Today's engineers, designers, and technologists are often thrust into the role of problem solver, from the initial design phase of a product or process all the way to final development. Many engineers in manufacturing environments are tasked with solving problems and continuously improving processes to enhance company profitability, efficiency,…

The purpose of this study is to examine students' experience of design-based research in science applications courses. The study was carried out during the fall semester of the 2018-2019 academic year in the science application course. The participants of the study were 44 eighth grade students attending in two classes of a secondary school…

Our regional accrediting body, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, requires outcome assessment of core liberal education outcomes. Because of this mandate, and our new mission at the University to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to thrive and be engaged in a pluralistic, complex world, we have…

A cognitive construct that is important when solving engineering design problems is executive control process, or metacognition. It is a central feature of human consciousness that enables one "to be aware of, monitor, and control mental processes." The framework for this study was conceptualized by integrating the model for creative design, which…

The Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) Program engages students and faculty across Penn State in the rigorous research, design, field-testing, and launch of technology-based social enterprises that address global development challenges. HESE ventures are embedded in a series of five courses that integrate learning,…

There is concern about the diminishing availability of skilled personnel that can operate in the wide variety of disciplines associated with port operations. Increasing cargo volume, combined with a shrinking workforce, could potentially create alarming situations in the future, hence the motivation to publicize to current students the breadth and…

Taking part in the United States Department of Energy's Real World Design Challenge (RWDC), the author describes how four technology education students at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, took on the challenge to redesign an aircraft wing, attempting to make it more efficient than one currently in operation. The…

"Watch out, the stove will burn you," "Ooh, ice cream headache!" Students construct their conceptions about heat and temperature through their own intuitions about daily life experiences. As a result, misconceptions can be born from these constructed concepts. The activity described here addresses student misconceptions about thermal insulation…

Visualization is becoming more prevalent as an application in science, engineering, and technology related professions. The analysis of static and dynamic graphical visualization provides data solutions and understandings that go beyond traditional forms of communication. The study of technology-based content and the application of conceptual…

Presents results of two long-term research projects: (1) shows that early work experience influences an engineer's performance even more than high grades, (2) lack of organizational coordination rather than the lack of innovative ideas inhibits implementation of computer-based technologies. Lists methods for implementing computer-based…

Three groups of 50 freshman and 50 seniors each, majoring in technology, engineering, and humanities, completed the Personal Problem-Solving Inventory and the Technological Problem-Solving Inventory. There were few differences in personal problem solving but significant differences by major in technological problem solving. Few differences between…

Oriented for higher education students, researchers, practicing engineers and planners, this book surveys the state of the art of water resources engineering. A broad spectrum of issues is embraced in the treatment of water resources: quantity aspects as well as quality aspects within a systems approach. Using a rational mode for water resources…

Tests developed for the evaluation of Control Technology, a basic engineering course of study in Great Britain, prove useful for the formative evaluation, but reflect the difficulty of assessing ability to solve technological problems. (Author/KM)

This paper reports on a longitudinal study of the incorporation of engineering design into secondary classrooms by math, science, and technology teachers who were alumni of a week-long intensive inservice course at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College (New Hampshire). Data collection methods included observations and interviews,…

This instructional module examines a key function of science and technology: problem solving. It studies the meaning of problem solving, looks at techniques for problem solving, examines case studies that exemplify the problem-solving approach, presents problems for the reader to solve, and provides a student self-quiz. (Author/CT)