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STEMstory: Integrating History of Technology in Science and Engineering Education

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Conference

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Salt Lake City, Utah

Publication Date

June 23, 2018

Start Date

June 23, 2018

End Date

July 27, 2018

Conference Session

Engineering in a Societal Context

Tagged Division

Multidisciplinary Engineering

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

17

DOI

10.18260/1-2--30993

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/30993

Download Count

444

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Paper Authors

biography

Bruce Edward Niemi Tulsa Community College

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Bruce Niemi taught history and political science at Tulsa Community College for many years. He served a term in the House of Representatives for the state of Oklahoma and has been active in several community and civic organizations. Dr. Niemi is married to the Honorable Judge Theresa G. Dreiling and is father of two daughters, Meredith and Julie Niemi.

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Abstract

STEM students face general education requirements in humanities as a part of their degree programs. Many students believe these courses are of little value to their education and career goals. As history education has become politicized in the policy discussions at all levels of government, history curriculum focusing on societal and political developments seems obscure to the high school or undergraduate STEM student. STEMstory focuses on engaging STEM students by examining history general education courses through the lens of history of technology. The study proposes curriculum for a U.S. history survey course focusing on progress in science and technology incorporating best practices in fusing liberal arts and engineering in curricular and co-curricular activities. The curriculum proposal includes innovative approaches that intentionally promote development of professional, non-technical skills and focuses on student retention. It supports efforts on and studies of integrating engineering with general education. The curriculum parallels coursework in U.S. history and includes units on: technology and culture, technology in early America, transportation and industrial revolutions, the Second Industrial Revolution, the communication revolution, technology in war and Depression, Age of Space and Science, the Information Age and biotechnology, and Romanticism, techno-phobia, and technology failures.

Niemi, B. E. (2018, June), STEMstory: Integrating History of Technology in Science and Engineering Education Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--30993

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