Work in Latin America and the Caribbean Juan Sebastián Sánchez-Gómez1,6, Laura Eugenia Romero Robles2,6, María Catalina Ramirez Cajiao3, Libis Valdez Cervantes4,6 y Luis Alberto Cruz Salazar5 1 Universidad de los Andes, Engineering School, Colombia, js.sanchez14@uniandes.edu.co 2 Tec de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Mexico, romero@tec.mx 3 Universidad de los Andes, Engineering School, Colombia, mariaram@uniandes.edu.co 4 UNITECNAR, Engineering School, Colombia, decano.fadi@unitecnar.edu.co 5
was done to a population of students at the university X. Thesestudents were identified as at-risk college freshmen by the office of student affairs. Once thestudents are identified then the college sends out different ways of communication (email, phonecalls, and text messages). In the year of 2021and 2022 a total of 484 at-risk students were askedif they wished to participate in the Boostcamp. A total of 122 students replied they wouldparticipate. However, not all students who accepted came, and not all students who came to thecamp finished it. Hence, three different categories of students were identified. 1. Students who agreed to participate and COMPLETED boostcamp (COMP), 2. Students who agreed to PARTICIPATE and did NOT COMPLETE the
surveys from the Graduate Student Experience in the Research University (gradSERU)online service. The fellows recognized several gaps in Purdue’s graduate mentoring experiencethat needed to be addressed: an engineering-specific individual development plan (IDP), surveysof faculty members, and educating students about taboo mentorship topics.An IDP was created for PhD or master’s students in the College of Engineering. The document isintended to guide students through four steps: a skillset self-assessment, goals for Year 1 ofgraduate school, a meeting between student and advisor, and progress updates after the first year.The IDP was published on the university website and distributed among the engineeringdepartments in August 2022 and has since
divisionengineering courses. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify proven bestpractices for improving student performance in STEM disciplines. The literature highlights theeffectiveness of targeted interventions, as follows: (1) prepare all students for success in thegatekeeper courses and close the achievement gaps, through a Summer Bridge Program, (2)improve the students’ performance in Statics, Mechanics of Materials, and subsequent courses,and reduce Time-to-Degree, and (3) address variability in teaching between all instructors throughtraining workshops. This paper provides a review of interventions utilized to write a proposal torequest funding to agencies such as National Science Foundation and offers actionable insights
critical skills in identifying and addressing unmet clinical needs [1-4], clinical immersionin previously inaccessible environments allows BMEs to engage with daily operations andtranslate unmet needs into human-centric design [5, 6]. ABET highlights unmet clinical needsfinding in its “Student Outcome 2: ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions thatmeet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global,cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors” [7]. Growing BME cohorts and limitedprogram capacity [8, 9] exclude many students, prompting a shift toward virtual reality (VR) [10,11] and digital clinical immersion platforms [12, 13] to broaden accessibility.ABET’s Student Outcome 2
conclusions about AVdeployment. The analysis framework simplifies complex statistical techniques into digestiblesteps for students: 1. Correlation Analysis: As practiced in real-world studies, students can construct multivariate correlation matrices to identify relationships between variables such as road quality and AV safety performance. This process demonstrates how different factors interact in a transportation ecosystem. 2. Statistical Techniques: By learning regression models and factor analysis, students gain exposure to methods used in AV performance studies. For example, students can predict accident probabilities based on infrastructure disparities using simplified statistical models. 3. Regional
resolve.Lecture formatIn the regular AME 308 classroom, the professor demonstrates design techniques in Siemens NXin real time using a projected screen while describing the step-by-step process. When introducingkey concepts, the professor uses slides to explain definitions and related ideas beforedemonstrating the practical software operations. This teaching approach is highly effective forhearing-abled students, as it allows them to learn the software through hands-on practice whiledeepening their understanding of the concepts.Figure 1: Lecture slides introducing Figure 2: AI generated preview for stu-tolerance on engineering drawing dents understanding toleranceHowever, for hearing-impaired students
parallel.The formal activities are supplemented by informal gatherings among the students to promotecommunity building. Fellows’ research mentors are required to participate in formal training inmentoring and courses in diversity, equity, and inclusion.We assessed the outcomes of the program quantitatively by pre/post-surveys (issued before theworkshop and at the end of the academic year) and qualitatively through semi-structuredinterviews, with the help of an independent evaluator. In end-of-year assessments of Year 1(2022-2023), both funded fellows and unfunded trainees reported increased confidence in aspectsof neuroengineering skills, ethics, outreach, teamwork, and communication on 5-point Likert-scale survey questions, with some individual
mentor and the students. The qualitative analysis was performed inNVIVO 15. Our project has been exempted by our IRB office (IRB 2267358-1).Our review of the interviews, surveys, and attendance records indicated the implementation of apeer mentor had positive impacts for the learning outcomes of our clinical immersion program.From the summaries of the midterm evaluation, the students widely regarded the speakerresources as valuable and appreciated the peer mentor’s presence in clinical immersion sessions,but many did not attend the workshops due to scheduling conflicts, which averaged about twostudents per workshop. The interviews highlighted the profound respect and appreciation thestudents had for the peer mentor. Students regarded the peer
studentperformance, foster a feeling of identity and belonging within engineering, and supportpersistence in STEM fields. For historically marginalized and underrepresented groups, thesedifficulties are especially significant, highlighting the need for more equitable and inclusiveteaching strategies.Underrepresented minorities and first-generation students often face a GPA gap of nearly 0.5 inPhysics, Statics, and Dynamics courses [1]. According to the Cal Poly- San Luis Obispo Collegeof Engineering's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion page, 82.3% of underrepresented minority (URM)students graduated within six years in 2021, compared to 87.7% of non-URM students—a 5.4percentage point difference. While this represents a significant improvement from a
industry needs. By sharing practical insights and best practices, thispaper aims to support educators and administrators in developing rigorous, industry-relevant, andinclusive programs that achieve ABET accreditation. 1. IntroductionBiomedical Engineering (BME) applies engineering and scientific principles to developinnovative healthcare solutions. It bridges technology and medicine to enhance patient outcomes,diagnostics, and treatments [1]. Its multidisciplinary nature enables it to tackle emerginghealthcare challenges and leverage technological advancements [2]. Innovations in artificialintelligence (AI), machine learning, and robotics have further expanded BME’s impact,revolutionizing medical imaging, personalized medicine, and wearable
technologies. The primary focus of this intervention is to nurturethe digital skills necessary for utilizing and managing these technologies in future professionalroles. The project's first stage contextualizes the educational experiences of future constructionjobs, given the need for this industry to attract talent and continue its modernization to supporteconomic development in our society. A pre and post-evaluation was given to measure theeffectiveness of these interventions based on achieving three key objectives: (1) Increasingawareness of digital skills, (2) Enhancing understanding of anticipated job transformations fueledby technology in the future, and (3) Stimulating interest in potential careers within theconstruction industry. The research
Conference: University of Maryland - College Park, Maryland Jul 27 Full Paper: Cultivating Inclusive Excellence in Engineering EducationBlack students remain significantly underrepresented in engineering, comprising only 5.4% of full-timeundergraduate engineering enrollment in 2023 [1]. Despite a 9.2% increase in enrollment since 2019 [2],retention remains a critical challenge due to systemic barriers, including institutional racism and lack ofsupport structures [3]. While many institutions focus on increasing access, fewer address the retention andsuccess of Black students once enrolled.Peer mentoring has emerged as a promising strategy to support underrepresented students, offeringacademic, social, and emotional guidance. This study
Work-in-Progress Paper: FYEE 2025: ID 49770 Engineering Culture: Ideologies, Mindsets, and InfrastructureAbstract:This paper uses a critical Science and Technology Studies (STS) lens to explore how educationalinfrastructure shapes power dynamics in engineering education. By examining how builtenvironments influence identity and belonging, the authors highlight how infrastructure cansustain or challenge exclusionary norms.Introduction:Engineering culture and ideology powerfully shape education [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], yet theinfluence of physical spaces in reinforcing or challenging these forces is often overlooked. Usinga critical STS lens, this study examines how infrastructure—lecture halls, labs, makerspaces—communicates