Design of An Interactive Scenario-Based Technical Management Communication Course - A Unique Addition to Future Engineering Leaders’ Toolbox

Wei Lu; Scott Tingey; Denise Preusser; Behbood Zoghi

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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: CPDD Technical Session 1 - Design of Professional Development Curricula
Page Count: 18
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--40603
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/40603
Download Count: 383

Paper Authors

biography

Wei Lu Texas A&M University

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Dr. Wei Lu is a Curriculum Manager in the Department of Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution at Texas A&M University.

Her research focuses on Higher Education, instructional design, community engagement & service-learning, eLearning & distance learning technology, K-12 (STEM) Education, Communications, Marketing, and Social Economics. She has been involved in several projects that collaborate with non-profit organizations like Central Texas Food Bank, Houston Food Bank, and local food pantries.

She is part of the Master of Engineering Technical Management program staff helping with coursework and curriculum development.

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Abstract

This work-in-progress research focuses on the unique design of a new persuasive communication graduate course, which is part of the curriculum of an online engineering technical management program for working professionals in the College of Engineering at a Tier One research university. In a time filled with constant changes and uncertainty, there is a rising trend that besides technical knowledge, hiring companies are looking more at the soft skills possessed by candidates in engineering or engineering-related industries; skills like communication, leadership, critical thinking, stress/pressure management, etc. are among the many needed or required lists [1], [2], [3]. Universities, answering to the market demands, are offering communication courses in engineering majors. However, much research has been focused on the design of communication curricula in engineering education for full-time undergraduate students [4], [5], [6], rarely it was examined for a curriculum designed for graduate engineering working professionals.

Based on industry needs, the observation of instructors, and feedback from former students, while this online program teaches many aforementioned soft skills, effective communication is an area lacking attention. To fill in the gap, a new course was created: grounded by Barnlund’s Transactional Model of Communication [7] and elements of Emotional Intelligence, this course combines two-day workshop-style lectures, interactive scenario-based role plays, and semester-long coaching to guide students through written and oral presentations of their capstone project. It is tailored to engineering professionals and prospective upper management candidates who would benefit using techniques in their everyday jobs to perform a spectrum of functions of communication, e.g., inform, inquire, persuade, motivate, etc.

The curriculum design of this course has many distinctive features: first, the interactive scenarios simulate practical tasks in a real work environment (e.g., resolving conflicts, negotiating resources, giving constructive feedback, evaluating urgent situations, etc.), which makes course content relevant and immediately applicable. Secondly, the different background and personal characteristics of the participants (Mentors and students) act as catalysts for the role-plays, which mimics the multidisciplinary nature of engineering managers’ work circle. Thirdly, the communication techniques incorporate key elements of emotional intelligence. Last but not least, this course acts as a supplementary tool to coach students throughout their first half of the capstone project, where effective communication plays a critical role in the success of the entire project.

This study uses a mixed method, in which both qualitative and quantitative data will be collected from various instruments, including written reflections of participation of the interactive simulations, grades obtained for the written and oral presentations, students feedback survey, etc. Preliminary results collected from the pilot semester will be analyzed to gauge the personal and professional impact on students, and to see what potential curriculum improvement could be done for the future semesters.

Every aspect of this course is designed so that managers in engineering or engineering-related fields find it pertinent and valuable to their career/personal success. In the meantime, the design of this course and lessons learned could provide implications for other engineering programs or institutions that are looking into offering a similar course.

Citation
Format

Lu, W., & Tingey, S., & Preusser, D., & Zoghi, B. (2022, August), Design of An Interactive Scenario-Based Technical Management Communication Course - A Unique Addition to Future Engineering Leaders’ Toolbox Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--40603

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - This work-in-progress research focuses on the unique design of a new persuasive communication graduate course, which is part of the curriculum of an online engineering technical management program for working professionals in the College of Engineering at a Tier One research university. In a time filled with constant changes and uncertainty, there is a rising trend that besides technical knowledge, hiring companies are looking more at the soft skills possessed by candidates in engineering or engineering-related industries; skills like communication, leadership, critical thinking, stress/pressure management, etc. are among the many needed or required lists [1], [2], [3]. Universities, answering to the market demands, are offering communication courses in engineering majors. However, much research has been focused on the design of communication curricula in engineering education for full-time undergraduate students [4], [5], [6], rarely it was examined for a curriculum designed for graduate engineering working professionals. 

Based on industry needs, the observation of instructors, and feedback from former students, while this online program teaches many aforementioned soft skills, effective communication is an area lacking attention. To fill in the gap, a new course was created: grounded by Barnlund’s Transactional Model of Communication [7] and elements of Emotional Intelligence, this course combines two-day workshop-style lectures, interactive scenario-based role plays, and semester-long coaching to guide students through written and oral presentations of their capstone project. It is tailored to engineering professionals and prospective upper management candidates who would benefit using techniques in their everyday jobs to perform a spectrum of functions of communication, e.g., inform, inquire, persuade, motivate, etc.

The curriculum design of this course has many distinctive features: first, the interactive scenarios simulate practical tasks in a real work environment (e.g., resolving conflicts, negotiating resources, giving constructive feedback, evaluating urgent situations, etc.), which makes course content relevant and immediately applicable. Secondly, the different background and personal characteristics of the participants (Mentors and students) act as catalysts for the role-plays, which mimics the multidisciplinary nature of engineering managers’ work circle. Thirdly, the communication techniques incorporate key elements of emotional intelligence. Last but not least, this course acts as a supplementary tool to coach students throughout their first half of the capstone project, where effective communication plays a critical role in the success of the entire project.

This study uses a mixed method, in which both qualitative and quantitative data will be collected from various instruments, including written reflections of participation of the interactive simulations, grades obtained for the written and oral presentations, students feedback survey, etc. Preliminary results collected from the pilot semester will be analyzed to gauge the personal and professional impact on students, and to see what potential curriculum improvement could be done for the future semesters.

Every aspect of this course is designed so that managers in engineering or engineering-related fields find it pertinent and valuable to their career/personal success. In the meantime, the design of this course and lessons learned could provide implications for other engineering programs or institutions that are looking into offering a similar course.
AU  - Wei Lu
AU  - Scott Tingey
AU  - Denise Preusser
AU  - Behbood Zoghi
CY  - Minneapolis, MN
DA  - 2022/08/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Design of An Interactive Scenario-Based Technical Management Communication Course - A Unique Addition to Future Engineering Leaders’ Toolbox
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/40603
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--40603
ER  -