Engineering Education Commons^™

Taking The Leap: A Qualitative Study Exploring The Entanglement Of The Vertical Transfer Process And Engineering Identity Development Among Community College Students, Janice Edwards

Dissertations of Practice

Taking the Leap: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Entanglement of the Vertical Transfer Process and Engineering Identity Development among Community College Students

Community colleges provide an open access, cost effective pathway to earning a baccalaureate degree in engineering. However, the transfer and degree completion rates remain low. Improved persistence has been linked to a variety of factors including a strong engineering identity. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to expand the understanding of engineering identity development during the vertical transfer process. Each milestone in the process, framed within transfer student capital, was considered to determine what, if any, …

Future Of Bse Days 2025: Growing A Regenerative Bse, Derek M. Heeren, Santosh Pitla, Jennifer R. Keshwani, Mark Stone

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

The Future of BSE Days 2025: Growing a Regenerative BSE brought together over 150 faculty, staff, students, and partners to envision the next quarter-century of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. The event emphasized regeneration—not only of resources and ecosystems, but also of ideas, learning models, and relationships. Across seven major sessions—three Spark Talks and four Pillar Workshops—participants explored how BSE can thrive amid technological disruption, demographic change, and societal transformation.

Key Outcomes

Redefining Impact: This session challenged participants to evolve from counting outputs to valuing relationships, collaboration, and community well-being.

Adaptive Learning Models: This discussion introduced design studios, micro-credentials, …

Representation In Engineering-Focused Children's Literature: A Critical Content Analysis, Angela Eckhoff

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Children’s picturebooks have long been understood as a powerful medium for exploring aspects of children’s lives, experiences, and identities serving as mirrors which allow children to see themselves reflected, as windows through which they can gain insight into the experiences of others, and as sliding glass doors when children are connected to the story and characters in meaningful ways. Utilizing a critical content analytic approach, this research examined the identity markers and engineering practices found in contemporary children’s picturebooks with an engineering focus. The analysis yielded key themes that highlight the ways children can interact and connect to the characters …

Collaborative Online Interactive Laboratory On Software Defined Radio Fundamentals, Otilia Popescu, Dimitrie C. Popescu, Emanuel Puschita

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Teaching of fundamentals of communication systems varies widely across programs in US and abroad, mainly due to the type of undergraduate engineering programs and the depth of the communications field within the curricula. The variety is spread across electrical engineering and electrical engineering technology programs, and programs with focus on telecommunications or which only offer core or elective courses in communications. Adding to the variety, some programs include hands-on laboratory courses, others include simulation-based laboratories most of the time using Matlab, while others may only include lecture courses with no labs. The accessibility of the new software defined radio (SDR) …

Developing Entrepreneurial Mindsets In Construction Management Through Experiential Projects, Dalya Ismael

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Entrepreneurial Minded Learning (EML), a framework supported by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), promotes critical thinking and innovation by encouraging students to explore real-world problems through the 3Cs: Curiosity, Creating Value, and Connections. In construction management education, the focus often remains on technical skills and project execution, neglecting the development of entrepreneurial skills like adaptability, value creation, and stakeholder engagement, leaving a gap in preparing students for the challenges of the industry. To bridge this gap, micro-moment activities were introduced prior to the main project to prime students for EML-based thinking. These short, focused exercises encouraged students to solve …

Improving Onboard Training For Deck Cadets : An Analysis Through The Lens Of Learning Theories, Yusuke Mori

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

As a critical component of skill development and identity construction for prospective seafarers, onboard training has played a central role in Maritime Education and Training (MET). Each Maritime Education and Training Institution (METI) implements distinct onboard training arrangements based on its environmental, socio-cultural, and historical context, as well as the learning theories that inform its approach. However, the absence of a rigorous examination of the factors influencing national variations in onboard training creates challenges in establishing legal norms at the international level. Furthermore, the literature has identified a wide range of issues and challenges in the implementation of onboard training, …

The Effect Of Participation In A Place-Based Engineering Learning Experience On Engineering Career Aspiration Of Nebraska’S Rural Students: A Mixed Method Study, Samereh Soleimani Babadi

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

This study investigates the influence of a place-based, hands-on engineering learning experience on rural middle school students' engineering career aspirations, using Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) as a framework. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we explored how these localized learning experiences shape students' career goals through socio-cognitive factors such as self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goals, and interest. Quantitative analysis of pre- and post-activity surveys revealed significant increases in career aspiration scores, particularly among students from farming backgrounds and female students with initially lower expectations. Path analyses indicated that self-efficacy and interest were the strongest mediators between Place-based learning and engineering career aspirations. …

Transforming Engineering Education: Project-Based Learning And Technology Integration In A Senior-Level Mechanisms Course, Krishnanand Kaipa, Anurag Purwar, Orlando M. Ayala, Sebastian Bawab

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Engineering education faces the challenge of preparing students for a rapidly evolving, interdisciplinary field that demands a strong foundation in theoretical principles, practical skills, and the ability to solve real-world problems. This study describes a project-based learning (PBL) intervention implemented in a senior-level mechanical engineering course focused on mechanisms analysis and design. The intervention combined foundational coursework with bio-inspired design projects, where students developed walking end-effector robotic mechanisms for medical applications. Students utilized tools such as MotionGen software and SnappyXO kits to synthesize, simulate, prototype, and test their designs. Qualitative analysis of student evaluations and project reports revealed that the …

Wip-Monarch Accelerator Program To Engineering: A Reflection On The First Semester, Kristin Eden, Jeffrey W. Fergus, Stacie I. Ringleb

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

This work in progress paper examines the Monarch Accelerator Program to Engineering (MAP2E) program. The MAP2E Program was developed to assist students who desire to become engineers but may need additional assistance in math and science. and it allows students to develop their math and science skills while creating a pathway to personal or professional enriching skills. Furthermore, the MAP2E program allows students to develop their math and science skills and create parallel pathways to personal or professionally enriching skills. For instance, a student may hope to one day start their own engineering firm. A business administration pathway would allow …

Engagement In Practice: Partnering With Communities To Address Nuisance Flooding Challenges, Carol L. Considine, Mujde Erten-Unal, Dalya Ismael, Luka Alandra Hamal-Serenity, Farzaneh Soflaei

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Many communities are already experiencing the impacts of climate change that disrupt their daily lives. In Coastal Virginia, these impacts take the form of nuisance and stormwater flooding caused by sea level rise and changes in precipitation. Coastal Virginia has one of the highest relative sea level rise rates on the Atlantic Coast and the regional planning district commission recommends that Atlas 14 rainfall intensity, duration, and frequency curves be increased by 20% to account for changes in rainfall. The Coastal Community Design Collaborative (CCDC), a partnership between Hampton University Architecture and Old Dominion University Engineering & Technology, has had …

Using Design Thinking To Upcycle, Lily Chabica

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This 60-minute lesson introduces the power of design thinking as a tool for sustainability. Through short discussions, visual examples, and a hands-on “Trash Island” design challenge, students will explore how creativity can transform waste into value. The session combines theory (understanding upcycling vs. recycling) with active practice (building prototypes from found materials). By the end, students will connect environmental responsibility to personal agency. They will realize that design can drive everyday impact.

A Novel Low-Complex Optimized Resource Allocation Algorithm Using Gwo Optimization Technique In Energy Scavenging For Wban, M. Samir Abou El-Seoud, Amira Olazan, Albashir A. Youssef

Computer Science

In wireless body area networks (WBANs) powered by energy scavenging, effectively managing renewable energy is critical to ensuring delay-sensitive services. This paper proposes a novel low-complex optimized resource allocation algorithm using the Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) technique to allocate resources, specifically energy and communication channels, and maximize user utility while guaranteeing the worst-case delay. To achieve this, firstly, a formulation of a user utility optimization problem that accounts for the stochastic nature of energy scavenging and consumption without requiring prior knowledge of these processes is performed. Utilizing GWO optimization techniques, optimization problems broke down into four sub-problems: battery management, collection …

Embrace The Journey: Exploring Induction Experiences Of Teachers In Ohio Independent Stem Schools, Laura Sass

Indiana STEM Education Conference

The beginning years of a new teacher are a critical period. This study investigated perceptions of induction activities of new teachers in Ohio Independent STEM schools. STEM-based pedagogies such as problem-based learning and inquiry are core strategies in STEM schools but can be new for beginning teachers. Through a Q-sort, thirteen participants from three Independent STEM Schools ranked statements on a +5 to -5 scale of agreement. This along with a post-sort survey resulted in themes. Positive school culture and colleague collaboration and the impact of the mentoring were found to be the most impactful. This research aligns with literature …

Shaping Engineering Technology Students’ Perceptions Of Manufacturing Through Experiential Learning In A Flipped Classroom – A Case Study, Rustin Webster

School of Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

This study examined how an introductory, survey-based manufacturing systems and processes course – which uniquely integrated a flipped classroom structure and multiple experiential learning elements – influenced engineering technology (ET) students’ perceptions of careers, workforce expectations, workplace dynamics, and essential industry skills within manufacturing. Pooled qualitative data from 52 ET student’s pre- and post-course reflection surveys, administered across four cohorts, were analyzed using topic modeling, sentiment analysis, comparative assessments, keyword frequency analysis, and/or impact assessment. The data offered valuable insights into students understanding of essential job skills, definitions of a good job, and perceptions of factory work. Before the course, …

Indiana Stem Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Shift From In-Person To Virtual Training During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Steve Heinold

Indiana STEM Education Conference

The COVID-19 pandemic brought uncertainty to Indiana teachers in 2020. School closings caused disruptions to teachers’ classroom settings, ongoing training, and social and mental well-being (Pozo-Rico et al., 2020). Indiana GEAR UP’s commitment to teacher professional development for STEM educators led to a shift from their in-person summer teacher training sessions to virtual, just months after the school shutdowns in spring 2020. Participant evaluations showed that teachers appreciated the virtual training options and were able to learn new strategies to apply to their new virtual learning spaces. The online training sessions also had drawbacks. This research brief describes recommendations to …

Spatio-Visual Reasoning And Teamwork Through Hands-On Stem Construction Activities, Comfort Temitope Aje, Maria Eloisa C. Nuguid, Melihan Ünlü, Humphrey Chinenye Ochulor

Indiana STEM Education Conference

This study examined a STEM activity in which students in grades K-6 designed and built a model of Snoopy’s doghouse with considerations for constraints, teamwork, and iterative design. By combining spatial reasoning with imagination and visualization, students collaborated to create 3-D structures from 2-D plans, demonstrating enhanced spatial visualization and the ability to connect geometry to a tangible engineering task. The findings highlight the value of spatio-visual design activities in promoting skills like spatial reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Cultivating Ethical Data Stewardship For Undergraduate Research: A Framework And Toolkit Duo, Wei Zakharov, Senay Purzer, Carla Zoltowski

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Data drives nearly every aspect of research today, from the earliest stages of problem definition to the final dissemination of results. Undergraduate students—often at the beginning of their research journeys—are increasingly working with complex, data-intensive projects. Yet many enter these environments without sufficient training in how to manage, share, and use data responsibly. They may know how to run code or analyze a dataset, but questions of ethics, reproducibility, preservation, and stewardship are rarely an explicit part of this preparation. To address this gap, our interdisciplinary research team at Purdue University launched a multi-year, NSF-funded project entitled Prioritizing Data Life …

Leveraging Undergraduate Expertise For Effective Stem Instruction: Insights From A Forensic Science Teaching Partnership, Swagata Sarkar, Hui-Hui Wang, Austin R. Jenkins, Mariah K. Stollar

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Although integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) instruction has been cited as a viable instructional approach to increasing the number of students interested and prepared to enter the STEM workforce, teacher content knowledge can be a limiting factor to effective implementation (Ejiwale, 2013). To address this limitation, college STEM majors can use their content expertise to support the development and implementation of integrated STEM experiences for K-12 students (Ferrara et al., 2018). This research brief reports on a university-high school partnership where undergraduate students in a university forensic science club created and implemented integrated STEM lessons in a local …

The Aftermath Of An Earthquake: Healing Power Of Engineering For Turkish Elementary School Children, Pinar Fettahlioglu, Senay Purzer, Cagan Findikkiran

Indiana STEM Education Conference

The February 6th, 2023, earthquake significantly impacted children in Turkey, causing both physical and emotional challenges. To help students enhance their understanding of earthquakes and their impact, we have integrated engineering-based STEM activities in a 5th-grade classroom. Students designed earthquake-proof structures and tested their strength. The research involved 15 students from the earthquake-affected region of Adana. Data included a conceptual understanding scale using a single-group pre-test and post-test design. Analysis indicated that students had limited prior knowledge about the causes of and safety measures for earthquakes before the intervention. Post-test results revealed statistically significant improvements in their learning.

Stem Education In Indiana: Analyzing The Availability Of Stem-Certified Schools For Underrepresented Communities, Bryan J. Duarte

Indiana STEM Education Conference

This study examines the equity of access to STEM-certified schools in Indiana, focusing on differences in student demographics between STEM-certified and non-STEM-certified schools. The results show no statistically significant differences in the percentage of female, non-White, or lower socio-economic students between the two groups. However, significant differences were found in the percentages of Latiné/a/o/x, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Asian students, with these groups being underrepresented in STEM-certified schools compared to non-STEM-certified schools.