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Session 1392

Women’s Manufacturing Workshop Series that Supports Inclusiveness and Skill Building in Undergraduate Engineering Education

Beverly Louie, Daniel W. Knight and Jacquelyn F. Sullivan

Women in Engineering Program/Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory and Program College of Engineering and Applied Science University of Colorado at Boulder

Abstract

During the past six years, pre-semester assessments of student skills have revealed a lack of hands- on experience by women students in the First-Year Engineering Projects course at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Moreover, instructors in this course have observed a pattern of female students choosing other activities within their teams rather than engaging in the hands-on construction aspect of product development. To address these concerns, a Women’s Manufacturing Workshop (WMW) series was piloted during the 2002-03 academic year through a partnership between the Women in Engineering Program (WIEP) and the Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory (ITLL). Another aim was to provide women students a context for pursuing engineering through acquisition of knowledge and skills applicable to the design-build process in a low-risk setting. This paper discusses the effects of the WMW on the students, including an increase for women in their comfort with machining and other hands-on skills, and an increased likelihood that these women will remain in engineering.

Background

The Women in Engineering Program (WIEP) at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) identifies, expands and develops new learning opportunities for women engineering students. The WIEP fosters community among women by hosting departmental luncheons, speakers and events. These types of programs have been shown to improve retention in engineering. Recently, the WIEP and the Integrated Teaching and Learning (ITL) Program facilitated a successful, hands-on manufacturing center workshop series for women only. These workshops were formulated to counteract the observed patterns in the First-Year Engineering Projects course, and provide an environment that promotes community and engagement in engineering among the women.

The Stage: First-Year Engineering Projects Course

Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2003, American Society for Engineering Education

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Sullivan, J., & Knight, D. (2003, June), Women's Manufacturing Workshops Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--11530