Collection

1981 North Midwest Section

Authors

Lillian L. Goettler

Math/Science Career Conferences for Girls Lillian L. Goettler North Dakota State University In 1975 a number of women scientists and engineers in the San Francisco Bay area organized the first Expanding Your Horizons career conference to interest girls in math/science based careers. These one-day confer- ences offer giris a variety of hands-on workshop experiences as well as an opportunity to get to know women active in math/science fields and discuss their career paths and plans. These conferences were well re- ceived in the Bay area and inspired many similar conferences across the country. Two years ago at this time, a colleague from the Mathematical Sciences Department, Dr. Doris

Collection

1981 North Midwest Section

Authors

William A. Bares; David A. Rogers

information aboutthe life and work of the professional engineer in order to obtain morefrom their studies, to make adequate career planning, and to carry thesebenefits into their professional practice. One way to affect this isthrough an orientation to electrical engineering course. Erlandsen [l] reviewed dozens of university catalogs and found thatonly about 50% of the engineering programs offered something like an engi-neering orientation course. Further, study of the last several years ofthe IEEE Transactions on Education will reveal very few articles on sucha course. It seems as though very few people are motivated to contributein this area perhaps due to the lack of professional compensation forsuch efforts.History Probably many

Collection

1981 North Midwest Section

Authors

Henry L. Kucera; Elton G. Solseng; George L. Pratt

conclusion of the contest.Two judges rule on any procedural questions and pick thebest designed tractors. The decision of the judges isfinal: The student-made 16 mm movie and a recording of the1981 contest on videotape will be shown as part of this 91presentation.Summary: Is it possible to eliminate the peaks and valleys inengineering enrollment? Perhaps not, but a recruitingdevice for your department similar to the 11 rubber bandtractor contest" may reduce the variation, but moreimportant, may interest the right students early so theycan prepare for an engineering career. Elements of a successful event: 1. Simple, inexpensive, yet challenging. 2. Involvement of present students and staff, in

Collection

1981 North Midwest Section

Authors

I. C. Goulter

questioned about use of computers, graduating studentsfrom civil engineering departments often express a strongsense of alienation from computers. This sense of alienationalso occurs in the earlier years of the civil engineeringstudent's academic career but since the university environmentis probably the last place where these students can achievesome confidence in the use of the computers it is more troublingwhen expressed by the_graduating students. The question that should be addressed is why do thesestudents develop such a strong sense of alienation from whatis basically a very logical and straight forward subject.The question is made more puzzling when it is observed thatmany students own their own programmable calculators andexperience.no

Collection

1981 North Midwest Section

Authors

Hans J. Goettler

and a typical German child and adolescent. 11 Volksschule 11 isthe German grade school which the student leaves if he or she (or ra-ther his or her parents) decides on a future career that requires a uni-versity education. The student switches to a 11 hohere Schule 11 (higherschool), called 11 Gymnasium 11 , which provides a nine year long generalacademic education in preparation for studies at a university. Success-ful completion of the final examination, the 11 Abitur 11 , at the Gymnasiumis the prerequisite for admission to~ university for~ course ofstuay":'° This exam is prescribed by the state educational authorities andthus is uniform throughout a state. During times of limited enrollment,a universitv 1s admissions office uses the

Collection

1981 North Midwest Section

Authors

Scott J. Conrad

situations. Since a college education is apreparation for a career, it is important that references be made tofuture work whenever possible.Communication SkillsEngineers appear to be under constant accusation of having poorcommunication skills, and perhaps many of these accusations arejustified. The faculty claim there is no room to add communicationscourses to the engineering curriculum. However, they could place moreemphasis on communication skills within the existing engineeringcourses.HomeworkAssigning and grading of homework was perceived as very important tothe majority of survey respondents. Unfortunately the trend has beentoward less homework, particularly grading of homework. Facultymembers should take a close look at the effects of this