"It would take too long to list all the products that are impacted by chemical engineers, but knowing what industries employ them may help you comprehend the scope of their work. Chemical engineers work in manufacturing, pharmaceu  ... more

"It would take too long to list all the products that are impacted by chemical engineers, but knowing what industries employ them may help you comprehend the scope of their work. Chemical engineers work in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, design and construction, pulp and paper, petrochemicals, food processing, specialty chemicals, polymers, biotechnology, and environmental health and safety industries, among others. Within these industries, chemical engineers rely on their knowledge of mathematics and science, particularly chemistry, to overcome technical problems safely and economically. And, of course, they draw upon and apply their engineering knowledge to solve any technical challenges they encounter. Don't make the mistake of thinking that chemical engineers only make things, though. Their expertise is also applied in the area of law, education, publishing, finance, and medicine, as well as many other fields that require technical training. Specifically, chemical engineers improve food processing techniques, and methods of producing fertilizers, to increase the quantity and quality of available food. They also construct the synthetic fibers that make our clothes more comfortable and water resistant; they develop methods to mass-produce drugs, making them more affordable; and they create safer, more efficient methods of refining petroleum products, making energy and chemical sources more productive and cost effective. They also develop solutions to environmental problems, such as pollution control and remediation. And yes, they process chemicals, which are used to make or improve just about everything you see around you. Chemical engineers face many of the same challenges that other professionals face, and they meet these challenges by applying their technical knowledge, communication and teamwork skills, the most up-to-date practices available, and hard work. Benefits include financial reward, recognition within industry and society, and the gratification that comes from working with the processes of nature to meet the needs of society."   less

Engage students not already drawn to computing by creating academic and social environments where these students feel like they belong. Students respond positively to solving real-life problems that draw on their existing knowledg  ... more

Engage students not already drawn to computing by creating academic and social environments where these students feel like they belong. Students respond positively to solving real-life problems that draw on their existing knowledge and interests and that involve collaboration in hands-on projects. “CS Unplugged” demystifies computing through hands-on activities, including one activity called “Sorting Network.” The activity employs kinetic learning and teamwork to illustrate parallel sorting networks to organize data.   less

Service-Learning guides at 3 different levels: elementary, middle/high and higher education.  ... more

Service-Learning guides at 3 different levels: elementary, middle/high and higher education.   less

Multidisciplinary, multimedia case studies in engineering design developed by the Synthesis Coalition for Engineering Education. Cases include bike dissection; Boeing 777; Cyclone Grinder; Electric Drill; Human Powered Vehicle; IB  ... more

Multidisciplinary, multimedia case studies in engineering design developed by the Synthesis Coalition for Engineering Education. Cases include bike dissection; Boeing 777; Cyclone Grinder; Electric Drill; Human Powered Vehicle; IBM Proprinter; Mattel Color Spin; Virtual Disk Drive Design Studio; People, Products and Strategy (manufacturing strategies); and Saturn Automobile. Together these cases cover various aspects of engineering design, including industrial design, design for assembly, design for manufacture, DFM, DFA, customer-driven design, design trade-offs, design for environment, social implications of design, history of technology, design for service, ergonomics and costing. Cases can be used for different age levels, including K-12, introduction to engineering, freshman design and senior design.   less

Guest editorial for the first special issue (out of two in 2007) for IJEE on pre-college engineering education. Vol 23, Number 1. "In this special issue and the subsequent second issue we have collected examples of some showcas  ... more

Guest editorial for the first special issue (out of two in 2007) for IJEE on pre-college engineering education. Vol 23, Number 1. "In this special issue and the subsequent second issue we have collected examples of some showcase programs that are attempting to create such pre-college materials in the United States and around the world. You will find contributions aimed at all grade levels and from five different countries in this first special issue."   less

"[This] excerpt looks at some of the benefits, as well as the pitfalls, of students teaching each other. As noted, "peer tutoring is not a universal, undifferentiated, or instant panacea. It is, however, another technique in t  ... more

"[This] excerpt looks at some of the benefits, as well as the pitfalls, of students teaching each other. As noted, "peer tutoring is not a universal, undifferentiated, or instant panacea. It is, however, another technique in the instructor's repertoire." The excerpt is from: Teaching Tips for College and University Instructors: A Practical Guide, by David Royse, University of Kentucky, Allyn and Bacon publishers. Copyright 2001 by Allyn & Bacon A Pearson Education Company, Needham Heights, MA 02494. Reprinted with permission."   less

More than a decade has passed since the publication of the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation's groundbreaking report How Schools Shortchange Girls (1992). This report highlighted a noticeable absence  ... more

More than a decade has passed since the publication of the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation's groundbreaking report How Schools Shortchange Girls (1992). This report highlighted a noticeable absence of concern for girls in the educational debate and noted systematic disparities across all school levels, in classrooms, in testing procedures, and in curriculum design. For many, these disparities have served as one explanation for the "shrinking pipeline" in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and studies from kindergarten through high school, where girls feel disenfranchised, to universities, where fewer women pursue degrees and careers in these fields.   less

The focus of the Optics module development is to design a learning instrument that introduces middle and high school students to science, mathematics, and technology-based general concepts associated with bioengineering through re  ... more

The focus of the Optics module development is to design a learning instrument that introduces middle and high school students to science, mathematics, and technology-based general concepts associated with bioengineering through relevant real world challenges. The Optics module integrates biological and physical science concepts associated with light, optics and the human eye by engaging students in a sequential learning instrument related to the applicable theme of “Why People Wear Eyeglasses.” Designed around the How People Learn(HPL) framework, the module is structured to support the integration of various types of learners and learning environments.   less

Paper from IJEE Special Issue on Outreach to Prospective Engineering Students. Contents Vol 25, No. 3, pp. 426-435, 2009. Abstract: This paper discusses the various means we use in order to assist informal technical educatio  ... more

Paper from IJEE Special Issue on Outreach to Prospective Engineering Students. Contents Vol 25, No. 3, pp. 426-435, 2009. Abstract: This paper discusses the various means we use in order to assist informal technical education in Romanian pre-university schools, from elementary to high school, in the frames of National and International projects of which we are a part. The activities are run by the Centre for Science Education and Training, which coordinates the 'Hands-on Science-Romania' Educational Network, at National level. Efforts are directed towards promoting different teaching methods (e.g. problem-based learning, science clubs, science fairs, debates) and tools (e.g. computer-based data acquisition, LabVIEW programming, virtual experiments) to develop additional skills and to enhance student interest in studying technical subjects and engaging in engineering careers. Another objective is to involve as much as possible the entire community (students, parents, teachers, local authorities, organizations responsible for teacher professional development) in common activities focused on science teaching.   less

Presentation slides on high performing teams in new product development classes. Slides cover the use of personality tests (Myers-Briggs) and their use in multifunctional teams and their connection to learning style preferences. O  ... more

Presentation slides on high performing teams in new product development classes. Slides cover the use of personality tests (Myers-Briggs) and their use in multifunctional teams and their connection to learning style preferences. Other topics include Bloom's hierarchy, communicating in teams and classes with difference personality types and learning styles.   less