Engineering Commons^™

Improving Stem Recruitment Through A Theme-Based Summer Residential Camp Focused On Sea Level Rise, Vukica M. Jovanović, Balša Terzić, Mujde Erten-Unal, Victoria Hill, George Mcleod, Michelle Covi, David Burdige, Jenifer Alonzo, Justin Mason, Tysha Batts, Cynthia Tomovic

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

In this paper, the authors present an enrichment program that focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) concepts. The program is named Building Leaders to Advance Science and Technology (BLAST) and is held each summer at three universities across the Commonwealth of Virginia: Old Dominion University, the University of Virginia, and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. BLAST is sponsored in partnership among these three universities and the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC), and is funded by the General Assembly of Commonwealth of Virginia. Its main purpose is to expose high school students to topics related to different STEM fields through …

Topic Development In The Freshman Engineering Paper: Finding A Focus, Edward J. Eckel

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications

Topic development and focus are relatively neglected areas of the student research process. This study examined how students in a freshman engineering writing class developed initial research paper topics into focused thesis statements. A mixed methods approach was used, incorporating online surveys, qualitative interviews, and a rubric to track topic development and assess thesis statement focus. The survey results and student comments indicated that participants were more competent at the mechanics of finding sources and writing than at developing appropriately scoped thesis statements. Closer collaboration between writing instructors and librarians is urged to more effectively support and scaffold topic development.

Recognizing Engineering Students’ Funds Of Knowledge: Creating And Validating Survey Measures, Dina Verdín, Jessica M. Smith, Juan Lucena

School of Engineering Education Graduate Student Series

This research base paper examines students who are the first in their families to attend college. Our research seeks to understand the role students’ funds of knowledge makes in first-generation college students’ undergraduate experience. Funds of knowledge are the set of formal/informal knowledge and skills that students learn through family, friends, and communities outside of academic institutions. This paper reports funds of knowledge themes relevant to first-generation college students in engineering and the process of gathering validity evidence to support the funds of knowledge themes.

Using ethnographic and interview data, six themes emerged: connecting experiences, community networks, tinkering knowledge, perspective …

Using Active Learning And The Wright State Model For Engineering Mathematics Education To Cultivate Academic Success Among First-Year Engineering Students, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

A mid-sized private university in the Southeast has created an experimental first-year engineering course based on the Wright State Model for Engineering Mathematics Education. The course aims to increase student retention, motivation, and success in engineering through an application-oriented, hands-on introduction to engineering mathematics. Therefore, active learning techniques were used throughout the course. Students provided preliminary qualitative data via end-of-course evaluations. Preliminary quantitative data included student course grades, cumulative GPAs (CGPAs), and retention rates. Thus far, students taking the experimental firstyear engineering course believe they gain confidence and skills such as problem-solving, time management, study habits, computer programming, as well …

Infographic: Be A Stem Professional, Christian Pierre, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

Infographic describing top STEM professions.

Infographic: Enhancing Engineering Students’ Communication Skills Through A Team-Based Graphics Course Project, Leroy Long Iii, Kari L. Jordan, William Wanyagah

Publications

This infographic supports the article Enhancing Engineering Students’ Communication Skills through a Team-Based Graphics Course Project which can be accessed here: https://commons.erau.edu/asee-edgd/conference70/papers-2016/5/

Instilling An Entrepreneurial Mindset In A New Generation Of First-Year Engineering Students Through A Graphics Course Project, Lulu Sun, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

Each year, an increasing number of engineering start-up companies emerge in the U.S. and around the world. Innovation and entrepreneurship have never been so pronounced, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. How can we train engineering students to be more entrepreneurially-minded so they are well-equipped to become global innovators? Engineering educators can use entrepreneurially-minded learning activities to help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset, which is a set of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. At a mid-sized Southeastern private institution, we used an open-ended team project and an end-of-semester poster competition within a freshman-level engineering graphics course to encourage …

Infographic: Stem All-Stars, Mckenna James, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

In this infographic, professional athletes with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are displayed. For a variety of sports, the achievements, awards, and degrees of professional athletes are shown. Each of these professional athletes prove that students can study STEM while also being a successful athlete. Whether they studied mathematics, psychology, or aerospace engineering, these athletes from various racial/ethnic backgrounds rose to the challenge and achieved greatness in the classroom and in their sport. Due to the lack of female professional sports, the representation of professional female athletes is not shown. This infographic is meant to encourage youth …

Infographic: Celebrities Endorsing Stem, Melanie Canfield, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

This infographic displays quotes from a diverse group of celebrities promoting careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). These male and female celebrities of different racial and ethnic groups include professional athletes, actors, authors, musicians, and models. This infographic was inspired by Verizon's #weneedmore campaign, which featured LeBron James, Drew Brees, Adriana Lima, and Zendaya. Many youth aspire to become celebrities and are aware of careers related to athletics, acting, and music. However, far less youth aspire to become STEM professionals and are aware of the countless career opportunities in STEM fields. This infographic is not meant to discourage …

Infographic: D1 Stem Student-Athletes, Mckenna James, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

In this infographic, Division I student-athletes studying degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are displayed. The infographic focuses on women and racial/ethnic minoritized students who pursue STEM degrees and play a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I sport. For a variety of sports, the achievements, awards, and degrees of collegiate athletes are displayed. Whether they studied mathematics, psychology, or aerospace engineering, these diverse individuals from different gender/racial backgrounds rose to the challenge of being a STEM student-athlete and achieved greatness.

Scaffolding Project-Based Learning In An Engineering And Education Partnership Using Open-Access Technology, Pilar Pazos, Stacie I. Ringleb, Jennifer Kidd, Rachel Jones

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper describes the use of a freely-accessible open-source platform based on Google Apps for Education that combines Google Sites, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Hangouts and script language in a custom-based interface that supports collaborative service-learning projects for teams of Engineering and Education students. The approach discussed in this paper was successful in promoting collaboration among students from two different disciplines working remotely. The analysis suggests that balanced participation in the team, presence of shared goals and clear roles that emphasized individual and collective responsibilities were key to a successful interdisciplinary project experience. While many students still reported struggling …

Analysis Of Blended And Multi-Modal Instruction And Its Effects On Spatial Visualization Ability, Diana Bairaktarova, Daron Williams, Petros Katsioloudis

STEMPS Faculty Publications

For the last decade, remedial spatial visualization training has been offered to first-year engineering students in traditional classroom settings where students attend class and interact face-to-face with an instructor and peers. An alternative to the traditional pedagogical approach is a multi-modal blended learning format that combines in-class instruction with videos that can be viewed at the student’s convenience. The new setting affords students the opportunity to repeatedly revisit the basic instruction at the time and place of their choosing. This case study investigated student outcomes in a blended multi-modal Introduction to Spatial Visualization course that integrated video lectures; free-hand sketching …

The Legacy Project: Rodney L. Custer, Dte, Rodney L. Custer Dte, Johnny J. Moye Dte

STEMPS Faculty Publications

An interview with vice president of Dept. of Technical Education, Rodney Custer is presented. Topics discussed include interest in technology and engineering education; academic qualification; and experience as university department chair administrator and working with the Center for Math, Science, and Technology (CeMast).

Board 141: Engineering Identity As A Predictor Of Undergraduate Students' Persistence In Engineering, Debra A. Major, Seterra D. Burleson, Xiaoxiao Hu, Kristi J. Shryock

Psychology Faculty Publications

Improving graduation rates of students who have selected and been admitted to engineering majors is a pivotal strategy in supporting national initiatives to increase the number of engineering graduates. Research suggests that the degree to which a student is attached to or belongs to engineering as a discipline better explains persistence-related outcomes than lack of interest and ability. As a result, identity frameworks have proven useful for furthering the understanding of engineering persistence. In this paper, we examine the relationship between undergraduate students’ engineering identity and persistence as an engineering major.

As part of an ongoing NSF IUSE project, a …

Exporting Online Engineering Management Programs: Enablers, Barriers, And Descriptions Of Programs At Two Universities, Luna Magpili, Alice F. Squires, Kim Bullington, Linda Vahala, Aysen K. Taylor

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper investigates enablers and barriers for Engineering Management Degree Granting Programs offered online by universities located in the United States to students located in foreign countries. Using a strong foundation of literature research and two universities on opposite sides of the country (one east coast, one west coast) exporting online Engineering Management programs as examples, the paper investigates seven enablers and seven barriers. The enablers and barriers are reviewed in the context of delivering engineering management education online across national borders, without requiring students to travel to another country (referred to as Mode 1 service export). The investigation reveals …