Re Engineering Engineering: Teaching Students How To Think Critically
- Conference
- Location
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Honolulu, Hawaii
- Publication Date
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June 24, 2007
- Start Date
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June 24, 2007
- End Date
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June 27, 2007
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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New Engineering Educators
- Page Count
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15
- Page Numbers
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12.1221.1 - 12.1221.15
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--3073
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/3073
- Download Count
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554
Paper Authors
Annette Mallory Donawa
Prior to pursuing a doctorate degree in Higher Education at Morgan State University, Annette Mallory Donawa served as the Deputy Director for the Center for Advanced Microwave Research and Applications (CAMRA), a $6 M NASA-sponsored research grant. She received her BS in Mass Communications, along with a minor in English from Towson University, Towson, Maryland in 1987. Mrs. Donawa earned her Mastes Degree in Instructional Technology from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois in 1994. Mrs. Donawa has more than 20 years of experience working for industry, government and academia. Her dissertation research is focused on enhancing minority engineering student cognitive development and critical thinking skills.
Clifton Martin Morgan State University
Carl White Morgan State University
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
RE-ENGINEERING ENGINEERING: TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO THINK CRITICALLY ANNETTE MALLORY DONAWA, MS. ED.., PHD CANDIDATE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED MICROWAVE AND RESEARCH APPLICATIONS (CAMRA)| CLIFTON SEAN MARTIN, MS, D.E. CANDIDATE | KENNETH J. TAYLOR, M.P.A., PHD CANDIDATE | CARL WHITE, PHD, ASSOCIATE DEAN
Abstract
Teaching and learning in the American school system should be directed toward creating self-guided, independent thinkers. Teachers who are committed to creating a critical thinking environment realize that the primary purpose of all education is to teach students how to learn effectively. More importantly, institutions of higher education, specifically those whose mission statements include educating students who may not be as academically prepared as their peers, may want to consider re-engineering their curricula so that they can produce self-guided independent thinkers.
This mixed methods research study will examine the affect of critical thinking instruction in a critical thinking course on minority engineering students’ cognitive skills at Morgan State University (MSU). Morgan State University is a historically black college and university (HBCU) in Baltimore, Maryland. The diverse student population consists of approximately 6,000 students, with more than 500 students enrolled within MSU’s School of Engineering. When conducting a critical thinking pilot course during the spring 2006 semester at Morgan State University, results from a pre- and post- assessment showed 50% improvement in students’ critical thinking performance.
Purpose The Center for Advanced Microwave and Research Applications (CAMRA) is a NASA-sponsored University Research Center (URC). Its mission is to produce a significant number of students who obtain advanced degrees in STEM disciplines. In order to satisfy these requirements, CAMRA’s educational engineering researchers are implementing and assessing novel and innovative programs and interventions.
Initially, during the summer 2005, CAMRA, through its summer bridge program, the Pre-Accelerated Curriculum in Engineering Program (PACE), hypothesized that a course on critical thinking could elevate information processing and, as a result, increase academic outcomes in STEM courses. To further this engineering education research study, the researchers conducted a pilot course during the Spring 2006 semester with CAMRA Scholars, which consisted of freshmen, sophomore, and junior students, where both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered.
Page 1
Donawa, A. M., & Martin, C., & White, C. (2007, June), Re Engineering Engineering: Teaching Students How To Think Critically Paper presented at 2007 Annual Conference & Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii. 10.18260/1-2--3073
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