Describes the changes in teaching methods in engineering classrooms over the last 60 years and implementations by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in curriculum not only of mathematics, science, and engineering fundamentals, but also communication and lifelong learning skills. Lists ABET Engineering Criteria required…

Discusses the quality of instruction for communication skills and creative thinking skills in engineering education and the difficulties caused by the single-subject approach in different engineering majors. Provides alternative solutions to the problem such as irrelevant teaching methods, difficulties in implementing technology in classrooms, and…

Discusses the development of high-level thinking skills and how learning occurs with example studies from literature. Describes the relationship between animal and human cognition, and identifies levels of human understanding which include somatic, mythic, romantic, philosophic, and ironic understanding. (Contains 22 references.) (YDS)

Discusses a scenario about offending student behaviors in a classroom during lecture, specifically focusing on a sleeping student. Presents a list of responses for possible solutions to these behaviors from a brainstorming session. Makes recommendations to teachers for what to do in that kind of situation. Provides two Internet addresses for…

Introduces a set of papers in this journal issue that address outcomes assessment in engineering education. Discusses the reasons and methods for outcomes assessment. (WRM)

Discusses the Engineering Criteria 2000 adopted by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The new criteria provide a framework by which chemical engineering faculties can develop programs to meet modern industrial needs without jeopardizing their accreditation standing. The criteria also require a change in emphasis from…

Discusses the opportunities and dangers associated with various aspects of implementing the Engineering Criteria 2000. Topics include: (1) understanding the continuous quality improvement process; (2) use of assessment terminology; (3) development of performance criteria; (4) use of local resources; (5) hiring an expert to aid the transition; (6)…

Outlines the basics of outcomes assessment, describes a format useful for assessment preparation, summarizes some lessons learned from a 1996 pilot visit conducted at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and discusses some consequences of outcomes assessment. (WRM)

Describes a matrix that can illustrate the educational relationship between a course's learning activities and learning objectives. Discusses the development of the matrix in the context of a first-year engineering design course, and gives alternative applications of the matrix, such as using it in course articulation and using it as part of the…

Describes the author's experiences in serving as a program evaluator for an Engineering Criteria 2000 accreditation visit and preparing for the visit to her own department. Examines how constituency "buy-in" and closing of the improvement loop affect evaluation and institutionalization of a program improvement process. (Contains 16 references.)…

Discusses strategies for teaching problem-solving techniques during an engineering design course in the third year of a four-year degree program. Describes the content of six problem-solving curricular modules, course organization, evaluation and assessment, and results. (Contains 28 references.) (WRM)

Addresses some of the issues associated with teaching chemical engineering design, specifically the capstone design sequence developed at the University of Dayton and the experience gained developing and teaching these courses. Discusses the pros and cons of chemical-process flowsheet-simulator use. (Contains 11 references.) (WRM)

Describes the establishment, benefits, and difficulties of an overseas branch of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) chemical engineering Practice School for student internship study at the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation's Mizushima Plant in Kurashiki, Japan. (WRM)

Suggests that it takes more than a good undergraduate education to get the most out of graduate school. Provides advice and recommendations to science and engineering graduate students. (Author/CCM)

Discusses a program that offers students a phenomenon-oriented environment expressed in the fundamental concepts and language of chemical engineering such as mass and energy balancing, phase equilibria, reaction stoichiometry and rate, modes of heat, and species transport. (CCM)