Browsing by Author "Fox, Patricia"

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    Clear Advantages to Studying Abroad: So Why Aren’t Students Enrolling?
    (ASEE, 2019-02-01) Fox, Patricia; McIntyre, Charles; Engineering Technology, School of Engineering and Technology
    Today’s employers are looking for graduates who possess technical skills, work effectively in teams, think critically and communicate effectively, especially across cultures in addition to other qualities. One of the most important skills a person needs in order to be successful in today’s global economy is understanding and working with different cultures. To begin to understand cultural differences, it is important to have cultural training and to experience another culture in that particular country. One of the best ways for students to experience another culture is to take part in a study abroad course and to immerse themselves in another country’s traditions and customs. The Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Fellowship Study Abroad Program Report concluded, “What nations don’t know can hurt them. The stakes involved in study abroad are that simple, that straightforward, and that important. For their own future and that of the nation, college graduates today must be internationally competent.” 5 Not only should graduates be internationally competent, research indicates links between studying abroad and improved graduation rates, as well as employability. 13 While the total number of students in the US studying abroad is still relatively low, at approximately 10% of the total student population, this number is actually at all-time high, which also takes into count students at community colleges. Another study, Gaining an Employment Edge: The Impact of Study Abroad on 21st Century Skills and Career Perspectives, indicated that with “study abroad there was a positive impact on the development of a wide range of the 21st century skills, expands career possibilities, and has a long-term impact on career progression and promotion.” 14 Currently, at the author’s institution 9% of the total enrollment studies abroad. This number is close to the national average of 10%, however, in the School of Engineering and Technology only 1.8% of the total student population currently studies abroad. Why are the national numbers so low and even much lower in Engineering and Technology? This paper will explore what employers are looking for in graduates, how can study abroad help students achieve success, and the benefits of studying abroad for both the employer and the student. The paper will look at some reasons why students might not take advantage of study abroad programs and what can be done to change the attitudes of faculty and students on the value of studying abroad to increase the preparedness of students for a career in the 21st Century
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    Impact of Sustainability Study Abroad Course on Students
    (ASEE, 2018-06) Fox, Patricia; McIntyre, Charles; Sorge, Brandon; Technology and Leadership Communication, School of Engineering and Technology
    The School of Engineering and Technology at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) has offered a short study abroad course, called GO GREEN, on sustainable practices in businesses, industries and municipalities in Germany for the past 15 years. Over 150 students have participated in the course since its inception in 2003. A survey was conducted to determine what these students had ascertained from the course and to see if any of these students were using the skills acquired in this class in their work or daily lives. The survey, consisting of 23 questions, was designed to determine how students have used the interdisciplinary subject matter of sustainability in their lives and careers after taking the course, as well as, questions about key elements of the course. Some of the results of the survey will be discussed in this paper/presentation.
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    Industry Advisory Board Assessment and Evaluation
    (ASEE, 2017-02) McIntyre, Charles; Fox, Patricia; Technology and Leadership Communication, School of Engineering and Technology
    Virtually all academic programs in any given discipline have an Industry Advisory Board (IAB) whose purpose is to add value to the academic program. It must be noted that the term “IAB” is generic in nature and refers to any Industry Advisory Board, Committee, Council, or otherwise named advisory group. An IAB exists to advise, assist, support, and advocate for their associated academic program and the constituents of that program. Similar to what accreditation requires of an academic program, an IAB must periodically assess and evaluate their performance, which can lead to corrective actions and have a profound impact upon an IAB and the academic program. The contents of this paper describe two methods that an IAB can use for assessment and evaluation, namely IAB Self-Assessment and IAB Benchmarking.
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    A Study Abroad Course Leads to Service Learning Project
    (ASEE, 2018) McIntyre, Charles; Camp, Ryan A.; Fox, Patricia; Patrick, Shawn; Engineering Technology, School of Engineering and Technology
    Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis study abroad students, who learned about sustainable practices in businesses, industries and municipalities in Germany returned to Indianapolis to assist a community partner to start a recycling project in Indianapolis. Germany like some other European countries have been working on sustainable issues in businesses, industries and within their municipalities for decades. The country’s results are impressive in sustainable urban structures and planning, renewable energy usage, national recycling, sustainable transportation systems, and green policies all at the local, state and federal levels, which in turn has led to economic growth and innovation within the country (Buehler, Jungjohann, Keeley, & Mehing, 2011). Service learning is defined as “course-based, credit bearing educational experience in which students (a) participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs and (b) reflects on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility” (Bringle & Hatcher, 1995). This past summer’s study abroad students had the opportunity to participate in a service learning project. The project was to incorporate a recycling program for a local church’s festival, which is held for three days in the month of July. The study abroad students had just returned from learning about a society that spends enormous efforts in the area of recycling, reusing, and reducing. Students that volunteered were to work with the local recycling facility to acquire the right type of containers for the project, work at the festival assisting with the recycling program, and observe the other festival activities during the three-day event to research other opportunities for sustainable practices for the next year’s festival or church campus as a whole. In this paper will describe the students experience of studying abroad and learning about sustainability and then applying that knowledge in a service learning project back home. In addition, this paper will describe the ongoing student research project recommending a sustainable approach for the church and school on the whole campus.
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    Understanding gender differences in Online Learning
    (IEEE, 2014) Little-Wiles, Julie; Fernandez, Eugenia; Fox, Patricia; Department of Engineering Technology, School of Engineering and Technology
    As virtual learning has become increasingly more popular and even more common within both two and four-year institutions, the question of student engagement within these courses remains a critical factor for both administrators and faculty. Determining how students respond and participate in online courses has been studied to some degree, but what has not specifically been addressed is the factor of gender. So simply asked: Does gender play a significant role in how students engage with online courses? This question directed a two year study that sought to determine if gender does play a role in the engagement and student success in one online sophomore-level ethical decision-making course taught at the School of Engineering and Technology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. This paper will outline the various phases of the project including initial set-up and planning, the pilot study, and then the full launch to all sections each semester. The data examined includes students' gender, total site activity and usage, total site visits, chat room activity, message activity, course letter grade, and course letter grade percentage earned. Basic demographics will be determined and statistical analysis will be performed at each stage of the study with a final conclusion drawn at the end of the two years. This two-year study is organized into four phases. Currently, phases one and two are complete with phase two, the pilot study, garnering some interesting results for the research team. Phase three, the full launch to all sections in two semesters, is now underway and the researchers hope the full launch will determine if the pilot results were correct or if a larger sample provides a clearer determination in regards to gender.
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    Who Will Lead Next: Where are the New Volunteers?
    (American Society for Engineering Education, 2016-06) Fox, Patricia; McIntyre, Charles; Whinery, Tiffany Erin; Department of Technology and Leadership Communication, Engineering and Technology
    The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) has more than 12,000 members. The majority of ASEE members are faculty, staff and students from engineering and technology colleges and universities; librarians; STEM and K-12 educators; and corporate members, government agencies and professional societies. ASEE consists of over 50 divisions, twelve sections, four zones, and six councils. Each of these has an officer or set of officers, which lead the divisions, sections, zones or councils. This paper documents a pilot study that examines the past, present and future leaders of the Engineering Technology Division (ETD) and Engineering Technology Council (ETC). The primary goal of this research effort is to explore the various avenues and opportunities for future leadership of EDT and ETC. Past and current leaders of ETD and ETC will be surveyed to determine the factors that drive the motivation and dedication for service leadership within ASEE. The membership of ETD and ETC will be surveyed to find out what the barriers are to becoming leaders specifically in ETD and ETC. Depending on the findings of this pilot study, the authors will expand this research in a larger scope within ASEE and into other societies. Some of the questions that this research will attempt to answer are: 1.) “Do other ASEE divisions and councils encounter problems in recruiting and retaining new leaders?” and 2.) “Do other professional societies have difficulties finding volunteer leaders from academia?”