Work in progress - Using insights from non-engineers to help develop laboratory projects

Abstract

A group from engineering programs at both four and two year colleges has been assembled to explore creating laboratory modules with an emphasis on activities and perspectives shown to be successful in technological literacy courses for non-engineering students. To meet the needs of community college engineering programs, the logistical and commercial feasibility of shipping a complete laboratory in a box will be investigated. This will minimize the laboratory preparation time for community college instructors. These laboratories will be suitable for use in either technological literacy or introduction to engineering courses. The laboratories will attempt to utilize insights from non-engineering students to determine themes that may help interest students in engineering and enliven introduction to engineering courses. Technological literacy courses on a number of campuses have found that non-engineers respond positively to material that focuses on technology familiar to the students in their everyday life, uses extensive verbal and graphical explanations, and includes useful information that helps to establish a sense of empowerment regarding technology. Eight laboratory projects will be created and tested at a variety of two and four-year schools.