Conference Session

Innovation and Measuring Success in Graduate Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joy Colwell, Purdue University, Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

AC 2010-251: SOFT SKILLS FOR THE NEW ECONOMY: THEIR PLACE INGRADUATE EDUCATION IN ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERINGTECHNOLOGYJoy Colwell, Purdue University, Calumet Associate Professor of Organizational Leadership and Supervision, and Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies for the School of Technology Page 15.1070.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Professional Skills for the New Economy: Their Place in Graduate Education in Engineering and Engineering TechnologyAbstractMuch has been made in the media of the skills required for the new economy, andthe role of professional or “soft” skills in getting and keeping a

Conference Session

International Initiatives, Partnerships,Teaching Strategies, and Collaborative Networks

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Fanyu Zeng, Indiana Wesleyan University

Tagged Divisions

International

AC 2010-1106: INTEGRATING COMMUNICATION AS A NEW LEARNINGCOMPONENT INTO CHINESE SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PROGRAMFanyu Zeng, Indiana Wesleyan University Page 15.758.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Integrating Communication as a New Learning Component into Chinese Software Engineering ProgramAbstractEngineering programs in China generally focus on development of student’s ability in learningmathematics and engineering theories with limited exposures to their practical skill development.Recent research finds that lack of soft skill training on human communication may severelyaffect student’s ability in conveying their thoughts and

Conference Session

Curriculum in Telecommunications Engineering Technology

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kim Nankivell, Purdue University, Calumet; Joy Colwell, Purdue University, Calumet; Jana Whittington, Purdue University, Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

AC 2010-613: PREPARING THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYPROFESSIONALS OF TOMORROW: WHAT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYPROGRAMS CAN DO TO ENSURE THEIR GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYABLEKim Nankivell, Purdue University, CalumetJoy Colwell, Purdue University, CalumetJana Whittington, Purdue University, Calumet Page 15.976.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Preparing the Information Technology Professionals of Tomorrow: What Information Technology Programs Can Do to Ensure Their Graduates Are EmployableAbstractIt is well understood that technical graduates need more than technical skills to be professionallyemployed; they also need the so-called “soft skills

Conference Session

DEED Potpourri

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Singli Garcia-Otero, Virginia State University; Ehsan Sheybani, Virginia State University

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

Master’s thesis, was mainly focused on technical knowledge, and was especiallyfocused on building a working prototype. Each student had his own technical advisor. However,we realized that this focus did not teach the early stages of design (such as literature search,market study, and cost analysis) and did not adequately emphasize soft skills (such as workingeffectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team, understanding professional and ethicalresponsibilities, understanding the impact of engineering solutions, communicating effectively,and learning by oneself). Therefore, we revised the Senior Design course to include these topics.This paper describes the restructured (“new and improved”) Senior Design course, including:how the student teams

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mohamad Ahmadian, Eastern New Mexico University; Tom Brown, Eastern New Mexico University

report and inclusion ofrequired materials.Another goal of this course was to improve student’s soft skills. Engineering and sciencecurricula often focus on the technical abilities of students, neglecting the “soft skills” that willoften determine success or failure for graduates when they enter the workforce. As an example,project management skills are often neglected in an engineering or science curriculum, requiringadditional training for those engineers who end up in management positions. Skills such as theability to lead and work effectively as a member of a team are frequently identified as critical tothe success of an engineer, but typically are lacking in new engineering graduates. 3Course TopicsIn this course students worked in groups

Conference Session

Issues and Directions in ET Education & Administration: Part III

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Saeed Khan, Kansas State University-Salina; Lucy Kollhoff, Kansas State Univerty; Michael Kollhoff, Salina South High School

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

recruitment. 3. 52 percent of respondents thought that articulation between high schools and four- year schools was either important or very important form of STEM articulation. 4. 58 percent of respondents thought that 3-tier articulation between high schools, two-year schools and four-year schools was either important or very important form of STEM articulation. Page 15.583.5The survey data also provides insights into educator thinking in other areas e.g. theimportance of hobbies; the influence of family and friends; etc. Data of this nature willhelp us with tailoring the curriculum.An Argument for Inclusion of Soft Skills as a Part of

Conference Session

Project-based Learning and Other Pedagogical Innovations

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Huanmei Wu, IUPUI

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

suggestions.[5] Outcome dissemination and project evaluation: In the end, the outcomes of the education and learning are disseminated by both students and mentors at different hierarchical events, including campus symposiums, local workshops, and national conferences. Students are also involved in project summary and conference presentations. Conference and journal papers are another way to present the project outcomes. Student and mentor evaluations are also carried out at the end of projects. Students will also evaluate the mentors and give tips to the mentors for future projects.During the project period, one focus is to improve the soft skills of students. Soft skills areimportant to complement technical requirements of a job

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering Education: Upperclass Years

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Bullard, North Carolina State University; David Ollis, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

Professional Development Buffet: From Banquet to À La CarteAbstractBoth ABET and industrial advisory boards encourage engineering departments to includeinstruction in “soft skills” that reflect the broader professional qualities necessary for studentsuccess in their careers. These include oral and written communication, ethics and professionalbehavior, resume and interviewing skills, electronic and professional etiquette, informationliteracy, and broader knowledge of engineering solutions in a global or societal context. Whilesome departments dedicate one or more instructional credits to accomplish this objective, othersmay integrate such topics into existing core courses. This paper presents a one-credit model fora junior-level course in professional

Conference Session

Design Projects in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Angkee Sripakagorn, Chulalongkorn University; Kuntinee Maneeratana, Chulalongkorn University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

, interrelation among main stakeholders, cultural norms androles of the administrative committee. The assessment framework, comprising of outcomes,assessment tools, assessment criteria and evaluators, are also described.RESULTSThere was a quick adaptation of the working processes between students and project advisorstowards this new framework. By challenging students, this course succeeded in raisingawareness in soft skills, such as working in teams and project management. In terms of thestakeholders, the examination panel plays a crucial role in initiating the changes while studentsare the key to negotiate changes. For the assessment framework itself, a check and balancebetween the advisor and examination panel is observed. The overall assessment

Conference Session

Capstone and Senior Design in Engineering Technology: Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Fernando Rios-Gutierrez, Georgia Southern University; Youakim Al Kalaani, Georgia Southern University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

achievingthe TAC2000 outcomes. In particular, our Senior Design capstone course (TEET4010/ 4020) isa comprehensive three-credit, two-semester engineering design course, that all engineeringmajors are required to take as their capstone experience. We view this course as a veryimportant component in the preparation of a trained EET professional. The course emphasizesboth hard and soft skills and serves as an emulation of a real world engineering project. We useboth, projects proposed by the faculty and projects contributed from local industry and wepartner the teams of student with faculty and industry mentors. As a result of their participationin this course, students are subjected to a real world engineering project development experiencefor the first

Conference Session

Faculty Set the Preliminary Standards for Co-ops

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Emilia Bratschitsch, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences; Annette Casey, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences

Tagged Divisions

Cooperative & Experiential Education

structure and theworkload are of crucial importance for the students’ success.To survey the students’ workload we decided to define five different subject areas: LSS = Page 15.967.6Language, Soft Skills, Support; E = Engineering; TF = Technical Fundamentals; EML =2 It would be interesting to carry out the same beginners’ survey at the end of their course of studies.Economics, Management, Law; WDP = Workshop and Internship, Project Work, DiplomaThesis. In Figure 5 we show the distribution of students’ workload in percentages over the fulleight semesters of study as determined by the curriculum-based and the additional, project-based

Conference Session

Incorporating Advanced Technologies into Curriculums

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Wayne Hung, Texas A&M University; Jorge Leon, Texas A&M University; Luis San Andres, Texas A&M Univeristy

Tagged Divisions

Manufacturing

. Participants will explore a new technical field in such a way to stimulate further study.3) To prepare students with soft skills for successful researching. Participants will work with others to develop a productive teamwork attitude and improve their communication skills.4) To motivate participants for research career. Participants will be given information about graduate schools and expose to research environment in industry.5) To promote diversity. Participants will be selected in such a way to enhance diversity and maximize the program impact.6) To continue improvement. Participants will provide continuous feedback to improve current and future program.7) To complement other institutions. This program provides research experiences to

Conference Session

Assessment & Continuous Improvement in ECET: Part II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Youakim Al Kalaani, Georgia Southern University; Shonda Bernadin, GSU

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

- Conducting field trips and inviting guest speakers - More involvement in IEEE student chapter - Participation in student robotic competitionsChallengesAs emphasis in higher education is shifting toward a multifaceted approach to assessment3,traditional evaluation techniques based on collecting samples of student work, such as tests,quizzes, and assignments are no longer adequate in measuring student achievements. In fact,many of the ABET accreditation criteria (a-k) are related to soft, intangible skills that aretypically difficult to measure using traditional methods4. Therefore, innovative strategies thatprovide methods of assessment and measurement for these soft skills are constantly needed toadequately document and assess

Conference Session

Issues and Directions in ET Education & Administration: Part II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kim Nankivell, Purdue University, Calumet; Jana Whittington, Purdue University, Calumet; Joy Colwell, Purdue University, Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

, outsourcing and cost reductions. Thecurrent belief that IT professionals are devoted to the technology and will not be interested inmanagement decisions has create a perceived shortfall of qualified IT leaders. The statement bySteers, Mowday and Shapiro (2004) that “Managing knowledge workers continues to perplexexperienced managers”22 is based on many of the complexities associated with the skill set of ITprofessionals.The literature demonstrates that the leadership skills required to be competent in IT are evolvingnot only in the explicit skills required but also in the soft or professional skills such as leadership,which are more ambiguous. These soft skill requirements are a function of the new roles that ITprofessional must take on. As stated by

Conference Session

Issues and Directions in Engineering Technology Education & Administration: Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gary Mullett, Springfield Technical Community College

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

at least add the term systems to the title (i.e. ESET). A systemsengineering technology (SET) degree might more accurately reflect the skill sets needed by theperson that deals with the electronics based systems of the future. Furthermore, this technician ofthe future will most likely be equipped with a handheld, web connected, multi-purpose“electronic measurement /diagnostic toolkit” as opposed to small hand tools! The need for asoldering iron with today’s and tomorrow’s reliance on surface-mount technology, multilayerprinted circuit boards, and system-on-a-chip technology will be extremely rare! Not to beoverlooked, hand-in-hand with the evolution in technology is the need for the technician of thefuture to have the soft skills necessary

Conference Session

Best Practices in Existing College-Industry Partnerships

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mahesh Aggarwal, Gannon University

Tagged Divisions

College-Industry Partnerships

15.288.4Program OutcomesThe expected outcomes of the program include≠ Technical expertise≠ Experience in managing and delivering projects≠ Proper behavior in the workplace≠ Written and oral communication skills≠ “Soft-skills” of teamwork, leadership, and aggressivenessProgram SuccessProgram success is measured in terms of various indicators:≠ Project assignments and rotation - Usually after a month or so, students are assigned responsible projects indicating the trust manager put in these students. Students rotate within several groups of the organization to allow them to get a broader perspective of the employer’s products and operation. Many times the group does not want them to rotate (considered highly valuable) but have no

Conference Session

Past and Future of Manufacturing Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hugh Jack, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Manufacturing

written.The focus of the following comments have an emphasis on the practical nature of engineeringeducation and a need to support the workplace. A number of respondents indicated specific topicsand methods. In general the comments suggest that education must be tied to the needs of manu-facturers. [Industry Comment] Patents and how to protect IP should be taught to US manu- facturing students Page 15.946.6 Addition of ethics and soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, work ethic, etc.[Industry Comment] Entrepreneurship must be coveredPolitically and Socially:safety: both worker and product - remain

Conference Session

Pedagogy and Assessment in ECE II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rosalind Wynne, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

presentation demonstratesreflective activities that support the natural connection between the brain structure and thelearning cycle.2 Activities such as reviewing ideas in journaling exercises for a mathematicallyrigorous engineering course will be addressed. These techniques are often limited to design-courses that develop “soft-skills” in engineers. Conventional courses, however, subscribe totraditional teaching methods with fewer opportunities for student reflection. Examples ofunconventional reflective journaling activities employed in an engineering course that addressedmodern physics concepts and semiconductor material topics will be highlighted in this paper.The teaching and learning model for this course was based on the established theory of

Conference Session

Aerospace Technical Session

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kerri Phillips, West Virginia University; Giampiero Campa, The MathWorks, Inc.; Srikanth Gururajan, West Virginia University; Marcello Napolitano, West Virginia University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

”14. The Panel also expresses that the laboratory is a “place to learn newand developing subject matter as well as insight into understanding of the validation andlimitations of assumptions, prediction of the performance of complex systems, testing andcompliance with specifications, and an exploration for new fundamental information”14. TheAccreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) published the ABET EngineeringCriteria in 1996 as “a mandate to educators to design curricula that could produce engineers withadequate skills to enter the job market”9. This report includes a set of 11 outcomes that graduatesof baccalaureate engineering programs should obtain. These were divided into what wasconsidered “hard” and “soft” skills

Conference Session

Global Engineering Education: Intercultural Awareness and International Experience

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Juila Thompson, Purdue University; Brent Jesiek, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

International

Student Learning: Strengthening the Global Competence and Research Experiences of Undergraduate Students. Atlanta, Georgia: Georgia Institute of Technology. Available at http://www.assessment.gatech.edu/legacy/SACS/QEP/QEP%20(SACS)%20Annual%20Impact%20Report%202 007-2008%20FINAL%20WEB.pdf (Accessed January 8, 2010).6 Vande Berg, M. Intervening in in Student Learning Abroad: A Research-Based Inquiry. Available at https://en.afs60.de/webcontent/files/MbM_Vande_Berg.pdf (Accessed January 8, 2010).7 Del Vitto, C. Cross-Cultural ‘Soft Skills’ and the Global Engineer: Corporate Best Practices and Trainer Methodologies. Global Journal of Engineering Education, 2008. 3(1): 1-9.8 Bielefeldt, A. Cultural Competency

Conference Session

CE Capstone: Innovations in Learning & Assessment

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Charlie Quagliana, University of WIsconsin-Madison; Jeffrey Russell, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Michael Doran, University of WIsconsin-Madison; Rod Hassett, University of WIsconsin-Madison; Greg Harrington, University of WIsconsin-Madison

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

student teams. Page 15.1300.9As part of the real world design project, student teams must present the project to a jury at the 8midterm and final milestones of the semester. Communication skills are a significant key to thesepresentations as they are in the 21st century workplace. Students have been exposed to andexplored a wide variety of soft skills and graphic communication skills in previous courses. TheCapstone course enhances these student skills with three separate class time presentations relatedto graphics, selling ideas, and making effective

Conference Session

College-Industry Partnerships: Bringing Industry into the Curriculum Development and Design Cycle

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tammy Baldwin, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.; Marisa Hemingway, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc

Tagged Divisions

College-Industry Partnerships

industry-education partnerships that already exist.The program was created in line with traditional and contemporary training delivery methods foradult learners. Even more essential was the need to not only develop technical training for allparticipants but also allow for nontechnical training or soft-skill development. The programsuccess hinges on university partnerships as well. Gaps in knowledge and understanding areidentified in associate-level engineers. Using that knowledge, Schweitzer EngineeringLaboratories representatives work intimately with targeted universities to enhance curriculumand industry research partnerships and also develop essential programming to continue to feedthe pipeline for future engineers. The EDP is hinged on the

Conference Session

Student Learning

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dianne Raubenheimer, North Carolina State University; Eric Wiebe, North Carolina State University; Chia-Lin Ho, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

) technology skills Problem solving skills (critical Systems knowledge Soft skills (global thinking) issues) Communication skills Self motivated innovation Accountability Knowledge of a programming Understanding business Data exploration language needs (value proposition) Database management skills Data reportingIn parallel with the industry panel work was a comprehensive literature review pertaining tocomputer competency, proficiency, and fluency at the university level. The results of theliterature review revealed broad and inconsistent interpretations of the terms competency,proficiency, and fluency, with very

Conference Session

Engineering Collaboration: Faculty & Student in K-12 Programs

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Vikram Kapila, Polytechnic University; Magued Iskander, Polytechnic University; Noel Kriftcher, Polytechnic University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

access and opportunity for women and minorities for advanced study in science, mathematics, and technology. Before coming to Polytechnic, Dr. Kriftcher served as a teacher and administrator, then as principal of Seward Park High School in New York City, and as superintendent of the Page 15.764.1 high schools in Brooklyn and Staten Island.© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Integrating Graduate Student Research into K-12 Classrooms: A GK-12 Fellows Project1. Introduction In recent years, the importance of development of soft skills to the professional

Conference Session

International Study Abroad Programs & Student Engagements

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Khanjan Mehta, Pennsylvania State University; Mary Lynn Brannon, Pennsylvania State University; Sarah Zappe, Pennsylvania State University; Thomas Colledge, Pennsylvania State University; Yu Zhao, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

International

-solversThe National Academy of Engineering envisions engineers being leaders in the movementtowards wise, informed, and economically sustainable development and has asked engineeringeducators to prepare students with a strong foundation and new knowledge of innovativetechnologies that advance society.8 In response, engineering education has seen a significantincrease in emphasis on experiential education and on the development of “soft skills” that Page 15.522.3engineering students will need when they enter the workplace. This evolving vision ofengineering education emphasizes the development of students as emerging professionals andeducated citizens

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering Education: Underclass Years

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Bullard, North Carolina State University; Donald Visco, Tennessee Technological University; David Silverstein, University of Kentucky; Jason Keith, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

culture: • Chemical engineering courses aimed at retention – (a departmental stakeholder cultural decision) • Bringing communication, soft skills, etc. into ChE curriculum (a departmental stakeholder decision) • The use of active learning and other ways to improve retention (if faculty members embrace these teaching concepts, they can modify the culture so that the students feel more engaged in the learning process and take ownership of their own learning). • The development of novel curriculum approaches and/or department level involvement (a departmental stakeholder cultural decision)Each of these classifications will now be discussed. In many cases, the concept ofretention is linked to an

Conference Session

Scholar Program Proposal/Develop Courses and Materials/Collaborations and Accredatation Systems for Global Engineering Education / Preparing Engineers for the Global Workplace and Successful Graduates for a Flat World: What Does It Take?

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lueny Morell, Hewlett-Packard; Jennifer DeBoer, SPEED

Tagged Divisions

International

geography, the profile of engineering graduate attributes appear to follow the samepattern, i.e., engineering graduates should be knowledgeable in science and technologyfundamentals and be problem solvers, but should also possess a number of professional skills(i.e., “soft skills”) important for the profession such as effective communication andunderstanding the world where engineering is practiced (business constraints,flexibility/adaptability, societal and ethical issues, global sensitivity, etc). Numerous student-focused events on a variety of curriculum, policy, and pedagogical issues conducted by one ofthe authors have yielded similar conclusions.Some authors and reports have comprehensively outlined the elusive set of “soft skills” that

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering Education: Upperclass Years

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Bullard, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

traditionallecture content as well as a capstone project. Academic content typically includesflowsheet synthesis and development, process simulation, process economics, andequipment design/heuristics. Depending on the background of the instructor and whetherthe course is one or two semesters, a laundry list of additional topics might includesustainability and “green design” concepts,1 process safety, 2 Good ManufacturingPractice, Six Sigma,3 optimization,4 selecting materials of construction, reading P&ID’s,heat exchanger network or reactor network synthesis, environmental regulations,engineering ethics, batch scheduling, and product design.5 Senior design is also the lastopportunity to reinforce “soft skills” such as teamwork6,7 and communication.8

Conference Session

Early Engineering Design Experiences

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aezeden Mohamed, University of Manitoba; Myron (Ron) Britton, University of Manitoba

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

tobrings these issues into the curriculum. Students learn the importance of the “soft skills” early in theircareers. The discussions that arise from in-class situations provide an excellent foundation for the follow-onphilosophy class on ethics that the students are required to take. Communication, both oral and written, iscritical to the success of any engineer and any design. Because these designs are the result of group effort,most students see, first-hand, the effects of communication, both good and bad. Even the best designs have adifficult time being supported and implemented if the design engineers cannot justify their designs in a clearand concise manner. During this course, students are provided with a strict set of guidelines for their

Conference Session

Knowing our Students, Faculty, and Profession

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anna Pereira, Michigan Technological University; Michele Miller, Michigan Technological University; William Helton, Michigan Technological University; Leonard Bohmann, Michigan Technological University; Chris VanArsdale, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

higher forthe leadership and communication attributes.It is interesting to note that all the significant traits were “soft” skills. In the cases where namegender was significant, the women were always rated higher on average than males. It is alsoworth noting that a career fair may not be an accurate representation of the engineering field.One possible reason is recruiters may be directed to focus on the recruiting of more women andminorities. For example, government agencies actively recruit females and minorities in aneffort to increase representation of both in the workplace. Besides government agencies, otherrecruiters may focus on recruiting women. McIlwee and Robinson suggest that since themajority of graduates in engineering are male