Purdue University College of Engineering Demystifying Engineering Engineering Clinics for Teachers Rowan University Monica F. Cox, Ph.D. Assistant Professor

Purdue University

College of Engineering

Demystifying Demystifying EngineeringEngineering

Engineering Clinics for TeachersEngineering Clinics for TeachersRowan UniversityRowan University

Monica F. Cox, Ph.D.Monica F. Cox, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Engineering EducationAssistant Professor of Engineering EducationPurdue UniversityPurdue University

Purdue University


Diverse Issues in Higher Diverse Issues in Higher Education: Education: Emerging Scholars Emerging Scholars

20082008

DemystifyDemystifyTo eliminate the mystifying or obscure features To eliminate the mystifying or obscure features

ofof

http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_10472.shtml

What Do Engineers Do?What Do Engineers Do?2003 1998

Builds/constructs/makes things 38% 26%

Designs/draws/plans 19% 27%

Mechanic/mechanical work 9% 2%

Train operator 7% 5%

Creates/is creative 3% 3%

Mathematics/physics 3% 2%

Develops new technologies 3% -

Application of technology 2% -

Equipment maintenance repair 2% -

Works with computers 2% -Source: Harris Poll, December

2003

Contributing to SocietyContributing to Society

Engineers Scientists

Make strong leaders 56% 32%

Care about the community 37% 51%

Sensitive to societal concerns 28% 61%

Save lives 14% 82%

Source: Harris Poll, December 2003

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Engineering is…Engineering is…

……the application of creativity the application of creativity and teamwork using Math and teamwork using Math and science principles as and science principles as tools to solve problemstools to solve problems

……creating things that creating things that

will benefit societywill benefit society

OR

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““Engineers have a hand in Engineers have a hand in designing, creating, or designing, creating, or modifying nearly everything modifying nearly everything we touch, wear, eat, see, and we touch, wear, eat, see, and hear in our daily lives.”hear in our daily lives.”

- American Society of Engineering Education- American Society of Engineering Education

Engineering is everywhereEngineering is everywhere

Everyone knows things like….Everyone knows things like….

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Safe drinking water Microwave ovens Baseball bats Hershey Hugs Seat belts and air bags Elevators Movie Special Effects Cell phones Heart Pacemakers CD’s, VCR’s, and DVD’s Instant Messaging Skyscrapers Facial recognition devices Rollercoasters

But other engineering innovations But other engineering innovations include…include…

and much, much more!and much, much more!

Top 10 Engineering SkillsTop 10 Engineering Skills

Problem-solvingProblem-solving

Analytical/Creative ThinkingAnalytical/Creative Thinking

Design-OrientedDesign-Oriented

Written and Oral Written and Oral CommunicationCommunication

Adapt to changeAdapt to change

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Top 10 Engineering SkillsTop 10 Engineering Skills

Learn to learnLearn to learn

Global perspective/cultural awarenessGlobal perspective/cultural awareness

Project managementProject management

Political/Social SensitivityPolitical/Social Sensitivity

Ability to work in diverse team settingsAbility to work in diverse team settings

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College of EngineeringEngineers are…Engineers are…

Men and Women from every culture in the worldMen and Women from every culture in the world

People who like a challenge and People who like a challenge and to build, break, and design thingsto build, break, and design things

Trusted for having good Trusted for having good judgment & making sound judgment & making sound decisionsdecisions

Strong in math & science Strong in math & science

ResourcefulResourceful Able to express their ideasAble to express their ideas

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What Do These People Have in Common?What Do These People Have in Common?

Engineers are diverse relative Engineers are diverse relative toto GenderGender EthnicityEthnicity AgeAge Occupational ChoiceOccupational Choice Personality TypePersonality Type Area of SpecializationArea of Specialization Contribution to SocietyContribution to Society

They are all engineers!They are all engineers!

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Fields of EngineeringFields of EngineeringElectrical

Computer

Agricultural

Biological

Construction

Biomedical

Geomatic

Nuclear

Civil

Mechanical

Aerospace

Industrial

Chemical

Mining

Petroleum

Materials

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Engineering FunctionsEngineering FunctionsResearch

Development

Testing

Design

Analysis

Systems

Manufacturing and Construction

Operations and Maintenance

Technical Support

Customer Support

Sales

Finance

Management

Law

Medicine

Business

Education

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LeadershipLeadership17% of the Fortune 500 CEO’s have a 17% of the Fortune 500 CEO’s have a

business degree.business degree.

20%20% of the Fortune 500 CEO’s of the Fortune 500 CEO’s have an engineering degree and have an engineering degree and 22% of the Fortune 200 CEO’s.22% of the Fortune 200 CEO’s.

Patent law requires a degree in Patent law requires a degree in Engineering or scienceEngineering or science

Why we NEED more EngineersWhy we NEED more Engineers

Aging engineering workforceAging engineering workforce

Fewer students choosing engineeringFewer students choosing engineering

Global competitionGlobal competition

Integration of technology into all of Integration of technology into all of societysociety

Stereotypes of engineersStereotypes of engineers-

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U.S. Engineering TrendsU.S. Engineering Trends

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Engineering Student Engineering Student DiversityDiversity

Source: Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2004 (NSF 04-317)

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S&E doctorates awarded, by country/region:S&E doctorates awarded, by country/region:Most recent yearMost recent year

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BS Engineering DegreesBS Engineering Degrees

2005 Engineering Degrees by Ethnicity & Gender

WomenWomen 19.6% 19.6%

African AmericanAfrican American 6.5% 6.5%

HispanicHispanic 5.4% 5.4%

Native American Native American .. .05%.05%

Source: ASEE PRISM, September 2004

All lower

than 1999!

African Americans, Latinosand Native Americans comprise

30% of college-age people, and 25% of the U.S. workforce

MythsMyths and the and the TruthTruth Boring, Dorks, Pocket-ProtectorsBoring, Dorks, Pocket-Protectors You have to love MathYou have to love Math Sit at a computer all daySit at a computer all day Not creativeNot creative No communication skillsNo communication skills Work on insignificant projectsWork on insignificant projects Dilbert the cartoon is the quintessential Dilbert the cartoon is the quintessential

engineerengineer Engineers don’t have fun or diverse interestsEngineers don’t have fun or diverse interests White males onlyWhite males only Good at math and science you should be an Good at math and science you should be an

engineerengineer

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Let’s talk about EngineeringLet’s talk about Engineering

Engineering Community• It’s a challenge• Go for it! It’s difficult, but rewarding• Use math and science to solve problems

High School Girls•Enjoying what I do•Good working environment•Making a difference•Good income•Flexibility

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Pre-calculus or calculusPre-calculus or calculus

ChemistryChemistry

PhysicsPhysics

Writing, CommunicationWriting, Communication

Computer - programming, drafting, generalComputer - programming, drafting, general

Honors & advance placementHonors & advance placement

This gives you career choices!!This gives you career choices!!

High School PreparationHigh School Preparation

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Access, Access, AccessAccess, Access, Access Proactively conduct Internet searches to learn about Proactively conduct Internet searches to learn about

new research and resourcesnew research and resources

Expose students, parents, and administrators to Expose students, parents, and administrators to science and engineering opportunities at area science and engineering opportunities at area colleges and universitiescolleges and universities

Form university contacts in your field of studyForm university contacts in your field of study

Pursue professional development opportunities that Pursue professional development opportunities that give you additional insight about ways to introduce give you additional insight about ways to introduce students to engineeringstudents to engineering

Plan field trips to university engineering labs and Plan field trips to university engineering labs and facilitiesfacilities

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Career MythCareer Myth

MythMyth- Only certain - Only certain people (e.g., those people (e.g., those with perfect with perfect standardized test standardized test scores, advanced scores, advanced placement credit, placement credit, and perfect GPAs) and perfect GPAs) can enter and can enter and remain in STEM remain in STEM careers. careers. Fact- Fact- You must be You must be

willing to tap into willing to tap into necessary resources necessary resources for success.for success.

FactFact- Although it’s - Although it’s helpful to have high helpful to have high scores and access to scores and access to additional math and additional math and science resources in science resources in high school, you should high school, you should not exclude yourself not exclude yourself from pursuing a STEM from pursuing a STEM career.career.

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Graduate School MythsGraduate School Myths

MythMyth- Graduate school is a solitary place - Graduate school is a solitary place where you have to do things on your own.where you have to do things on your own.

MythMyth: Graduate school is an elite club.: Graduate school is an elite club.

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Graduate School Myths (cont.)Graduate School Myths (cont.)

MythMyth- Graduate - Graduate school is boring school is boring and is an and is an extension of your extension of your undergraduate undergraduate experience. experience.

MythMyth- You have to - You have to pay for graduate pay for graduate school.school.

Your University

Federal Agencies

and Industry

STEM Faculty

Your College

Your Department

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Engineering Professor Engineering Professor MythsMyths

Myth-Myth- Professors only teach OR do research. Professors only teach OR do research. Myth-Myth- Professors do the same thing every Professors do the same thing every

day.day.

ASEE ConferenceCape Town, South Africa

Teacher WorkshopPuebla, Mexico

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Engineering Professor Myths Engineering Professor Myths (cont.)(cont.)

Myth-Myth- Professors Professors work with things, work with things, not people.not people.

Myth-Myth- Professors Professors are not are not entrepreneurs.entrepreneurs.

FactFact ManagersManagers InventorsInventors LeadersLeaders Course DevelopersCourse Developers AuthorsAuthors Grant WritersGrant Writers AdministratorsAdministrators CEOs of their own CEOs of their own

intellectual intellectual enterprise!enterprise!

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It Takes a Village…It Takes a Village…

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Words of AdviceWords of Advice

Obtain accurate information about your Obtain accurate information about your options. options.

Find and pursue your passion even if Find and pursue your passion even if no one has ever done it before.no one has ever done it before.

Pass to others the knowledge that Pass to others the knowledge that you’ve learned during your journey.you’ve learned during your journey.

YOU

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For more information:For more information:

www.teachengineering.comwww.teachengineering.com

www.engineeringedu.comwww.engineeringedu.com

www.engineeringk12.orgwww.engineeringk12.org

www.discoverengineering.orgwww.discoverengineering.org

www.jets.orgwww.jets.org

www.purdue.eduwww.purdue.edu

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Elements of this presentation were created from Elements of this presentation were created from

previous presentations created by the Office of previous presentations created by the Office of

Future Engineers at Purdue University and by Future Engineers at Purdue University and by

staff at the National Science Foundation.staff at the National Science Foundation.

Documents

Purdue University College of Engineering Demystifying Engineering Engineering Clinics for Teachers Rowan University Monica F. Cox, Ph.D. Assistant Professor