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Csi Engineering Technology: Directing Engineering Tech. Curriculum To Solve Real World Engineering Problems

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Conference

2005 Annual Conference

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 12, 2005

Start Date

June 12, 2005

End Date

June 15, 2005

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Real World Applications

Page Count

8

Page Numbers

10.377.1 - 10.377.8

DOI

10.18260/1-2--14253

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/14253

Download Count

363

Paper Authors

author page

Francis Di Bella

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Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Session 2249 2005 ASEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Engineering Technology Division Real World Applications

C.S.I.-Engineering Technology: Directing Engineering Technology Curriculum to Solve Real-World Engineering Problems

Francis A. Di Bella, P.Eng.

ABSTRACT The recent spate of the popular, original TV series CSI (Crime Scene Investigations) television series has spawn similar series entitled CSI- Miami and CSI-New York. The reasons can vary but most critics cite the exposure to the audience of the expert use of very sophisticated investigative tools: from advanced computers, to finger print comparatives to mass spectrometers and the ability to derive logical solutions to crime- related problems. The reality is that these T.V. programs exhibit the talents of intelligent, technically adept staff using state-of-the-art technical tools. No advanced theories or indebt research need be considered here; the solution to the problem-at-hand lies in the experienced use of tools-of-the-trade and the inherent intelligence of the user. But isn’t this a description of the charter for Engineering Technology programs and the students who we teach?

This paper describes the use of the CSI1-type plots to appeal to and attract the engineering technology students to the excitement that awaits them if they have the ability to solve a real-life engineering problem, taken directly from the recent news accounts, and using engineering technology to help solve the problem. The student is thus witnessing the power of the engineering technology to solve ‘real-world’ problems even as they are being entertained.

Introduction Consider the following common questions from less than enthusiastic students: “When will I use this information?” or “Will this be on the test?”

We have all heard these questions before. Usually it is more evident in the freshmen classes where the high school years have not been shaken off by the engineering student. Both of these questions are routinely asked of students who may not be exactly thrilled over the long and difficult learning that must precede their ability to use the engineering technology that is being taught.

1 CSI in this conference paper is an anagram for Case Study Instruction as it may be used in the instruction of Engineering Technology students in a variety of engineering technology subjects

Proceedings of the 2005 American Society of Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005 American Society of Engineering Education

Di Bella, F. (2005, June), Csi Engineering Technology: Directing Engineering Tech. Curriculum To Solve Real World Engineering Problems Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--14253

ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2005 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015