Identifying as an Engineering Technology Graduate

Anne M. Lucietto

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Conference: 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Publication Date: June 26, 2016
Start Date: June 26, 2016
End Date: June 29, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-692-68565-5
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Issues in Engineering Technology Education I
Tagged Division: Engineering Technology
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 15
DOI: 10.18260/p.25517
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/25517
Download Count: 465

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Paper Authors

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Anne M. Lucietto Purdue University orcid.org/0000-0003-0053-753X

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Dr. Lucietto has focused her research in engineering technology education and the understanding of engineering technology students. She teaches in an active learning style which engages and develops practical skills in the students. Currently she is exploring engineering technology education research and the performance of engineering technology students in the classroom and using that knowledge to engage them in their studies.

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Abstract

Engineering graduates identify themselves as a person formally educated in engineering, who belongs to a group of people practicing engineering. How does the person holding an engineering technology degree career identify? The lack of differentiating research between engineering and engineering technology graduates results in less knowledge about self-identification by the engineering technology graduate. Many believe that the positions held by engineering technology graduates further define their self-identity, as they are titled either engineers or technologists. Identity research focuses on career trajectory in the graduate student population. This focus places research in academia. Methods used to analyze early influences and their impact on a person’s professional progress and identity are transferable. Therefore, using the approach taken on the graduate student population is germane to the engineering technology graduate population, regardless of their post-graduation path. For this study, the alumni office will send an e-mail to recent engineering technology graduates with a link to a survey. Identity-Trajectory theoretical framework will be used to interpret study results, focusing on questions developed using constructs in networking, intellectual pursuits, and institutional culture.

Results of the survey will provide evidence of how engineering technology graduates identify. Data derived from this survey will provide deeper understanding of engineering technology graduates’ use of networks past and present. Responses to survey questions in this area will further our understanding of social networking and other networking techniques as it relates to engineering technology graduates in the work place. Graduates of engineering technology programs are dependent upon communication skills. Survey questions intended to evaluate intellectual measures will illuminate this aspect of the graduates’ work life and how it affects their identity. Institutional culture is addressed by questions focused on the impact of one’s environment and further analyzed for impact on identity. This work provides early information on the identity of engineering technology graduates, ultimately supporting the discovery of future paths for research in this area.

Citation
Format

Lucietto, A. M. (2016, June), Identifying as an Engineering Technology Graduate Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.25517

TY - CPAPER
AB - Engineering graduates identify themselves as a person formally educated in engineering, who belongs to a group of people practicing engineering. How does the person holding an engineering technology degree career identify? The lack of differentiating research between engineering and engineering technology graduates results in less knowledge about self-identification by the engineering technology graduate. Many believe that the positions held by engineering technology graduates further define their self-identity, as they are titled either engineers or technologists.

Identity research focuses on career trajectory in the graduate student population. This focus places research in academia. Methods used to analyze early influences and their impact on a person’s professional progress and identity are transferable. Therefore, using the approach taken on the graduate student population is germane to the engineering technology graduate population, regardless of their post-graduation path. For this study, the alumni office will send an e-mail to recent engineering technology graduates with a link to a survey. Identity-Trajectory theoretical framework will be used to interpret study results, focusing on questions developed using constructs in networking, intellectual pursuits, and institutional culture.

Results of the survey will provide evidence of how engineering technology graduates identify. Data derived from this survey will provide deeper understanding of engineering technology graduates’ use of networks past and present. Responses to survey questions in this area will further our understanding of social networking and other networking techniques as it relates to engineering technology graduates in the work place. Graduates of engineering technology programs are dependent upon communication skills. Survey questions intended to evaluate intellectual measures will illuminate this aspect of the graduates’ work life and how it affects their identity. Institutional culture is addressed by questions focused on the impact of one’s environment and further analyzed for impact on identity. This work provides early information on the identity of engineering technology graduates, ultimately supporting the discovery of future paths for research in this area.

AU - Anne M. Lucietto
CY - New Orleans, Louisiana
DA - 2016/06/26
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Identifying as an Engineering Technology Graduate
UR - https://peer.asee.org/25517
DO - 10.18260/p.25517
ER -