Breadth in Problem Scoping:A Comparison of Freshman and Senior Engineering Students
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| Audience/Grade: | College Freshman-College Senior |
| Discipline(s): |
Engineering Education Research General Engineering, Engineering Science Industrial Engineering International Engineering Education |
| Special Topic(s): | |
| Learning Resource Type: |
Reference - Educational Research Paper |
| Media Type: |
Unknown |
| Author(s): |
CYNTHIA ATMAN EDDIE RHONE JENNIFER TURNS KEN YASUHARA ROBIN S. ADAMS THERESA BARKER |
| Description: | Int. J. Engng Ed. Vol. 24, No. 2, 2008, pp. pp. 234-245,. Special issue on Design and Engineering Education in a Flat World. Abstract: "In this paper we characterize breadth of problem scoping in an engineering design problem. Specifically, we present several measures that quantify the number and variety of factors an individual problem-solver considers during the engineering design process. We apply these measures to data collected from freshman and senior engineering students who solved a short design problem. The results of our study indicate that graduating seniors do consider a broader array of factors than freshmen as they undertake the problem-scoping stage of the design process." |
| Rating: |
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| Usage Tip | |
| Related ABET Criteria: |
(c) Design a system, component, or process |
| Use of Resource: |
Conclusions: "In this study we used those measures to address the research questions: (a) Do students consider broad contextual issues when formulating a design problem? (b) Does breadth of student consideration of contextual issues change from the freshman to the senior year? We found that both freshman and senior students do consider broad, contextual issues when formulating a design problem. As one might expect with freshmen, there was wide variation in the amount and kinds of contextual factors they considered. This indicates for us that engineering programmes should carefully consider the ways in which the mission, goals and importance of the engineering professions are communicated in recruitment materials and introductory courses. If the importance of global and social concerns of engineering are made clear to prospective and beginning engineering students, those who might otherwise assume engineering to be narrowly, technically focused might be more likely to enroll and remain in engineering. If nothing else, this would help beginning students develop a more accurate and complete understanding of the engineering disciplines and professions." |
| Difficulty: |
Medium |
| Interactivity Level: |
Very low |
| Version Info | |
| Publication Date: | March 2008 |
| Platform/Format: |
Cross Platform |
| Cost: |
Not free |
| Download URL: | http://www.ijee.dit.ie/latestissues/Vol24-2/s6_ijee2038.pdf |
| Metadata: |
IEEE LOM Record |
| Collection: |
International Journal of Engineering Education
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