Retention - No longer an issue?

As part of my work, I am always in midst of conversations about the need to increase the participation of students into the Engineering, Science, Technology and Math areas. In fact, the topic has remained in discussion for most of the last decade. What is concerning policy makers and educators is that US is not producing enough science and engineering (S&E) graduates. This issue has been reported in the 2002 S$E indicators: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind02/pdf/c02.pdf - The 2002 report mentions that of the 25% students who enrolled in bachelor Science and Engineering degree programs nationwide, about one-third dropped out of the programs in their second year, and about 38% actually completed an S&E degree. That is why it was quite surprising to me that the 2010 S&E report does not mention retention as an issue. Also, if the increased federal funding during the past decade has helped increase the retention, that has not been reported in the 2010 report either (at least to my knowledge). What I would like to see is whether this issue has been addressed and if so, what strategies have been successful.

Program Upgrades

2010 turned out pretty busy for me. I wrote a proposal for updating the Engineering and Mechanical Engineering programs at my college. At our college, we have a "Two Meetings" rule - the course or program proposals pass through a rather lengthy governance process that consists of two meetings at each of the following levels: departments, divisions, academic standards committee, and general body meeting of the college faculty. During the first meeting, the course comes in for "Information only" and then in the second meeting, the committees/departments/divisions have to vote on the proposal. If the course withstands the scrutiny, it passes to the next level. The procedure took about a year and half to approval and implementation. The course and programs were approved in Spring 2010 and were implemented this year (2011).

One of the major changes we made to the program was inclusion of an engineering computation course. The course is an ambitious course that can serve as introduction to engineering and gives students access in their early, formative years as engineers to state of the art tools, and technology. This kind of access is particularly important when the schools are struggling to keep students interested in the STEM careers, and to graduate more engineers and scientists. I will write about my experience about teaching this class soon.

Just when you introduce a new course, it becomes important to take a hard look at your existing offerings. The programs at community colleges have to be in harmony with those at the four year institutions where the CC students transfer. Most four year schools only accept a limited number of credits from community colleges, and therefore programs at CC can never be too heavy in the number of credits.

We have tried our level best to ensure that we offer a leaner, cleaner program that would allow students to transfer maximum number of credits when we made these changes.

The process was no doubt lengthy and sometimes even frustrating to some, but is also very educational. Not only you learn about programs at other institutions, but you also learn about the college, the governance processes, and most importantly about the people who make this happen: your colleagues from your divisions, and faculty and staff you would have no chance of knowing otherwise.

Why would I take an Engineering Design Class?

I teach an engineering Design class. This is a freshman design class. Most freshmen design classes (I would imagine) aim toward establishing the identity of students as engineers, at least it has been my aim since I started teaching this class. The class gives them opportunities to engage in creating solutions for solving engineering problems and to use SolidWorks to develop their ideas. (Solidworks is a 3D computer aided design software). The class is taken by freshmen in all of our engineering and certificate programs, which makes differentiated instruction essential to serve students who might be enrolled in different engineering programs (concentrations). although I have been teaching this class since 2007, I started feeling that I need some input from the students to better serve them.

This year, during the first week of the semester, I gave my students a survey to complete. It had only five questions that would let me take the "pulse" of the class - to know what interests my students. 22 students out of a class of 29 replied. One of the questions I had asked - "Why did you take this engineering design class (with CAD - we use SolidWorks in this class, btw). I have never thought of asking them this question ever before but I was glad that I did this little experiment: I got to know some much that I would not have otherwise known. I got to know a bit about what their interests might be, and what they are planning to do with their lives. I got to know that some of my students are interested in architecture, as an example. While the architectural industry has been mainly using CAD software such as AutoCAD and SolidWorks is not exactly the architect's tool at the moment, strictly speaking, I might even allow them to present their architectural/interior design ideas through SW as their final project. I also sensed from some of their answers that they had probably missed the point of the class and I would need to make extra effort to engage them in engineering problem solving.

Here are their answers:

• I am in the mechanical engineering program and therefore need this class. I also always want to take cad.
• Because I'm planning to be an architect after I get my Associate Degree
• I am hoping to get a basic understanding of engineering design and what is required to develop an engineering project.
• I am interested in building things and I want to learn how to design and engineer my own ideas.
• I believe the study of engineering will make me a proficient designer/builder. Also I understand that while some aspects of engineering have in a way "fallen in my lap", there are other aspects which I have not gained mastery over which I hope to
I enjoy 3D designs, and i want to learn solid works.
• I like to design things and enjoy creating new things. I would like to learn how to succesfully use Solid Works in design process.
• I need this class to graduate.
• I previously took a non-credit introductory AutoCAD course and really enjoyed it, I am hoping to pursue an Engineering degree, and I'm really looking forward to further developing my problem solving and design skills.
• I started studying mechanical engineering because since I was a very young child I was always taking apart my toys, reverse engineering them, and modifying them. I've always dreamed of bigger things, and drawn detailed drawings of things I'd like to build
• I want to learn how to use a more advanced cad program. Also it is a requirement for my program. I took a cad course in high school but it is not as advanced as this program
• I want to be in the field of architecture.
• I work for a Compliance testing lab, and engineering and design are parts of my daily work schedule. As we launch our engineering services department, I want to set myself up for a position in design. I do need to take this class for graduation, however.
• I would like to be able to create drawings and structural outlines of different objects. I think it will be nice to be able to examine the different parts of a simple object.
• I would like to be able to design Architectal plans & Decorative elements, As i learned this program in specific will help me design furniture pieces, And this is so intresting for me.
• I would like to study engineering design because i curently work for Local 12 plumbers Union and i want to better myself and not have to break my back anymore and work in an office.
• I would like to study engineering design because i have many ideas that i want to represent. I have a BFA in printmaking from UNH and a masters of design from Harvard. I want to design components for interior spaces, monumental sculptures for sacred spaces.
• I would like to study engineering design because i would like to go into architecture after i graduate with an Associate degree in engineering. And after that I would like to start my own architectural firm in Boston.
• It is my dream to work for BMW designing cars. This class is one of many building blocks required for my goal.
• It seems to be a fun, and intresting class.
• Solidworks is a basic skill for any mechanical engineer.
• To round out the knowledge base I already have and at the same time begin to build a new foundation

Why did I need a blog?

Everyone has a blog these days, doesn't everyone?!!

But that would be only a half-truth. The real reason for writing this blog was to be able to -
(1) Record several events in my working life that involves mundane engineering calculations, that otherwise have no chance of being recorded for me due to the sheer lack of respect we tend to bestow on our routine activities - or something that has lost its edge due to the sheer familiarity of it. What we forget that it is those activities, and our musings, that really make us who we are over time. And this blog will do just that, hopefully.
(2) To keep track of the pieces of knowledge or information that I would otherwise read and lose.

This is therefore a simple log of my work and what I see or hear, for anyone who is interested. I am an engineer and also an engineering educator. To talk about engineering is not my only goal though, it is to keep track of what I do or what I think (as an engineer), so do not feel out of the place here if you are not an engineer. I tend not to see things in compartments and I hope you will enjoy my blog.

Welcome to my blog.