Conference Session

FPD9 - First Year Learning & Assessment

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jim Chamberlain, Clemson University; Lisa Benson, Clemson University

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

Getting Students on the Right Track: Exit Surveys and Levels of Awareness in First Year Engineering StudentsAbstractThe goals of a first year engineering program are to both provide students with a soundacademic preparation for engineering study, and to allow them to explore variousengineering disciplines. Through academic advising and career counseling, our programhelps students discover the career path that is right for them. We find that about 30% ofstudents choose to leave engineering by the end of their first year of study. Thesestudents voluntarily complete an Exit Survey, which includes questions on their level ofcertainty upon entering the program, people with whom the decision to leave

Conference Session

Professional Graduate Education & Industry

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas Stanford, University of South Carolina; Roger Olson, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Donald Keating, University of South Carolina; Randall Holmes, Caterpillar Inc.

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

Needs → Engineering → Technology ↑↓ Directed Scientific Research to gain a better understanding of phenomena when neededIt is important to note here that need drives the engineering activity which results in new technologies,products, and processes. The National Collaborative Task Force has chosen to craft its program ofadvanced studies for professional engineers with a focus on this understanding of engineering practice.3. How Professional Engineers GrowReceipt of the baccalaureate in engineering represents the starting point of a career in industry orgovernment practice for

Conference Session

Issues of Cooperative Education I

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Olga Pierrakos, James Madison University; Maura Borrego, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Jenny Lo, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Tagged Divisions

Cooperative & Experiential Education

Borrego, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University MAURA BORREGO is an assistant professor of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. Dr. Borrego holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University. Her current research interests center around interdisciplinary collaboration in engineering and engineering education, including studies of the collaborative relationships between engineers and education researchers. Investigations of interdisciplinary graduate programs nationwide are funded through her NSF CAREER award.Jenny Lo, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University JENNY LO is an advanced instructor in the Department of Engineering Education

Conference Session

Educational Outreach Efforts Led by the US Navy

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Susan Giver, The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers; Stephen Michetti, NSWCCD

Tagged Divisions

Ocean and Marine

underwaterROV by sending signals to three thrusters (again, student-built.) The controller is tethered orconnected by hard wire to the thrusters.In addition to the building phase, the curriculum includes discussion of potential careers intechnical and engineering fields, as well as related fields of study. The program is used toinform and educate students through a hands-on activity, with the objective of generating interestand enthusiasm for continued science, technology and engineering studies. The Sea PerchChallenge has been a successful event for the past two years, and this paper will discuss thespecifics of this event, as well as the plans for developing the Sea Perch Program into a nationaldesign competition over the next five

Conference Session

Mentoring

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Canan Bilen-Green, North Dakota State University; Anakaorn Khan, North Dakota State University; David Wells, North Dakota State University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

decrease in percentage of women entering the engineering field, a trend thatwill continue for the near term according to ASEE. Studies show that a large number of girlsoutperform boys in science and mathematics in elementary schools. However, by the time thesegirls are beginning to consider their college and life career, they are less and less interested inmath and science.Low female student enrollment in the College of Engineering and Architecture, North DakotaState University is of particular concern as our numbers lag behind national numberssignificantly. In order to increase our female student enrolment numbers we have been workingoffering an engineering and technology after school program aimed at fourth-through seventh-graders. This is an

Conference Session

Student Engagement and Motivation

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dale Baker, Arizona State University; Stephen Krause, Arizona State University; Senay Purzer

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

nature of thetask undertaken.A number of researchers have looked at self-efficacy as it relates to careers and have found thatself-efficacy is strongly related to both the range of career options as well as careerpreferences2,3. For example, Hackett 4 and Hackett and Betz 5 have examined mathematical self-efficacy because of the importance of quantitative skills to science, technology, engineering andtechnology careers. Their research indicates that individuals avoid some careers because ofperceived mathematical ability rather than actual mathematical ability. Interest in specific aspectsof a career and self-efficacy go hand in hand. Individuals with an high self-efficacy in sciencehave a strong interest in theoretical abstract activities and

Conference Session

Use of Summer Research Programs in Civil Engineering Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dennis Truax, Mississippi State University; Emma Seiler, Mississippi State University; Donna Reese, Mississippi State University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

rising high school sophomores and juniors. The focus of MSTI was how science,technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are related to transportation and careeropportunities in transportation.The MSTI included hands-on activities, development of communication skills, and utilization oftechnology and skills required in today’s workforce. Field trips to the Nissan plant, MississippiDepartment of Transportation (MDOT), and the Columbus, MS Air Force Base exposed studentsto real-world applications of STEM and introduced them to a wide range of careers intransportation. The curriculum included sessions about structural systems, system illustration(CAD), transportation system layout, hydraulic engineering, environmental and water

Conference Session

Innovations in Computer Engineering Technology Curriculum

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nasser Alaraje, Michigan Technological University; Alaa E. Abdel-Hakim, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

SoT needs to continue improve anddevelop new majors that prepare graduates for careers in a wide scope industry and support a broadspectrum of technology. The Electrical Engineering Technology program needs to re-shape itself.The current focus of the program is Power and Industrial Control. Although this remains a key inthe school of technology focus, the program needs to grow to serve a wide scope of industrialneeds either local to state of Michigan or nationwide. This paper evaluates the current EETprogram, identifies a growth area of computer engineering technology and discusses the rationalefor the addition of the Computer Engineering Technology focus area.1 IntroductionIn today’s world of advanced computer technology, numerous

Conference Session

Women in Engineering Division Poster Session

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bevlee Watford, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Catherine Didion, Association for Women in Science; Patricia Paddock, NYC Department of Education; Suzanne Jenniches, Northrop Grumman; Annette Gildea, Gildea Media Group; Katie Gramling, Diamax; Greta Zornes, Tulane University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

ofinforming and encouraging diverse young women to explore careers in engineering. It wasdesigned with the assistance of middle and high school young women from across the UnitedStates and Canada who worked together on the Girl’s Advisory Board (GAB). The result oftheir initial efforts was a website that brought together role models of women engineers whoprovided real world examples of how they became engineers. The primary theme of theEngineerGirl! website is to focus on how girls can make a difference in society throughbecoming engineers.In 2004, the GAB was again assembled through a series of on-line chats. The results of theiranalysis of the then current website indicated their desire for a more interactive, engagingwebsite. They also

Conference Session

Gender & Minority Issues in K-12 Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

LaRuth McAfee, Case Western Reserve University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

make while in high school, and the post-program choices students makeregarding college and major.Evaluations indicate that this program has had very positive results in its initial phase ofimplementation. While many students initially indicated minimal experience with research andtechnical communication, in one year all have made significant improvements. This change wasself-reported on surveys, and observed in the oral and written communication assignmentscompleted by the students. Additionally, positive changes were observed in students’ academicand career aspirations through their experiences in the program. Students initially indicatedinterests in obtaining no higher than Master’s degrees in a variety of fields, but now all haveexpressed a

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Marilyn Barger, University of South Florida; Richard Gilbert, USF; Eric Roe, Hillsborough Community College; Bradley Jenkins, Saint Petersburg College

tech industries cooperating to realignFlorida’s Department of Education frameworks for the creation of a new and industry-relevantassociate of science degree in Engineering Technology with multiple, viable and accessibleupward and downward articulation pathways.This poster presents the structure and operating characteristics of the Florida EngineeringTechnology Forum as a model organization for other disciplines and career clusters in Florida aswell as technical disciplines in other states. This exportable model brings the communitycolleges and their university counterparts together with representatives from the FloridaDepartment of Education Workforce Education Division to discuss common issues, bestpractices, institutional and programmatic

Conference Session

Focus on High School Girls in Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michelle Porche, Wellesley Center for Women; Jennifer Grossman, Wellesley Center for Women; Anne Noonan, Salem State College; Peter Wong, Tufts University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

either STEM subjects or other subjects forsummary description. Job or Career Aspirations. Students were asked “What would you like to do for a job or acareer once you are finished with school?” These open-ended responses were recoded to STEMjobs/careers or other jobs/careers for summary description.Interactions with micro-system Teacher Support. The Teacher Attitudes subscale from the Modified Fennema-ShermanAttitudes Scale 12 was used to assess perceived relational support from teachers in two differentdomains: science and math. Sample science items include “I would talk to my science teacherabout a career that uses science” and “It’s hard to get math teachers to respect me” (reversed;alpha = .86). Math items have identical

Conference Session

SPECIAL SESSION: Describing the Engineering Student Learning Experience Based on CAEE Findings: Part 2

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Holly Matusovich; Ruth Streveler, Purdue University; Heidi Loshbaugh, Colorado School of Mines; Ronald Miller, Colorado School of Mines; Barbara Olds, Colorado School of Mines

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

and the associated expectancies for success in engineering, both as an engineeringstudent and with regard to a future career in engineering. Figure 1: Eccles’ expectancy-value model of achievement choices 8Expectancies can be defined as one’s belief as to how well he or she will perform on anupcoming task or in a future event. 5 Expectancies include one’s perception of both his or herability and the task difficulty. 4 Numerous studies have examined expectancies of success. 6, 9, 10Important outcomes include: 1) evidence supporting higher expectancies for success as beinglinked to better task performance 4, 9, 2) competence beliefs shown to contribute to subjectivetask values 10, 3) competence beliefs found to decrease with age in

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aleksandra Vinogradov, Montana State University; Carolyn Plumb, Montana State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

AC 2008-646: ENHANCING STUDENT UNDERSTANDING OF AND INTEREST INMECHANICAL ENGINEERINGAleksandra Vinogradov, Montana State University Dr. Aleksandra Vinogradov has extensive academic and industrial experience in mechanical engineering. Her academic career has been dedicated to teaching and research. She has taught a variety of courses in materials engineering, engineering mechanics, mechanical vibrations, engineering analysis, and finite element analysis. She has supervised award winning student projects in mechanical design. Dr. Vinogradov’s research interests are in the area of materials. Her recent research focuses on the performance and properties of piezoelectric polymers, durability of

Conference Session

Faculty Attitudes and Perceptions

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sarah Zappe, Pennsylvania State University; Natalia Kapli, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

that those students with a more positive perception of active learning techniques ingeneral will also likely find the activities used in the course to be positive.2. What is the relationship between students’ perceived relevance of course and their perceptionof active learning?We hypothesize that students who perceive the course to be more relevant to their future and ofgreater interest to them will be more likely to endorse principles of active learning. Many of thestudents in the class are planning careers in industry as opposed to academic positions. Wehypothesize that students who have a greater interest in teaching will also likely feel morepositive about teaching strategies that have an active component.3. What differences exist between

Conference Session

Influences on Female Interest in Pursuit of STEM Fields

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jacquelyn Mobley, Ecology & Environment, Inc.

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

evaluate the range of career options.I never took the battery of assessment tools used to help students narrow down their career choices. I wasnever presented with career choices. I had choices??? This was a failure on the administration’s part totrack my progress, recognize my potential and desire to gain the necessary information and providecompetent professional career guidance. I strongly believe that this was an injustice that went unnoticed.And I wonder how many other highly capable individuals go without proper guidance at such a crucial timein their lives. COLLEGE YEARS: THE ACADEMIC PRISONGetting acclimated into the University of Florida environment was very difficult my first academic year. Inoticed right away that

Conference Session

The Academic Environment

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Monica Young, Syracuse University; John Tillotson, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

AC 2008-1890: NEGOTIATING THE PATH TO THE PROFESSORIATE: A STUDYOF FACULTY PERSPECTIVES IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERINGMonica Young, Syracuse UniversityJohn Tillotson, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY Page 13.924.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 Negotiating the Path to the Professoriate: A Study of Faculty Perspectives in Mechanical EngineeringAbstractThis qualitative study investigated the factors that support or impede women’s interest andpersistence in the field of mechanical engineering and how these experiences influence theirdecision to complete a doctoral program and advance on to a career in academia. This studyexamined key variables

Conference Session

Recruitment & Retention in ET Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aram Agajanian, DeVry University-Chicago; William M. Timpson, Colorado State University; George Morgan, Colorado State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

). His forthcoming edited volume will be titled, Teaching Diversity.George Morgan, Colorado State University Dr. George Morgan is a professor emeritus in the School of Education, Colorado State University. He received his Ph.D. in child development and Psychology from Cornell University. During his 40 years of professional career, he has conducted programs of research on children’s motivation to master challenging tasks, and has held various teaching, research and administrative positions at Colorado State University, Stanford University and University of Colorado. Dr. Morgan has taught methods and applied statistics to graduate students in education at Colorado State University. In

Conference Session

Recruitment & Retention in ET Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth Dudeck, Pennsylvania State Univ.-Hazleton Campus; Wieslaw Grebski, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

on the two year degree, but concentrated in a specialization areaidentified by local industry.Recognizing the ProblemsDue to low enrollments and difficulty in recruiting students, many colleges and universities areeliminating their engineering technology programs because of high costs. However, high-techmanufacturing companies in the United States rely on graduates from engineering technologyprograms. The reluctance of students and the lack of encouragement from their parents toenter such programs, despite the demands of the workplace and career potential, have beenwell documented1. “Tech Prep” and other programs have sought to correct what has been seenby many as a simple problem of career awareness and curricular matching, but enrollments

Conference Session

Embedded Computing

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Holden, California Maritime Academy

Tagged Divisions

Computers in Education

been spent explaining how microcontrollers work. 14 12 12 10 9 8 6 4 2 2 1 0 0 Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Figure 10: Assessment 3The fourth statement, “I hope to use the microcontroller skills from this class in my career”,received all positive or

Conference Session

Marketing Engineering to Minority Students

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rafic Bachnak, Texas A&M International University; jack esparza, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

University – Corpus Christi in the Spring of 2008. Page 13.242.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 Attracting Minority Students to Science and EngineeringAbstractThis paper describes a number of outreach activities to attract minority students toscience and engineering careers. These activities include presentations by guest speakers,tours of a NASA center for K-12 educators, workshops for middle school students, andhands-on demonstrations and experiments. The paper presents details about the activitiesimplemented during the last year. Results are briefly described.IntroductionStrategies employed to recruit and retain

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Curriculum Innovation

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James Farison, Baylor University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

remaining 16-15required hours that may be from any subject area that is career oriented but not necessarily fromengineering. The entire package is then evaluated against the student’s Statement of Purpose(which indicates, by its career focus, why the student is not taking the ECE or ME curriculumand needs the flexibility of the Engineering major).Since the Engineering major does not have its own faculty or courses, it depends on the ECE andME courses and faculty for assessment. When a student has prepared the desired plan, a checksheet of outcomes assessment conducted in each course is used to assure that each Engineeringgraduate has been included in the full set of our required student outcomes measurement. Ourprimary sources for evaluation of

Conference Session

Educating for Results: Tools used in Engineering Technology

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alok Verma, Old Dominion University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

EngagedAbstract Low enrollment and high attrition rates have often plagued Engineering and EngineeringTechnology programs. Part of this problem can be attributed to the lack of engaging hands-onactivities during the first year of instruction. Most engineering and technology programs requirestudents to take natural science, math and some general education courses during the first twoyears with minimal technical content. To maintain student’s interest in the technical career path,it is important that students establish a link between the theoretical knowledge and its applicationto solve real life problems early in their learning experience. Simulation based activities have aproven record as instructional tool. Such activities have been used

Conference Session

Mentoring

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Terri Camesano, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; David DiBiasio, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Kristen Billiar, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Marsha Rolle, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Susan Zhou, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

was their first researchexperience of any kind. We had a positive impact on influencing the career path of the REUparticipants, according to their self-reported plans. The mentoring program has been verysuccessful, as indicated by the number of return attendees and alumni of the Bio-Discoveryprogram, who recommend their younger sisters or friends to the program. According to ourassessment data, the Bio-Discovery Program has been the most rewarding part of the programfor several of the REU participants, even though it also presented a challenge, as it limits theamount of time REU students can dedicate exclusively to their research projects. With ourrecommendations for improvement, this program can be adopted by other faculty who wish

Conference Session

Student Recruitment and Retention

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mary Anderson-Rowland, Arizona State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

, she is the PIC IV Chair and a frequent speaker on career opportunities in engineering, especially for women and minority students. Page 13.1287.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 Thinking About Graduate SchoolAbstractLess than 18% of graduating engineers in the US go directly full-time to graduate school andvery few women and underrepresented minority students go on to graduate school. Our countryneeds more diverse researchers in engineering, and students do not realize the creative andchallenging work that they can obtain with a graduate degree. There are many reasons for thelow

Conference Session

The Academic Environment

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stacy Birmingham, Grove City College; Mara Wasburn, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

the decreasing number of tenure-track positions,it become increasingly important to learn whether or not the declining number of tenure-trackpositions may hamper the ability of colleges and universities to attract and retain women facultyin these disciplines in the future. Page 13.944.2Women in STEM DisciplinesApproximately half the potential STEM talent pool at the entering undergraduate level consistsof women. Therefore, in 2000, a United States government commission, reporting to the Houseof Representatives, was charged with developing strategies to attract more women and minoritiesin STEM careers. The report indicated that significant

Conference Session

The Impact of Engineering Disciplines

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Venetia Dover, Howard University; Dawn Williams, Howard University; Lorraine Fleming, Howard University; Viara Quinones, Howard University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

study. Her research explores psychological and sociocultural factors affecting international STEM students’ undergraduate process. Page 13.1378.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008Variances in Coping Efficacy Among Women STEM Students: Is Gender or Discipline More Influential? Page 13.1378.2 Variances in Coping Efficacy among Women STEM Students: Is Gender or Discipline More Influential?AbstractThis study uses Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) to examine the coping efficacy of highachieving

Conference Session

Engineering Accreditation Around the World

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jaime Salazar, Ibero-American Association of Engineering Education (ASIBEI); Jorge Ignacio Velez Munera, Universidad Sergio Arboleda, ACOFI; Maria M. Larrondo Petrie, Florida Atlantic University

Tagged Divisions

International

1993 was integrated the CONEAU, Comisión de Evaluación y Acreditación Universitaria, as a consequence of university autonomy. ̇ The Ley de Educación Superior indicated the need for accreditation of careers whose practice had to be regulated by the government. Page 13.1267.5 ̇ In 1995 was conformed the CAP, Comisión de Acreditación de Postgrados. ̇ The initial call was first voluntary and then mandatory since 1999. ̇ In the CONEAU participate the CONFEDI, Consejo Federal de Decanos de Ingeniería (Miembro ASIBEI); the CU, Consejo de Universidades; and the CIN, Consejo Inter- universitario Nacional

Conference Session

Professional Development in Materials Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Kessler, Iowa State University; Emily Merrick, Iowa State University; Lawrence Genalo, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

Materials

engineers. These societies are also beneficial to the career progression of their members byproviding networking and professional service opportunities.1 Typically, engineers are firstexposed to professional societies as college sophomores or juniors through pre-professionalstudent chapters of the society, where students are able to join at substantially reduced fees andparticipate in a variety of networking, project, and service experiences.2 Most often, studentscontinue their membership upon graduation from college and as a way to stay abreast of thechanges in their field and enhance their professional and technical capabilities.3At universities, active student pre-professional societies can greatly enhance the engineeringcurriculum. Reid and

Conference Session

Issues in the Professional Practice of Faculty Members in Civil Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andrea Welker, Villanova University; Frank Falcone, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

notrestricted to the engineering profession only. The goal here is to raise the concept of self-awareness within each student such that he/she understands that their service to society, througha career in engineering, will be valuable and successful if they truly focus on the proper fit forthemselves within the profession.Leadership and ManagementBased on input from leaders in the engineering industry (design, consulting, and constructionmanagement) invited to speak as guest lecturers in this course, we can conclude that someengineers will find themselves in junior leadership and management positions not long aftercompletion of their undergraduate studies. Leadership and management, although related, are notthe same.Students are introduced to the