Minneapolis, MN
August 23, 2022
June 26, 2022
June 29, 2022
10
10.18260/1-2--42059
https://peer.asee.org/42059
205
Dr. Cassandra (Degen) Birrenkott received her B.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2007. She received her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering in 2012 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, studying mechanochemical reactions of a spiropyran mechanophore in polymeric materials under shear loading. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology where her research interests include novel manufacturing and characterization techniques of polymer and composite structures and the incorporation of multifunctionality by inducing desired responses to mechanical loading.
The research will create an academic program (curricular and co-curricular components) that integrates art concepts into an undergraduate engineering program. The goals of the program are increased student innovation, creativity, collegiality, and entrepreneurship, all while broadening the undergraduate talent pool.
The programmatic elements are focused on integration of arts in STEM (i.e. STEAM) to achieve the stated goals. The centerpiece is the infusion of STEAM content into laboratories and courses distributed throughout a model engineering program in Metallurgical Engineering. Curricular modifications will be facilitated through involvement of a Resident Artist who will be embedded within the academic program.
The research is evidence-based and builds on prior NSF Course Curricular and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) research that involved highly successful curricular and co-curricular programming associated with integration of blacksmithing in a B.S. Metallurgical Engineering degree program.
A rigorous external assessment of the research will be conducted and includes the use of a variety of assessment tools a couple of the following will be used: Herrmann Brain Dominance Inventory, Small Group Instructional Diagnosis (SGID), student focus groups.
Preliminary results from the SGID and student focus group surveys report positive results with the modified curricula that has been integrated into the initial course, Introduction to Metallurgical Engineering. Student surveys were performed with a primary focus on student advancement in areas of creativity, innovation, and technical knowledge. The self-efficacy studies illustrate a general increase in the students’ perception of their creative skills and technical knowledge.
Donovan, K., & Kellar, J., & West, M., & Birrenkott, C., & Kellogg, S., & Mitchell, D., & Whitehead, M. (2022, August), Investigating the Impact of Arts on Student Learning by Introducing Glass Science in the Materials Engineering Curriculum Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--42059
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