This article describes a reverse-engineering project where female students take a part a hair dryer--giving them an opportunity to see the many different kinds of engineering disciplines involved in making a hairdryer and that they work together. Mechanical Engineer, Lyn Gome, describes her experience leading a group of middle school girls through…

Responding to globalization trends, many engineering schools are internationalizing their courses and curricula to prepare graduates for careers that involve working across countries and cultures. As a result, both students and staff are looking beyond study abroad to international work, research, and service learning opportunities as alternate…

In this article, the author provides detailed information on a wide variety of commonly used screws, bolts, and other fasteners. The information has been gathered in his engineering career and outside interests (maintenance on his car and airplane, and woodworking). The topic should be of interest to students and educators in many technical…

The aim of this report is to encourage enhanced richness and relevance of the undergraduate engineering education experience, and thus produce better-prepared and more globally competitive graduates, by providing practical guidance for incorporating real world experience in US engineering programs. The report, a collaborative effort of the…

Living in the Adirondack Park and being an avid outdoorsman has often resulted in the author's love of the outdoors working its way into class projects. In 2010, the author gave a group of 25 students in grades 9-12 a challenge that required them to design and construct a prototype inexpensive, lightweight kayak for backpackers and fisherman. In…

The undergraduate Bioengineering Program at Lehigh University was established as part of the university's Bioscience and Biotechnology Initiative with support from the National Science Foundation through a grant from its Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC). The objective here is to describe the program development and…

Engineering education in K-12 classrooms is a small but growing phenomenon that may have implications for engineering and also for the other STEM subjects--science, technology, and mathematics. Specifically, engineering education may improve student learning and achievement in science and mathematics, increase awareness of engineering and the work…

A graduate program at Colorado State University which focuses on integrated circuit processing is described. The program utilizes courses from several departments while allowing students to apply chemical engineering techniques to an integrated circuit fabrication research topic. Information on employment of chemical engineers by electronics…

Discussed are the importance and needs of emerging applications of photonics technology. Stressed is the need for people skilled in its use. A bachelors program in photonics is described. (CW)

Described are the rationales for the Engineering Practices Introductory Course Sequence (EPICS) program at the Colorado School of Mines, and the McMaster Problem-Solving (MPS) program at McMaster University. The professional development model used in these programs is discussed. (CW)

Presented are the accreditation standards for engineering schools as developed by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Discussed are various challenges presented by the standards and the need to improve engineering education. Items considered are developing a definition of a "good" engineering education, topics…

The concept of displacement center for teaching the virtual work method in statistics is described. An analytical treatment of the displacement center is presented. An example which illustrates the essential elements of this concept is provided. (CW)

Discussed are means of enhancing engineering education and the process of bridging the gap between industry and academe. The change in the corporate culture is described. Partnerships between schools and industry are advocated. (CW)

Assesses the state of applied Japanese studies in American universities, offering suggestions for curriculum improvement, providing data on 15 programs, and describing six programs (including one at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Indicates that few science/technology majors take Japanese despite strong present and future needs for…

Discussed are principles of quality control which may be applied to the process of education and to teaching. Suggestions for improving teaching and an example of this application are provided. (CW)