Engineering communication across the disciplines: A workshop on using online modules to standardize instruction

Abstract

The Technical Communication Program at the University of Wisconsin has developed a series of modules designed for mid- and upper-level engineering courses to provide supplementary instruction in basic communication skills. Our goal in developing these modules is to help faculty clarify their communication expectations and, in turn, emphasize to students the importance of skills transfer between communication and engineering content courses by providing a consistent message across the curriculum. This workshop will demonstrate how these modules can help teach and reinforce communication skills consistently across the engineering curriculum and assess learning outcomes in undergraduate students. We will therefore explain the challenges that led us to develop these modules, explain the modules themselves, and share the preliminary results of the project. We will conclude with a demonstration of the modules and a discussion of sample quiz questions (those with laptops may try the modules online). Overall, we believe our online modules offer teaching materials and direct assessment tools for communication skills that others may find valuable — especially programs preparing for reaccreditation.