Conference Session

NSF Grantees: First Year Programming (1)

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Donald P. Visco Jr., University of Akron; Nidaa Makki, University of Akron; Linda M. Subich, University of Akron; David Steer, University of Akron; Erin R. Stevic, University of Akron

Tagged Topics

Diversity, NSF Grantees Poster Session

prepare them for their shadowing experiences. Trainingincluded sessions on professional soft skills, shadowing procedures, and resume building.Additionally, the program team created a short video for those co-op/intern students who wouldbe shadowed students to watch ahead of their experiences.During Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, the 59 students assigned to the intervention group completeda total of 197 shadowing experiences at 65 different employers. Seven employers hostedshadowing students during both fall and spring semesters. The number of shadowing experiencesranged from 1 - 7, with a mean of 3.54. The variation in the number of experiences was mostlydue to scheduling constraints.Table 1. Demographic characteristics of intervention and

Conference Session

ENT Division Technical Session: Competitions, Challenges, and Teams

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Ryan Striker P.E., North Dakota State University; Enrique Alvarez Vazquez, North Dakota State University; Mary Pearson, North Dakota State University; Lauren Singelmann, North Dakota State University; Ellen M. Swartz, North Dakota State University

Tagged Divisions

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation

lauren.n.singelmann@ndsu.edu enrique.vazquez@ndsu.eduAbstractWe present a distributed, scalable, student-driven method for both defining a set of projects andsubsequently assigning students to project teams. This process has been implemented within amixed online/in-person multi-university course comprised of both undergraduate and graduatelevel students who are predominantly, but not exclusively, pursuing engineering degrees. OurInnovation Based Learning (IBL) course seeks to provide students with maximum freedom andresponsibility for their own learning; we seek to radically rethink and reduce the organizationaltasks normally performed by the instructor. Re-assigning these tasks to the students creates newopportunities to learn soft skills such as

Conference Session

Computers in Education Division Technical Session 7: Advanced CS courses

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Zachary Michael Steudel, Baylor University; Cynthia C. Fry, Baylor University

Tagged Divisions

Computers in Education

obfuscation; and will discuss thedesign of the project, the implementation of the design, code obfuscation techniques used, and whichobfuscation techniques were used to produce the mystery executable presented to the class as theirclass project. IntroductionGroup projects in engineering and computer science coursework are a critical part of the educationprocess. Not only do they enforce the concepts being taught, they also provide an environment inwhich essential professional skills (aka, soft skills) can be understood, culminating in a synergisticlearning experience. The value of such group learning has been well documented in bothengineering and computer science courses [1]-[5], and is a cornerstone to the

Conference Session

Experiences of Underrepresented Students in Engineering

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Nayda G. Santiago, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus; Manuel A. Jimenez, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus; Luisa Guillemard, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

learning,reflection, and peer-to-peer instruction. PLTL was originally developed to focus on teachingtechnical skills [2], but, in our initiative, it was modified to teach soft skills, such as teamwork,leadership, effective communication, among others. Peer leaders were selected among volunteerstudents.A program for LIATS was recently established in the College of Engineering to address thedifferences between the performance of low-income students when compared with the generalengineering population. A cohort of ninety-two (92) students, ranging from 1st. to 3rd. year ofstudy participate in the program. The purpose of this program is to increase retention andimprove graduation rates of students from economically disadvantaged communities as well

Conference Session

ET Curriculum and Programs I

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Kathryn Kelley, Ohio State University; Aimee T. Ulstad, Ohio State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

Technology Processes I Calculus for Engineering Engineering Engineering Graphics 2 Technology 1 Graphics 1 Calculus for Engineering Electrical Circuits 1 Physics 2 Technology 2We also negotiated with the respective colleges to offer special sections of physics,engineering fundamentals, Excel and chemistry to engineering technology students.The extent of the adaptation ranged from changing a final assignment to offering anentire section geared toward engineering technology students.In addition to math, science, and engineering, ABET requires that students accomplish“soft” skills upon graduation so that they have the ability and understanding to do thefollowing: work as a member of a team, communicate in

Conference Session

Cooperative and Experiential Education Division Technical Session 2 - Development, Assessment, and Impact of Experiential Education

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

John H. Callewaert, University of Michigan; Joanna Mirecki Millunchick, University of Michigan; Cassandra Sue Ellen Woodcock, University of Michigan; Kevin Cai Jiang, University of Michigan; Stacie Edington, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

Cooperative and Experiential Education

Experience as the Source of Learning and Development, Second. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc., 2015.[2] R. Graham, “The Global State of the Art in Engineering Education,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 2018.[3] “Engaged Learning at U-M: Engaged Learning Census (ELC), Undergraduate Class of Fiscal Year 2018,” Ann Arbor, MI, 2018. Available: https://engaged.umich.edu/wp- content/uploads/2019/07/U-M_Overall_Engaged_Learning_Census_FY2018_Results.pdf. [Accessed: 14-Jan-2020].[4] Michigan Engineering, Experiential Learning Faculty Questionnaire Report, January 2019.[5] Burning Glass Technologies, “The Human Factor: The Hard Time Employers have Finding Soft Skills,” 2015 [Online]. Available

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Technical Session: Capstone and Design

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Farid Breidi; Jotam E. Chen, University of Southern Indiana; Madelyn D. Sturgeon; Justin Michael Amos, University of Southern Indiana

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

implementation of theoretical knowledge in any discipline and enables a deeper learning experience. Additionally, students get to know how the industry operates and what standard procedures must be followed in the real working environment. These skills are important to any engineering student because according to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, employers are searching for candidates that acquire soft skills, hard skills, and good character [4]. 2 3. Competitiveness. Challenges, and coming up with solutions to perform better and be the most effective team will lead to a successful career path in engineering

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Technical Session: Feeling the Heat - Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Nicole Okamoto, San Jose State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

almosta century, it started to become more popular in the 1970’s. See, for example, Spady’s work [2,3], which examines CBL for public K-12 education.There are many publications that discuss CBL in different settings. Henri, et al. [4] presented acomprehensive review in 2017. They indicate that CBL may be beneficial for the success of adiverse student body and may also serve the needs of industry, which needs a cadre of engineerswho have mastered fundamental engineering skills. Discussions of implementation of a varietyof CBL-related methods in engineering programs have been published, such as [5] and [6]. Somepapers focus heavily on CBL for the “soft skills” embedded within engineering programs, suchas [7]. Studies analyzing a wide range of

Conference Session

Designing and Implementing Leadership Development Experiences for Engineering Students

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Harold Ackler, Boise State University; Heidi Reeder, Boise State University; Abbey Louie

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Leadership Development

. 11, no. 3, 2010.[4]. “Capabilities of Effective Engineering Leaders”, Version 3.7, July 2019. Bernard M.Gordon-MIT Engineering Leadership Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,Cambridge, MA. Available: https://gelp.mit.edu/capabilitiesofeffectiveengineeringleaders.[Accessed Jan. 20, 2020].[5]. S. Pulko and S. Parikh, “Teaching ‘soft’ skills to engineers,” The International Journal ofElectrical Engineering & Education, vol. 40, no. 4, 2003. Available:https://doi.org/10.7227/IJEEE.40.4.2[6]. R. Stephens, “Aligning Engineering Education and Experience to Meet the Needs ofIndustry and Society”, The Bridge, vol. 43, no. 2, Summer 2013, pp. 31-34. Available: NationalAcademy of Engineering, https://www.nae.edu/21020/Bridge.[7

Conference Session

Relationships Between Skills and Knowledge Domains

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Zhen Zhao, Arizona State University; Samantha Ruth Brunhaver, Arizona State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Liberal Education/Engineering & Society

encounter in the industry, and Nabi and Bagley[12] suggested that career advisors could do more to foster students’ appreciation for theimportance of communication skills in finding a job.Several studies have looked at both engineering students’ self-efficacy and perceptions ofimportance related to communication skills, albeit separately [6,9-10,12]. Direito et al. [9] andNabi and Bagley [12] asked engineering students and recent graduates to rate their proficiencyand perceived importance related to a variety of technical and professional skills. Itani and Srour[10] asked engineering students to report their ability of certain soft skills and their perceivedimportance on these skills to determine a career choice. All three studies noted a skills

Conference Session

Exploration of Broad Issues and Promotion of Engineering and Technological Literacy

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Dan G. Dimitriu, San Antonio College

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Technological and Engineering Literacy/Philosophy of Engineering

once for engineering as well.Challenges in Helping Students Improve Their Technical LiteracyAt community colleges, faculty do not receive reduced teaching load for participating in researchor extracurricular activities so their participation is on a voluntary base. Community collegefaculty also does not have graduate students and post docs to assist with supervisingundergraduate projects. Community college faculty are focused on teaching and are notencouraged to be involved in the kind of activities that MESA Center is offering. Some of thestudents’ limitations include weaknesses in soft skills such as time management, teamwork, andcommunications, make balancing of school requirements, MESA activities, family, and outsidejobs, a very difficult

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Technical Session: The Remote World

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Kevin Skenes, The Citadel; Jason Howison, The Citadel; Emily Kate Bierman, The Citadel

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2020 2020 ASEE Annual Conference and ExpositionConclusionHomework assignment frequency was tested across four courses. The results from this studysuggest that the objective gains from using daily homework assignments are modest. Non-traditional students appear to already possess the soft skills that such a strategy encourages, andthese students do appear to outperform their traditional counterparts and receive slightly moreconsistent benefits as a result. A higher frequency of homework assignments does greatly reducelate submissions, but a good percentage of these would-be late submissions appear to simplynever get turned in. However, students displayed more consistent time

Conference Session

Design Mental Frameworks

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Qiushi Li, Shanghai Jiaotong University; Jiabin Zhu, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

in developingengineering students’ multiple skills and abilities, such as independent thinking, criticalthinking, creative thinking and hands-on skills [8]-[10]. For instance, using self-reported questionnaires among senior students ， Marques (2017) pointed out thatengagements in SDPs can strengthen students' soft skills like communication andpublic speaking [9]. Also, Xiong and Liu (2012) suggested that students whoparticipated in SDPs got their critical thinking and engineering design thinkingimproved [13]. In addition, applying self-efficacy scales, Dunlap (2005) measuredstudents' self-efficacy in a capstone environment. Pre- and post- data showed astatistically significant change in student perceptions of personal ability andpreparedness

Conference Session

Community Engagement Division Technical Session 6

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Joan B Schuman, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Community Engagement Division

careers, I believe that they will in fact be better prepared for aglobal world.This work was funded in part by a grant from my University through the Campus Committee forDiversity and Inclusion.References[1] A. Parkinson "The Rationale for Developing Global Competence," Online Journal for GlobalEngineering Education: Vol. 4:Iss. 2, Article 2, 2009 [Online] Available at:http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/ojgee/vol4/iss2/2http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/ojgee/vol4/iss2/2[2] C. Del Vitto ,"Cross-Cultural "Soft Skills" and the Global Engineer: Corporate Best Practicesand Trainer Methodologies," Online Journal for Global Engineering Education: Vol. 3: Iss. 1,Article 1, 2008 [Online] Available athttp://digitalcommons.uri.edu/ojgee/vol3/iss1/1http

Conference Session

NSF Grantees: S-STEM 4

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Oleksandr Kravchenko, Old Dominion University; Konstantin Cigularov, Old Dominion University; Tancy J. Vandecar-Burdin, Old Dominion University

Tagged Topics

Diversity, NSF Grantees Poster Session

ceramic. At the end of the first semester ofthe program, SCS students in the program had to prepare and make a presentation describingtheir progress with their research work. This task provided an important element for professionaldevelopment for the students in the program, as they were participating in group discussions andpracticed to improve their career “soft” skills, like oral communication and collaborative,project-based learning skills [9].To address the outreach element of the program, special hands-on workshop series offeredtraining and exposure to various manufacturing techniques for advanced materials. This includedthe composite fabrication sessions, where students learned how to fabricate polymer reinforcedcomposite materials using

Conference Session

NSF Grantees: REU 1

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Subodh Bhandari, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Fang Tang, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Zekeriya Aliyazicioglu, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Amar Raheja, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Erika DeJonghe, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Tagged Topics

Diversity, NSF Grantees Poster Session

areasof UAV technologies. The paper also discusses lessons learned, student feedback, and theirsuggestion for improvements. Students reported statistically significant changes in skills related toUAVs from pre-participation to post-participation. In addition, improvements in “soft skills”,particularly with regard to working in teams, were found in qualitative/quantitative results.I. IntroductionThe goal of this REU Site is to provide research experience to undergraduates and expose them tostate-of-the-art in the area of UAV technologies in a multidisciplinary environment. The researchfocus of the Site is UAV dynamics & control, increased autonomy of UAVs, and their applications.UAVs have been used for remote sensing, precision

Conference Session

Pre-college Engineering Education Division Technical Session 4

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Katherine Dornian, University of Calgary; Mohammad Moshirpour, University of Calgary; Laleh Behjat P.Eng., University of Calgary

Tagged Divisions

Pre-College Engineering Education

presented" Yuliana I. et al., educational game "introduce computational thinking 50% of students completed the game, Indonesia grades 4-5 2019 [45] concept to students in order to improve demonstrating "positive signs that student’s soft skills in aspects of students have considerable ability to problem solving" comprehend computing concept"Table 2 - Collected data from studies included in systematic qualitative review – concepts and skills First

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Technical Session: Curriculum and Education

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Chean Chin Ngo, California State University, Fullerton; Sang June Oh, California State University, Fullerton

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

were: (a) to provide increased curricularflexibility, (b) to motivate and engage students in practice-based engineering experience andhigh-impact practices, (c) to foster the innovation and creativity skills, and (d) to strengthen theprofessional skills (soft skills). The mechanical engineering programs must also ensure to meetthe ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) program criteria [8] and to addressABET EAC student outcomes (1) through (7) in the curricula [9]. Often, the desire forcurriculum revision is also met by other constraints. For example, the California Code ofRegulations Title 5 CCR §40508 mandates that no baccalaureate degree programs shall extendthe unit requirement beyond 120-semester units. An exception can be

Conference Session

College Industry Partnerships Division Technical Session 1

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Shuvra Das, University of Detroit Mercy; Darrell K. Kleinke P.E., University of Detroit Mercy; David Pistrui, University of Detroit Mercy

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

College Industry Partnerships

required for succeeding in theIndustry 4.0 environment. In this report, the authors reviewed all current relevant publicationsand developed a list of technical and soft-skill competencies needed to be successful andproductive in Industry 4.0. The list of soft skills is similar to the other competencies sharedabove. In Table II we list all the identified technical competencies separated as engineering,business and design competencies.Table II: Engineering, Business and Design Elements of Industry 4.0Engineering Competencies Business Competencies Design CompetenciesData Science and advanced (Big Data) Technology awareness Understanding theanalysis impact of technologyNovel

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Endeavors: Engineering and Liberal Arts

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Denise H. Bauer, Methodist University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

needs. American c Society for Engineering Education, 2020 Work in Progress: Integrating Writing throughout the Engineering CurriculumIntroductionCommunication skills continue to be a top ‘soft skill’ many employers consider weak, whileeducators believe engineering students possess strong communication skills upon graduation [1],[2]. In fact, in an ASME survey where 647 industry supervisors, 42 department heads, and 590early-career engineers responded to a question on mechanical engineering graduates strengthsand weaknesses, there was a discrepancy in how industry rated communication skills compare tothe other two groups [1]. Only 9% of the

Conference Session

Technical Courses and Liberal Education

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Dianne Grayce Hendricks, University of Washington

Tagged Divisions

Liberal Education/Engineering & Society

professional skills. And althoughsome students recognize that effective communication skills are required for professionalsuccess, we observe that most engineering students enter our Introduction to TechnicalCommunication course with little understanding -- but a strong negative impression -- oftechnical communication. Many students think of technical communication as a “soft skill”rather than a technical or professional skill.Here, we describe our experience using short written reflection assignments to scaffold a majorpresentation assignment in an Introduction to Technical Communication course that is requiredby most majors in the College of Engineering at the University of Washington. Our aim is tomake teaching presentation skills more manageable

Conference Session

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division Technical Session 2

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Rachel Ibach, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Jennifer Keshwani, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Deepak R. Keshwani, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Sydney E. Everhart, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Leah Sandall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

ofemployability skills, and strengthening of their own self-efficacy and confidence to pursue acareer in agSTEM.Youth are guided through career exploration, college majors, and the development ofemployability skills, the new industry term for soft skills by their mentor and ambassador inregular mentoring sessions. Youth are able to connect with their mentor and ambassador throughemail, phone calls, or video calls to accommodate schedules and participate wherever they arelocated. During these mentoring sessions mentors and ambassadors are provided with discussionprompts, activities, and other resources relevant to the assigned topic for that cycle. The topics ofthese cycles are tied to the desired objectives and educational goals to ensure

Collection

2020 Fall ASEE Mid-Atlantic Section Meeting

Authors

Johannes Weickenmeier, Stevens Institute of Technology (School of Engineering and Science)

Tagged Topics

Diversity

founded conclusions inherently train and expose students to complex learning objectives at the top of Bloom’s taxonomy. In summary, independent research work leads to engagement with new materials on multiple passive and active learning methods.On the technical level, students reported a diverse list of newly acquired skills. Most frequently,students reported that they made significant gains in coding and programing, i.e. python, C/C++,and html. The second most frequently mentioned learning outcome is the search, review, andannotation of relevant literature. Other skills range from project management, presentation skills,new statistical methods, data analysis, data visualization, and soft skills as part of their group work.These skills are

Conference Session

2-Year College Division: Workforce Pathways and ATE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

David I. Spang, Rowan College at Burlington County; Edem G Tetteh, Rowan College at Burlington County; Ratneshwar Jha, Rowan University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Two-Year College

after hiring.Specifically, the skills and competencies supporting the Advanced Manufacturing sector havebeen shown to be in high demand and are the focus of the current project under National ScienceFoundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant No.1601487.The goals and objectives of the NSF grant project are listed in Table I. Table I. Goals of the Project GOAL 1 To strengthen an Engineering Technology program serving the southern New Jersey region. Objective 1.1 Highlight technical and non-technical (soft) skills across the curriculum; align with industry needs, including student work-based learning opportunities such as undergraduate

Conference Session

Cooperative and Experiential Education Division Technical Session 1 - Skill and Competency Development through the Co-op Experience

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Nassif E. Rayess, University of Detroit Mercy; David Pistrui, University of Detroit Mercy; Ron Bonnstetter, Target Training International; Eric T. Gehrig, Target Training International

Tagged Divisions

Cooperative and Experiential Education

personalities and psyches. Adding to the mix is thatmany programs have a required co-op rotation that adds an entire range of influences, many ofwhich are unforeseen and out of the control of the engineering programs.Co-op education has been shown to have numerous effects on students. Co-op education hasbeen shown to have an academic effect, with co-op students getting higher grades in somecourses, particularly in those based on soft skills [1]. Co-op education has also been shown tohelp in self-efficacy, particularly in work-related activities and has also shown to have a positiveeffect on retention [2]. Co-op education has also been shown to have a positive effect on startingsalaries (nearly 10%) [3]. The goal of this study is to gauge the effect of

Conference Session

NSF Grantees: S-STEM 1

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Teresa J. Cutright, University of Akron; Rebecca Kuntz Willits, University of Akron

Tagged Topics

Diversity, NSF Grantees Poster Session

, will use in co-op job Male College-Ready Join design teams. Great way to meet others and learn other things. Female Direct Admit Mentally step away from school if needed. If crying on math assignment, step away for a minute. If you manage your time well, taking time will be possible. Table 2 Activities for freshmen cohort, peer mentoring roles and homework assignments Semester Freshmen Activities Peer Mentor Role Fall 2019 Soft skills: study habits, time management, “One thing advice” note taking, and communication. Example of how skill used in

Conference Session

Capstone, Undergraduate Research, and Projects in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Joel C. Adams, Calvin University; Noah Pirrotta, Medallion Instrumentation Systems; Mark Michmerhuizen, Calvin University; Philip M. Holmes, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Peter Oostema, Carnegie Mellon University; Benjamin Kastner, Churchill Navigation

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

. CSE graduates willincreasingly need communication and other “soft” skills to work with specialists from non-CSEbackgrounds.The senior capstone course is a place in which students can experience multidisciplinaryteamwork. Such courses provide several beneficial learning outcomes for students, including:• Apply learning from pre-capstone courses.• Design and implement solutions to “real world” problems.• Solve problems in a “real world” team setting.• Develop the teamwork (i.e., communication, professional, and social) skills needed for the workplace.• Practice the skills needed for life-long learning.The literature describes a variety of capstone courses with different emphases and benefits. Forexample: Schneider [19] describes a capstone

Conference Session

NSF Grantees: Diversity 3

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Diane L. Peters, Kettering University; Elizabeth Gross, Sam Houston State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity, NSF Grantees Poster Session

progressed I realized there was this need… that wasn’t being met. I realized if I went back to school I could better meet that need, that gap that I think that the Navy lacked.Teamwork and Reliance on OthersOne common theme in the interviews was the participants’ strengths at projects involvingteamwork, and their ability to acknowledge the need to sometimes rely on others. This threadwas seen most strongly in those who were officers or enlisted personnel in the armed forces,although it also was apparent to some degree in the civilian employees of the military.Daniel spoke about how he worked with other people, both in his military service and ingraduate school. I think it goes back to what I said about soft skills. I focus more on

Conference Session

NSF Grantees: REU 1

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Mathew Kuttolamadom, Texas A&M University; Jyhwen Wang, Texas A&M University

Tagged Topics

Diversity, NSF Grantees Poster Session

them to pursue advanced study and related STEM careers.Program ActivitiesAs detailed in Table 1, during the pre-program phase, target institutions were contacted,applications solicited, REU student pairs selected, and projects assigned. Students used thetransition months to build their project-specific competency via assigned reading, so they couldhit the ground running. During the on-site period, major REU activities included a 40-hour/weekhands-on research project, capsulated technical sessions/labs, seminars, and college-levelprofessional development workshops and networking to develop soft skills. Student-pairsworked closely with their mentor and research group via individual and group meetings.Deliverables included a research plan and

Conference Session

Experimentation and Laboratory-oriented Studies Division Technical Session 4

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Natasha Smith P.E., University of Virginia

Tagged Divisions

Experimentation and Laboratory-Oriented Studies

better labs forthe 2020 lab course.Finally, to more accurately assess whether the lab is fostering mastery of foundational principlesand concepts, a future study could look at student performance in co-requisite and/or follow-oncourses.ConclusionsExperimental lab courses are often expected to meet a diverse set of outcomes, from teaching ex-perimentation principles to developing soft skills in teamwork and communication, to providingtactile examples of concepts in a wide-variety of other courses. At the same time, one hopes the ex-perience is enjoyable for students and that their learning persists well beyond the end of the course.The University of Virginia has adopted a new experimental lab sequence that accomplishes severalgoals. First, it