EnTec: School of Engineering + Technology Miami Dade College

EnTec: School of Engineering + Technology

Miami Dade CollegeEngineering Programs

Focus: BS Electronics Engineering Technology

Dr. Djuradj BabicDr. James Poe

School of Engineering + TechnologyMiami Dade College

1. Introduction

What characteristics make a great engineer?

Sandia CIESESE Visit / December 12, 2016 / Dr. James Poe 2

1. Good at math2. Good with

computers3. Good at solving

problems

1. Introduction

What characteristics make a great engineer?


1. Creativity2. Curiosity3. Analytical Skills

1. IntroductionHow does the traditional university model recruit and retain creative, curious, problem solvers?

1. Calculus I ( 1 semester)2. Calculus II ( 1 semester )3. Differential Equations (1 semester)


-3. Developmental Math (1-4 semesters)-2. College Algebra (1 semester)-1. Trigonometry (0.5 – 1 semester) 0. Pre-Calculus (0.5 – 1 semester)

Over 95% of Miami Dade College Associate of Arts students won’t see core engineering curriculum for at least three years!

2. Motivation


[1] NSF Science and Engineering Indicators 2012, http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind12/

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind12/

2. Motivation

• Undergraduate attrition out of engineering was greater than transfers into this field

• 10% of engineering majors switched to mathematics or physical or computer sciences majors

• The number of engineering bachelor’s degrees earned by underrepresented minorities has remained nearly constant since 1998 (12.4% even though underrepresented minorities account for 27.6 % of the population)


Presentation Outline

1. Introduction

2. Motivation

3. Theories of Learning

4. Miami Dade College

5. Degree Structure

6. Spiral Course Sequencing

7. Course Structure

8. Benefits


3. Theories of LearningWhy is it so difficult to recruit and retain engineers?


• Deep Math Critical Path

– In a typical EE degree, there are four to six math courses before first core EE course

– If a student fails a math course, it completely halts progress

– Issue exacerbated at most community colleges, who disproportionately serve underrepresented groups



• Additional Problems with Math Critical Path:

– Projects an inaccurate and often negative view of the engineering discipline/profession

– May reinforce ‘just plug into equation’ mentality

– Reduces student retention of material– By separating the math from the application, students

tend to forget the material



• There has been relatively little evolution in basic EE core curriculum.

• The calculus sequence/differential equations prerequisite for first year core engineering courses has been static for decades, and is almost universal.

Does it have to be?



Jerome Bruner’s Spiral Learning Theory [3]“one of the most important and influential works on education”

– Readiness for learning - any subject can be taught at any stage of development in a way that fit the person's cognitive abilities

– Spiral curriculum - revisiting basic ideas over and over, building upon them and elaborating to the level of full understanding and mastery

Curricula should be designed to foster such early intuitions and then build on them in increasingly

formal and abstract ways as education progresses.


• Miami Dade College– Founded as Dade Junior College in 1959– Eight Campuses, Twenty-one Outreach Centers– Largest public higher education institute in the

United States



• Miami Dade College– Over 160,000 students

Hispanic: 68% Black: 19%White: 9% Other: 4%

– 51% First generation college student– 52% Work more than 20 hours a week



• Miami Dade College– Transitioned to a four year college in 2003– Currently offers ten bachelor degrees



• Engineering Department– Traditional Associate of Arts (AA) degrees in engineering– Associate of Science (AS):

– Electronics Engineering Technology (EET)– Computer Engineering Technology (CET)– Industrial Engineering Technology (IET) (New 2017!)

– Bachelor of Science (BS):– Electronics Engineering Technology


5. Degree Structure

Goals during development of EET BS degree:

1. Provide a pathway for AS in CET/EET to transition to BS in Electronics Engineering Technology (EET)

2. Integrate techniques from Bruner’s Spiral Learning Theory

3. Provide early practical experience, later abstract experience

4. Gradual ramp-up into upper division instead of traditional step-function

5. Rearrange curriculum based on math progression, not the other way around!


5. Degree Structure

Degree Structure:

• “Just in Time” mathematics approach‒ Bring in math as needed, where applied

• Begin with a practical and applied AS‒ Algebra and trigonometry based

• Transfer into analytical and applied BS‒ Calculus and differential equations based


BS in EET

AS EET

AS CET

AA(not ideal)

5. Degree Structure

Circuit Analysis


Digital Design

Electronics

First Semester• Direct Current

Circuits• C for Engineers• (College Algebra)



Circuit Analysis

Digital Design

Electronics

Second Semester• Digital Circuits• Alternating Circuits• (Trigonometry)



Circuit Analysis

Digital Design

Electronics

Third Semester• Advanced Digital• Electronics I• (Pre-Calculus)



Circuit Analysis

Digital Design

Electronics

Fourth Semester• Digital

Communications• Electronics II• Microprocessors



Circuit Analysis

Digital Design

Electronics

Fifth Semester• Analog

Communications• Power Systems• Engineering Economy



Circuit Analysis

Digital Design

Electronics

Sixth Semester• ECE Elective

• (e.g. electronic security)

• (Calculus I)



Circuit Analysis

Digital Design

Electronics

Seventh Semester• Computer

Architecture• Programmable Logic

Controllers• (Calculus II)



Circuit Analysis

Digital Design

Electronics

Eighth Semester• Advanced Systems

Analysis• Applied DSP• (Differential

Equations)



Circuit Analysis

Digital Design

Electronics

Ninth Semester• Linear Integrated

Circuits• Senior Design I• Signals and Systems



Circuit Analysis

Digital Design

Electronics

Tenth Semester• Applied Robotics• Senior Design II• Feedback Control

Systems



Circuit Analysis

Digital Design

Electronics

Graduation!



Circuit Analysis

Digital Design

Electronics

7. Course Structure

• Combined Lecture-Lab– Same professor as the Lecture portion– Twice the time with the student

• Focus on Experiential Learning [4]– 75% of ECE courses are lab based– Labs are designed by our Full-time Faculty


7. Course Structure

• Active Learning [5]– Lectures are conducted using active learning techniques

• Heavily Project Based– Students are challenged with design projects– Enhanced Discovery Based-Learning – prepare students first

through direct methods, then give students a discovery task [6]


8. Benefits

We believe this approach provides the following benefits:

1. Longer duration of engineering focused education

2. Repetition of curriculum, at increasing depths

3. More inclusive, with better retention

4. Less time spent reviewing prerequisites

5. Improved performance/retention of math courses

6. Reduced time to meeting goals/milestones

7. Better understanding of both theory and application


8. Recent GradsOur first 3 years of BS graduates can now be found at:


Questions?


References

• [1] NSF Science and Engineering Indicators 2012, http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind12/

• [2] Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/

• [3] Bruner, J. (1960). The Process of Education. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press

• [4] Itin, C. M. (1999). Reasserting the Philosophy of Experiential Education as a Vehicle for Change in the 21st Century. The Journal of Experiential Education,.22(2), 91-98.

• [5] Prince, M. (2004). Does Active Learning Work? A Review of the Research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223-232.

• [6] Marzano Robert J. (2007) The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction. Alexandria, Va.: ASCD.


http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind12/

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/