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Critical Review and Refinement of a Professional Development Survey for Engineering Undergraduates, Toward an Integrated Tool for Reflection Across the Curriculum

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Conference

2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Publication Date

August 23, 2022

Start Date

June 26, 2022

End Date

June 29, 2022

Conference Session

ERM: Student Professional Development: Professional Skills and Moving Beyond the Classroom

Page Count

16

DOI

10.18260/1-2--41004

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/41004

Download Count

266

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Paper Authors

biography

Andrew Olewnik University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

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Assistant Professor | Engineering Education | University at Buffalo

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biography

Bahar Memarian University of Toronto

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Bahar Memarian is a researcher and educator with research interests in the areas of Engineering Education (Problem-solving, Learning-outcomes Assessment, Experiential Learning, Design, and Creativity) and Human Factors Engineering (Cognitive-systems Engineering, User Experience, Display Design, and Interaction). She obtained her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and the Collaborative Specialization in Engineering Education at the University of Toronto, Canada (March 2021). Before that, she completed her MASc. (2015) and BASc. (2012) in Electrical Engineering at the University of Toronto.

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Abstract

In this evidence-based practice paper, we aim to explore considerations for supporting the professional skill development of students in engineering education particularly when surveys are utilized as the reflection and data collection intervention. Surveys are commonly used as mediums for programming or instructional change but are not necessarily approached through a research lens. We use an annual Professional Development Survey (herein referred to as PDS) developed at a large North American institution as a frame of analysis. The PDS was established in 2015 and implemented each year to enable student reflection on their role, responsibilities, and professional skill development for each of their active co-curricular experiences. By adopting a critical analysis methodology from medical education, we draw from educational literature and best practices of research design to investigate the PDS and inform additional considerations and alternatives for future rounds. Our motivation is to highlight areas of change in surveys such as the PDS that can contribute to a more transparent understanding of professional development in engineering education for the students, institutions, administrators, and researchers.

Olewnik, A., & Memarian, B. (2022, August), Critical Review and Refinement of a Professional Development Survey for Engineering Undergraduates, Toward an Integrated Tool for Reflection Across the Curriculum Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41004

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