Narrates the history of engineering and engineering education in the United States during revolutionary times under these headings: before 1775; wartime needs; early concern for training; arrival of foreign volunteers; continuing education efforts; and after the war. A special section on 18th century French and English engineering is also…

Two engineers with doctoral degrees weigh factors, pro and con, in pursuing their degree and the different career paths they have taken. One person outlines the steps in academia while the other has moved through several industrial positions. Indicates that the degree can open doors but can also limit options. (DH)

Although fundamentally different purposes may cause clashes when universities and industry embark on joint research and development ventures, careful planning can often bridge this gap. Areas addressed include university/industry cooperation, information exchange, intellectual property, and conflicts with colleagues/students. (DH)

Provides data collected from 218 institutions offering graduate and undergraduate engineering degrees. These data (presented alphabetically by institution) include number of faculty, student enrollment, graduate degree requirements, degree programs, degrees offered, appointments to graduate students, major research areas, and research…

The importance of technological literacy in liberal arts education, and approaches to teaching the concepts behind systems analysis and artifacts in engineering, are outlined and discussed. (MSE)

The Educating Prospective Engineers for Public Policy project is designed to provide future engineers with tools to contribute professionally to resolving technically intensive public policy issues. Describes the project, focusing on: Washington Internship for Students of Engineering, development of case studies, and regional faculty workshops to…

Presents a corporate official's 12-point plan for the private sector to provide immediate support for public education in technology. Industry's role in stimulating parents, in curriculum development, and in providing financial support are considered. Other areas/issues considered are upgrading graduation requirements, basic building blocks of…

Compares a personalized system of instruction (PSI) to the lecture method and linear self-paced instruction (LSPI) of teaching stoichiometry to undergraduate students. Discusses the methods used to assess student achievement which includes: the use of common midterms and final examinations; and modules, mini-courses and mini-course final exams.…

Describes a project in which computer programs and textbooks explaining the theoretical basis and practical application of the programs have been developed. Also describes the computer programs and textbooks available and the role of these materials in chemical engineering education. (JN)

Thirty six senior students in chemical engineering were randomly assigned to three treatment groups in an experimental study that examined the impact of different instructional strategies for troubleshooting malfunctions in a computer-based simulation of a chemical processing plant. In two groups, different types of worked examples,…

Currently, there is little in-depth understanding of how individuals effectively orchestrate school and work-related experiences over time from high school through college and beyond to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). This appears important because, unlike societies such as Germany, youth in the U.S. face…

This report explores first year undergraduate mechanical engineering and mathematics students' conceptions of the derivative and the contribution that membership of different departments may have on these conceptions. Quantitative results suggest that mechanical engineering students develop a proclivity for rate of change aspects of the derivative…

Political measures are being taken to "democratize" access to universities in Brazil. A new State university recently created after a wide consultation to the population, has taken two important measures: (i) it reserves fifty per cent of its places to poor students and ten per cent to physically handicapped ones and (ii) has abolished…

The engineering profession still is a male domain. Many attempts to change this isolation and to call women into the profession failed. Neither the study conditions nor the social recognition were experienced as adequate for women. The focus on the development of deeper understanding, explicit connectedness, comprehension and social concern are…

This report is based on the analysis of initial interviews with the staff of the Freshmen Learning Community Program (FLCP). FLCP is a pilot program in engineering education that focuses on diversity and cultural change. The primary purpose of this evaluative study is to provide feedback while the learning community program is being implemented.…