Innovations in USEngineering Education

Norman L. Fortenberry, Sc.D.Executive Director

ASEE

ASEE History

Founded in 1893, ASEE uniquely Spans all engineering disciplines Encompasses all activities of academic

engineering and lifeline learning (teaching, research, and public service)

Links academic engineering to stakeholders in business, industry, government, and NGOs

Advances global awareness and collaboration in engineering education

ASEE Mission

Advancing education in engineering and engineering technology education by

Promoting excellence in instruction, research, public service, and practice;

Exercising worldwide leadership; Fostering the technological education of

society; and Providing quality products and services to

members

ASEE Membership

448 Colleges (including 89 2-year) 164 Corporations 27 Non-profits

11,709 individuals 82.3% professional, life, retired, and global 6.1 % student 1.1% K-12 educator

ASEE Influence

Key reports – Grinter (1955), Green (1994), Creating a Culture for Scholarly and Systematic Innovation in Engineering Education (2009)

Policy Influencers ASEE Board of Directors Engineering Deans Council Corporate Member Council Engineering Research Council

Challenges in Engineering Education

1960’s – The Soviet “threat” 1970’s – The Japanese “threat” 1980’s – The demographic “threat” 1990’s – The global “threat” 2000’s – The environmental “threat” 2010’s – The Chinese “threat”

Responses to Challenges in Engineering Education

1960’s – The scientific engineer 1970’s – The transactional engineer 1980’s – The managerial engineer 1990’s – The global engineer 2000’s – The holistic engineer 2010’s – The elite engineer

Responses to Challenges in Engineering Education

Focus on finding and retaining students Focus on “fixing” students Focus on “understanding” students Focus on “learning” Focus on educational systems

Broader Challenges in Education

STEM Education for ALL (including returning Service Members)

Overcoming Impediments to Engaging Diverse Populations (including returning Service Members)

Large-Scale Faculty Development

Innovations in Engineering Education Experiential Learning

Internships/Contests/Service/Venturing/Clinics Inductive Learning

PBL, Inquiry, Case-based, JIT, etc. Design before fundamentals

Real engineering, real early Deployment of education research Engineering in K-12 (stand-alone, and in S,M, &

T)Note overlaps in the elements above

Challenges in Sustaining Innovations in Engineering Education

Achieving Institutionalization

Linking education to practice

Recognizing global commonalities

Possible Areas of Collaboration

Support consensus building activities for sustaining current undergraduate innovations and advancing to new innovations

Sustain resources in support of faculty-led efforts

Support exploration of recognition of promising K-12 engineering materials and programs.