Conference Session

High School Engineering Programs, Curriculum, and Evaluation

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kelly B Crittenden, Louisiana Tech University; Galen E. Turner III, Louisiana Tech University; James D. Nelson, Louisiana Tech University; Jane A. Petrus, Louisiana Tech University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

critical.Moreover, we do not use a trial-and-error approach to design. Instead, the project relies on thedevelopment of underlying mathematics and physics principles so that students can predictprojectile motion prior to launching the catapult.Launching into Engineering is divided into three periods: Discovery Weekend 1, DiscoveryWeekend 2, and the Challenge Weekend. Regional high school mathematics and science teacherswill select four to six students to participate with them in the project. During the course of theproject, the teachers will be on campus six times: three times without their students and threetimes with their students. Page 22.304.5The

Conference Session

Electromechanical Capstone and Design Projects in Engineering Technology

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael D. Johnson, Texas A&M University; Ram Prasad Diwakaran, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

procedures would be beneficial.IntroductionComputer-aided design (CAD) tools are ubiquitous in industry; CAD is used throughout thedevelopment process 1. Given the importance of CAD in the engineering process, studentsshould be provided with a knowledge base that allows them to use these powerful tools to theirfull capabilities. Teaching students how to properly model components in CAD requires that theybe taught the strategic knowledge 2, 3 that can easily be adapted to other programs and contexts asopposed to the declarative knowledge focused on a single CAD program 4, 5. This strategicknowledge is associated with CAD expertise 2.Morozov et. al, note that the practices of experts can be examined to help inform educators aboutwhich skills and

Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids, and Heat Transfer II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ahmed Cherif Megri, University of Wyoming

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

culminating with administrative topics. We demonstrate thismethodology through the use of a comprehensive design project.We discuss the capstone design program from students’ point of view, and the experience earnedin design, integration, and also in written and oral communication skills. Methodology used toevaluate the effectiveness of the capstone design program in term of learning outcomes is alsodescribed. 1. Introduction:The HVAC Capstone Design course consists of the mechanical systems design for a multi-storybuilding, and utilizes the architectural drawings of an actual project under construction todevelop the mechanical system design. The goals of this course are to gain an overallunderstanding of the mechanical design process, and to

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Julie Martin Trenor, Clemson University

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

interactions that influence under-represented students’ decisions to enter and persist in engineering.Research and Education GoalsThe specific goals of this NSF CAREER-funded project are to (1) build a conceptual model forunderstanding how engineering undergraduates develop, access and activate social capital inmaking academic and career decisions, (2) identify and characterize the potentially distinctmechanisms by which under-represented students utilize social ties that link them to resourcesrelated to engineering studies and (3) implement an education plan that provides research-to-practice training for university engineering outreach, recruitment, and retention practitionersusing webinars and workshops as learning forums.Theoretical FrameworkThe

Conference Session

New Trends in ECE Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Juan F. Arratia, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico; Martina Y. Trucco, Hewlett-Packard Labs; Luis F. Font, Ana G. Mendez University System

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

established in 2009 as apartnership between nine universities in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The BroaderParticipation in Computing-Alliance (BPC-A) was designed around the primary goal ofincreasing the recruitment and participation of students in computing disciplines. In order tofulfill this goal, Alliance members established the CCCE focused on five main objectives: 1)reach and impact economically-disadvantaged students with Alliance activities; 2) increase therecruitment of high school seniors into computing fields through hands-on research experiencesin a university setting; 3) provide professional training in computing to in-service science,computer and mathematics public and private high school teachers; 4) provide

Conference Session

Teams and Teamwork in Design

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter L. Schmidt, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Janusz Zalewski, Florida Gulf Coast University; Gloria A. Murphy, NASA; Thomas H. Morris, Mississippi State University; Christina L. Carmen, University of Alabama, Huntsville; Paul J. Van Susante, Colorado School of Mines

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

the materials and experience gained during the fellowship.NASA ESMD is a proponent of the System Engineering (SE) approach outlined in The NASASystems Engineering Handbook.1 Part of the experience for students on these projects is Page 22.309.3exposure to the principles of SE, and guidance from the faculty mentor in applying theseprinciples to the projects performed. The purpose of this project is to prepare faculty to enabletheir students to complete senior design projects with potential contribution to NASA ESMDobjectives and ultimately increase their competitiveness in the job market for NASA and itscontractors. The faculty worked for eight

Conference Session

Aerospace Curriculum and Collaborations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Todd Leighton, Aeronautical Testing Service, Inc.

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

Conference Session

Design Education I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Louis Reifschneider, Illinois State University; RJ Linton, Illinois State University

Tagged Divisions

Manufacturing

the inner components.The concept that has been developed to satisfy these needs consists of three parts: 1) a five-sidedbox that has a slanting front surface for the forward sensors, 2) a base plate that is the chassis forthe motors, circuit board, and floor sensors, and 3) a plate that fastens to the front surface whichallows for adjustment of the space between the front edge of the box and the ground. Aphotograph of a prototype of this robot housing that meets these needs is shown in Figure 1. Thecover for this device has been made by CNC routing sheets of plastic and then gluing themtogether in the manner of a three dimensional jig saw puzzle. This method is called a fabricateddesign because all components of the cover are made by cutting

Conference Session

International Experience, Effective Instruction, and Student Exchange Programs

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Waddah Akili, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

International

major drawback of the lecture approach is that it usuallyresults in long periods of uninterrupted instructor-centered, expository discourse, relegatingstudents to the role of passive spectators.(1)This method, however, continues to be the mostdominant teaching method in engineering institutions and widely used in most classes.To improve the relevancy of engineering education, we believe that teaching, or morefundamentally, student learning needs to be emphasized. Learning, as defined today, is morethan the acquisition of knowledge. Bloom (2) has defined five increasing levels of learning orcomprehension. Starting with fact-based knowledge, and followed by: comprehension (usingfactual information and explaining facts), application (applying

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering, Part II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Heidi A. Taboada, University of Texas, El Paso; Jose F. Espiritu, University of Texas, El Paso; Emmanuel Gurrola

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

minority students in STEM related fields. The proposed modelspans the educational engineering spectrum, impacting high school students and teachers,undergraduate and graduate students through structured education, research and mentoringactivities. The main components of the present model are: 1) Teaching Teachers to Teach Engineering (T3E) program 2) Peer Undergraduate Mentoring Program (PUMP) 3) Optimization Models for Engineering Research Class 4) Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Engineering Optimization 5) Speaker Seminar Series & Graduate School SeminarFirst, through the participation of high school teachers in the Teaching Teachers to TeachEngineering (T3E) program, teachers benefit by having a tested set of standards

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Larry J. Shuman, University of Pittsburgh; Mary E. Besterfield-Sacre, University of Pittsburgh; Tuba Pinar Yildirim, University of Pittsburgh; Karen M. Bursic, University of Pittsburgh; Natasa Vidic, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

-sessments across our partner institutions; broadening the library of usable MEAs to different en-gineering disciplines; and extending the MEA approach to identifying and repairing misconcep-tions, using laboratory experiments as an integrated component, and introducing an ethical deci-sion-making dimension [1, 2].Our overall research goal is to enhance problem solving and modeling skills and conceptuallearning of engineering students through the use of model eliciting activities. In order to accom-plish this goal at the University of Pittsburgh, we are pursuing two main research routes: MEAsas teaching tools and MEA as learning assessment tools. Under the first – using MEAs as ateaching tool – we are focused on three main activities: Development

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

AnnMarie Thomas, University of Saint Thomas; Jan B Hansen, University of Saint Thomas

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

the pre-service students can learn from the in-service teachers.Project TeamThis project is a collaboration between the University of St. Thomas’ schools ofEngineering and Education. Faculty from both departments are involved with thedevelopment of the courses for this program. The assessment for this project is beingcoordinated and executed by researchers from Purdue’s INSPIRE (Institute for P-12Engineering Research and Learning). An educator from the St. Paul Public School districtis serving as the educator consultant.Project TimelineThe grant for this CCLI project was awarded effective July 1, 2010. The summer of 2010 wasthen spent working on the development of the new courses and submission of the minorproposal.In the fall of 2010, EDU327

Conference Session

Collaborative Learning, Project-Based, Service Learning, and Impacts on Engineering Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Forrest Alden Copeland, Western Washington University; Derek M. Yip-Hoi, Western Washington University

Tagged Divisions

International

planning andimplementing projects. This paper describes the challenges, advantages, and opportunities ofworking with a multidisciplinary student group, and professional mentors, in developing a waterquality solution for a rural community in Guatemala.IntroductionEngineers without Borders (EWB-USA) is a non-profit organization that was established at theUniversity of Colorado Civil in 2002. As described in the mission statement "EWB-USAsupports community-driven development programs worldwide by collaborating with localpartners to design and implement sustainable engineering projects, while creating transformativeexperiences and responsible leaders."1 The organization is currently involved in 350 projects in45 countries with an emphasis on providing

Conference Session

Experiential Learning Programs and the Transition to Industry

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hoda Baytiyeh, American University, Beirut; Mohamad K. Naja, The Lebanese University

Tagged Divisions

College Industry Partnerships

. The measured items revealed a Chronbach alphareliability of 0.901. The majority of the participants was male (78%) with only (22%) female.Participants were distributed among the following specializations: Civil (32%), Mechanical(23%), Electrical (27%), Computer (10%), and Management (8%). The greater part (67%) ofparticipants was young engineers who have been practicing for less than five years. Although43% of participants are working in Lebanon, more than the half (57%) work abroad; in the Gulfregion (33%), Europe and North America (14%), and Africa (10%).Locating a JobUpon graduation, engineers face two options: (1) having the opportunity to find an employmentin a firm that fits their career goals; or (2) taking the first available offer

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Technical Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Meg Krudysz, City College of New York; Ann Wittig P.E., City College of the City University of New York

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

. Thesedifferences are illustrated in Figure 1. Measurement Methods and Desirable Achievement Goals Indirect Assessment of anHome Direct Assessment of an Outcome OutcomeDept. Through Exams, Problems, and Projects Through Student Self Assessment 5-point scale 3-point scale ESE 0 (None) – 4 (Excellent) 1 (Below Expectations) – 3 (Exceeds Expectations) Target Goal: Class average ≥ 2.5 Target goal: ≥ 70% of students with scores ≥ 2 5-point scale 3-point scale EE 0 (None) – 4

Conference Session

Two Year-to-Four Year Transfer Topics Part I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Steven K. Mickelson, Iowa State University; Marcia R. Laugerman, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

Two Year College Division

. Another goal of the NSF Student Enrollment andEngagement through Connections (SEEC) grant is to increase the diversity ofengineering graduates at ISU. The specific goals of SEEC are to increase thenumber of engineering graduates by 100 per year to obtain a total of about 900per year with approximately 10% from minorities and 20% females12. The key tomeeting these goals is the creation of meaningful connections between ISU andthe state community colleges to support transfer students. This project has focusedon five such connections: 1) a new admission partnership program, 2) coordinatedadvising and activities planning, 3) expansion of learning communities at ISU andstate community colleges, 4) creation of an engineering orientation class at

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Technical Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sara A. Atwood, Elizabethtown College; Tomas Estrada, Elizabethtown College

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

, asmeasured by their grade.Students engaging in more than 10 visits during the 15-week semester had significantly highergrades than students engaging in 5-10 visits (p=0.011) or less than 5 visits (p<0.001). Of the topstudents (grades more than 0.5 standard deviations above the mean), 80% interacted with facultyoutside the classroom more than once, with 37% interacting more than five times. Thisinteraction was characterized by an average frequency of 7.6 visits (about 1 visit every 2 weeks),an average length of 10 minutes, an average total time of 80 minutes during the semester, about 6emails during the semester, with written work about 30% of the time, group visits 40% of thetime, with visits occurring an average of 1.3 days before an assignment

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering in Silico

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Erick J. Nefcy, Oregon State University; Philip H. Harding, Oregon State University; Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

characterize student teams’ modeldevelopment as they proceed through a laboratory project. In this paper, the ModelRepresentations for 15 teams are examined as they complete physical and virtual laboratoryprojects in the senior year of the curriculum. Analysis of the Model Representation confirms thatthe virtual laboratory project affords students a richer opportunity for model development,modification, and use of evidence-based reasoning.IntroductionAs technology is integrated into classroom instruction, virtual laboratories have been receivingmore attention as an alternative mode to engage students and promote learning.1 Mostcommonly, the virtual laboratory is used as an alternative mode to deliver the correspondingphysical laboratory by simulating

Conference Session

Learning From Experts

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sarah E. Parikh, Stanford University; Sheri Sheppard, P.E., Stanford University; Kenneth E. Goodson, Stanford University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

comprehensiveproblems are Questions 1, 5, and 9 from Figure 1.The order in Figure 1 is the order that the problems were presented for 5 of the eight experts. Theorder was determined based on the order that the material is presented in the undergraduate levelintroductory heat transfer course. The questions were piloted with graduate students who werefamiliar with heat transfer, yet were just shy of qualifying as experts in this study. The pilotingdetermined the approximate time needed to answer each question in addition to identifyingunclear wording. Page 22.322.41. Oven Mitt How does an oven mitt successfully keep your hands from getting too hot when you

Conference Session

Focus on Entry Experiences in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey Heys, Montana State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

offavorite heuristics. For example, “assume the solution is known and try to determine whatproperties it might have” is a commonly used heuristic in many fields (e.g., physics, engineering,etc.)Beginning in the 1970’s, Schoenfeld began teaching mathematical problem solving, and hestarted observing and videotaping students while they struggled to solve different mathematicalproblems. Schoenfeld identified four different components to successful mathematical problemsolving performance3-6, and they are: 1. resources – the mathematical facts and procedures possessed by the problem solver 2. heuristics – problem solving strategies or techniques, 3. control – ability to select and implement the proper resources and strategies, and 4. belief

Conference Session

Post Graduate Experiential Programs and Insights

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Monica Farmer Cox, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Jiabin Zhu, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Benjamin Ahn, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Jeremi S. London, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Shree Frazier; Ana T. Torres-Ayala, University of South Florida; Rocio C. Chavela Guerra, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Cooperative & Experiential Education

- resented student success.Rocio C Chavela Guerra, Purdue University, West Lafayette Page 22.324.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2011 Choices for Ph.D.s in Engineering: Analyses of Career Paths in Academia and IndustryAbstractOur study presents the career trajectories of engineering Ph.D.s from the perspectives of bothindustry and academia. In this report, we identified approximately 34 engineering Ph.D.graduates from U.S. programs who: (1) worked only in academia; (2) worked only in industry; (3)worked in academia first and now work in industry; or (4

Conference Session

Methods, Techniques, and New Programs in Graduate Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Justin P. Micomonaco, Michigan State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

the preparation of college graduates in STEM fields.1, 2 These concerns are especiallyprominent in the field of engineering. Engineering, along with the physical sciences andcomputer sciences, are identified as the fields with the greatest net attrition. 3, 4, 5 Furthermore,there is concern that today’s domestic graduates are ill-prepared to thrive in the rapidly evolvingglobal economy. 6, 7 In response to the concerns with engineering education nationally, there aremany efforts underway to address the inability of the U.S. to adequately attract, retain andprepare students in the STEM disciplines8. One of the major drivers of research in STEM education has been the findings ofSeymour and Hewitt on student departure from STEM fields

Conference Session

To Boldly Go... Engineering Librarians Explore New Connections with Users

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Mark Chrimes, Institution of Civil Engineers

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Libraries

discarded their heritage.IntroductionHistorical backgroundThe Institution of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) Library, established in 1819, was the firstengineering Library in Britain. ICE, established in 1818, was the first professionalengineering body in the world 1. These dates of foundation are more or less contemporarywith the establishment of early technical universities and associated libraries in continentalEurope, reflecting a British response to a western world development – satisfying the societalneed for trained professional engineers. It was also approximately 30 years prior to anynational technical library collection.When the ICE Library was established there was only a limited published engineeringliterature, and the initial focus was on the

Conference Session

Status of CE Education: Today & Tomorrow

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey S. Russell, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Joshua M. Rogers, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Thomas A. Lenox , Dist.M.ASCE, F.ASEE, American Society of Civil Engineers; Dion K. Coward, American Society of Civil Engineers

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

useful tostudents and engineering practitioners in understanding the diverse array of domestic master’sprograms currently available.Background – Some Historical StatisticsAn overview of the historical statistics related to engineering degrees over the last severaldecades is an appropriate background to this study. Appendix 1 details the number ofbaccalaureate and master’s degrees awarded since the mid-1960’s in the following threecategories: 1. Civil Engineering only. 2. The “Big Four” Engineering Disciplines (Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, and Chemical, and treated collectively). 3. All Engineering Disciplines.In each of these three categories, Appendix 1 lists the number of baccalaureate degrees (B),number of master’s degrees (M

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jay McCormack, University of Idaho; Denny C. Davis, Washington State University; Steven W. Beyerlein, University of Idaho, Moscow; Howard P. Davis, Washington State University; Michael S. Trevisan, Washington State University; Susannah Howe, Smith College; Javed Khan, Tuskegee University; Patricia Brackin P.E., Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Paul R. Leiffer, LeTourneau University; Phillip L. Thompson, Seattle University

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

prepare forassessment activities and supplement learning in lecture environments. The learning activities(known as a module) are typically composed of an in-class guide for instructors, in-class and pre-class activities for students, and the post-class assessment activity. The complete sets ofassessment activities and modules are available online. Instructors using a subset of the modulesindicated that the modules are generally beneficial for students and instructors assessingprofessional skills and teamwork in the capstone course.1. IntroductionThe Transferable Integrated Design Engineering Education (TIDEE) consortium has developed aset of formative and summative assessment instruments that focus on aspects of team andindividual performance in

Conference Session

Research Related to Learning and Teaching Engineering in Elementary Classrooms

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Pamela S. Lottero-Perdue, Towson University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

mathematics) fields that have historically been a part of the elementary schoolday (i.e., science and mathematics),1-3 and most have had no exposure to more recent STEMareas, technology and engineering. 4 Cunningham, the national director of the EiE project,offered: “If most elementary teachers are afraid of teaching science, then the notion of teachingengineering is often accompanied by terror”. 5 Quality professional development experienceshave been shown to bolster practicing elementary teachers’ knowledge, confidence and attitudestowards engineering and other STEM subjects. 5, 6, 7 This paper explores another potential meansof supporting classroom teachers as they learn to teach engineering: co-teaching. Co-teaching is a nearly 50-year-old

Conference Session

Incorporating Innovative Technologies into the Curriculum

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Wayne P. Hung, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Manufacturing

implementing a new technology,very positive student feedback, less tedious work for laboratory assistants, and better examoutcome prove the success of Clicker implementation.I. IntroductionMany pedagogical techniques such as "one-minute paper quiz" or "scavenger hunt" whenstudents have to work out a problem and find others with same answers 1 would work well in asmall class with homogeneous student population, but are not practical to implement in a largeclass with diverse student background. An instructor would need a paperless, automatic,inexpensive, and easy-to-implement technology to know if students understand key concepts, tohave more student participation, to keep attendance records, and to receive regular feedbackfrom students during a

Conference Session

Design Tools & Methodology II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas E. Doyle, McMaster University; Spencer Smith, McMaster University; Adrian Ieta, State University of New York, Oswego

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

 that is from either the standards or used in commongear design (e.g. 20° pressure angle for spur gears).In addition, the focus of gear type is limited to thediscussion of spur, worm, and bevel. z mFigure 2 is an example of the type of simplified gear Figure  1:  Memory  aid  triangle  for  pairs that are used to introduce concepts such as gear simplified  gear  design  parameters.ratio and angular velocity. Students then extend thisby creating the gearing in a solid modelling CAD application. The Autodesk Inventor’sDesign Accelerator is used to generate the gear geometries based upon the studentcalculations

Conference Session

Communication: From Pecha Kucha to Bullets

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Isabel Simões de Carvalho P.E., ISEL, Lisbon, Portugal; Christy Moore, University of Texas, Austin

Tagged Divisions

Liberal Education/Engineering & Society

. Page 22.332.4The research assignment chosen from a list of Energy related subjects (e.g., Cogeneration,Wind, Solar, Biomass, Nuclear, Hydrogen, Fossil Fuels, etc.) is presented to the studentsand detailed information is provided in-class: • It is a group assignment (three students) • It is structured in a stepwise weekly approach (topics) • It includes mandatory weekly tasks (minimum of two per week) • It builds on positive interdependence • It is collaborative in nature • The final deliverables are an in-class presentation and a written reportAfter the groups are formed and the subject chosen the “Week One Topic” is releasedand students need to immediately engage in research to successfully fulfill Task 1

Conference Session

Industrial Collaboration and Applications

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nasser Alaraje, Michigan Technological University; Aleksandr Sergeyev, Michigan Technological University; Joanne E. DeGroat, Ohio State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

at least the short- to medium-term future [1]. Torespond to the industry needs for FPGA design skills, universities are updating their curriculumwith courses in hardware description languages and programmable logic design. Although mosttraditional electrical and computer engineering programs have updated their curriculum toinclude topics in hardware description language and programmable logic design (FPGA/CPLD),only 19.5 % of 4-year and 16.5 % of 2-year electrical and computer engineering technologyprograms at US academic institutions currently have a curriculum component in hardwaredescription language and programmable logic design [3]. To effectively meet the nextgeneration’s workforce needs, the electrical and computer engineering