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Session 2793

USING INTRANET TOOLS TO TEACH A PROJECT PROPOSAL PREPARATION COURSE IN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Albert Lozano-Nieto Penn State University at Wilkes-Barre P.O. Box PSU Lehamn, PA 18627 Phone: (570) 675-9245 FAX: (570): 675-7713 email: AXL17@psu.edu

INTRODUCTION

This paper describes the use of an Intranet Tool (First Class™) to carry out a Projects Proposal course. Although the experiences described here are specifically from a course in Electrical Engineering Technology, the author believes that the approach to the course, the use of the tools and the conclusions that we reach can be easily transportable to other design and project courses. First Class™ is an Intranet tool that allows users to post messages in "conferences" as well as real-time chat. All students enrolled in EET 419 (Project Proposal preparation) at the Wilkes- Barre campus of Penn State University receive a First Class™ account as well as training on how to use the system, carried out by the Instructional Design Specialist. The goal of the course EET 419 is for the students to develop a formal proposal for a project that will be built in their next semester. This course has been divided into a series of ten different outcomes or milestones, each one being a complete subtask that will be built into the final proposal.

The main idea and goal in the use of Intranet in this course is to create an environment where the students can talk and discuss ideas about their projects, engage in critical discussions of other projects, share information, etc. Because of the characteristics of the Campus (a commuter campus in a rural setting), it is not easy for the students to have a sense of belonging to a group as students in other locations do. It is also difficult for them to find a common time where they can meet to discuss their projects. By using First Class™, the students connect from their respective locations so they can work on their tasks in an asynchronous mode and have a successful interaction with their peers. Our main goal in structuring this course around First Class™ is to create a virtual learning community that will provide the students with the best environment to nurture their intellectual curiosity. This paper will also focus on tools used to assess the effect of the use the Intranets in the course as well as the student's perceptions fn using technology for this kind of courses.

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Lozano-Nieto, A. (2000, June), Using Intranet Tools To Teach A Projects Proposal Preparation Course In Engineering Technology Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8812