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Session 2408 Validation of Workplace Competencies Sufficient to Measure ABET Outcomes S. K. Mickelson, L. F. Hanneman, and Tomm Brumm Iowa State University

Abstract

Taking the unique approach of addressing ABET criteria (a-k) as workplace competencies, Iowa State University College of Engineering partnered with Development Dimensions International (DDI), a global provider of competency-based performance management tools and services, to develop the processes and products to support this approach. Using "critical incident" based data gathering, the College and DDI brought together approximately one hundred constituents, representing ISU faculty, partnering international faculty, co-op and intern students, employers, parents and alumni to provide input to the design of the measurements of ABET (a-k). From the analysis of the “critical incidents” fourteen unique competencies, that are necessary and sufficient to measure ABET Outcomes (a-k) were identified. Each competency was clearly defined, independent of all the others. The fourteen competencies were then mapped to ABET (a-k). For each competency an independent set of observable and measurable key actions, which students may take to demonstrate their development, were defined. An appropriate measurement approach was identified for the key actions. Validation of the development process by the contributing constituents is presented in this paper. Also, curricular implementation is discussed.

Background

The background for the new competency based program at Iowa State University discussed in this paper is covered in a prior paper written by Mickelson et al., 20001. Some of the background will be covered here again for clarity in discussing the validation and implementation of the new program.

In the Fall of 1999, a constituency of over two hundred ISU faculty, partnering international faculty, co-op and intern students, employers, and alumni were asked to assist the ISU College of Engineering Cooperative Education and Internship Program in developing a next generation of performance assessment tools, ones that would be aligned with the ABET’s new Engineering Criteria 2000. Specifically, we set out to create a set of assessment metrics for the co-op and intern workplace that would be sufficient to document our students’ development and demonstration of the (a-k) student outcomes. Our hypotheses were that each these outcomes are too complex to measure directly and that each outcome represented some collection of workplace competencies necessary for the practice of engineering at the professional level. To support our efforts, the College collaborated with Development Dimensions International, Inc. (DDI)2, a global provider of competency-based performance management tools and services.

“Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2002, American Society for Engineering Education”

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Mickelson, S. (2002, June), Validation Of Workplace Competencies Sufficient To Measure Abet Outcomes Paper presented at 2002 Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada. 10.18260/1-2--10404