Aim/Purpose: This study was aimed at enhancing students' learning of software engineering methods. A collaboration between the Computer Science, Business Management, and Product Design programs was formed to work on actual projects with real clients. This interdisciplinary form of collaboration simulates the realities of a diverse Software…

It is often assumed that graduating engineering students readily envision what it means to be an engineer and what type of work they will be doing as engineers in the future. How can one know if this is true? This research begins to answer these questions by aiming to understand undergraduate engineering students' perceptions of themselves as…

"Black Men in College" provides vital information about how to effectively support, retain, and graduate Black male undergraduates. This edited collection centers on the notion that Black male collegians are not a homogenous group; rather, they are representative of rarely acknowledged differences that exist among them. This valuable text suggests…

Provides data on recruitment, family, academic background, attitudes, and extracurricular/cultural interests of 1288 minority engineering technology students. Indicates that although their high school achievement was superior to average freshmen, their limited finances and low self-esteem remain as problems. Recommendations for addressing the…

Indicates that increased exposure to different objects in teaching orthographic projection benefits students, especially when they can manipulate and see the surfaces, points, and lines simultaneously or sequentially in three views. Positive attitudes and increased scores were noted after students used interactive computer graphics in an…

Presents the results of statistical analyses and interpretations of data obtained from students in two engineering fundamentals courses on an attitudinal survey. Indicates positive and significant improvement in student attitudes toward their own drawing abilities and the importance of drawing in their lives and careers. (CW)

Surveyed engineering technology (ET) students (N=1306) to determine the percentage and characteristics of men and women enrolled in ET programs. Areas examined included: (1) recruitment; (2) family background; (3) academic background, attitudes, achievement, expectations, and goals; (4) extracurricular and cultural activities; and (5) choice of…

The need for students of engineering to acquire the rational, methodical approaches identified with the "mathematical way of thinking" is discussed. The skill areas in mathematics most critical to engineering majors are pointed out, with proper shaping of student attitudes seen as an important role secondary school mathematics must play.…

Described is a seminar designed for graduating senior chemical engineering majors. The class structure, schedules, goals and objectives, homework assignments, course grading, and student comments are discussed. Listed are a questionnaire for evaluating mock interviews, talk topics, and job selection criteria as developed by the students. (CW)

Presents results of the 1985 National Engineering Student Employer Preference Survey, comparing them to results of l983 and l98l surveys. Includes the top 25 employer choices (overall and by discipline), reasons for employer preferences, demographic variations, how employer images are formed, and other areas. (JN)

Graduates and employers were surveyed on the mathematical education of engineers in Australia. This paper summarizes their views and contrasts undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The undergraduate courses tend to be more traditional and structured, while there is a need for more work emphasizing mathematical modeling for postgraduate courses.…

Surveys engineering students' attitudes towards mathematics in three different United Kingdom universities. Reports that students can be placed into five groupings; members of groups recorded significantly different responses to many of the questions posed, including their university, gender, home or overseas status, mathematics qualification on…

A 13-item questionnaire was administered to 287 engineering students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to obtain information about their grade point average, financial assistance, membership in honorary societies, living arrangements, sex, and frequency and type of cheating on homework assignments and tests. Also included were four questions…

Discusses some of the reasons in favor of hiring non-Ph.D's to teach undergraduate engineering courses. Also presents results of a survey at the United States Merchant Marine Academy to determine student opinions on the importance of a doctorate to teaching. Results indicate non-Ph.D's earned a higher rating. (BC)

A study at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) found a positive relationship between freshman (n=262) decidedness regarding academic major and both anticipated adjustment (prematriculation) and actual adjustment (postmatriculation), more academically than socially. Comparison with another study suggests the relationship is stronger in…