Seminar Series |  Understanding Knowledge, Curriculum and Student Agency: A Longitudinal and Comparative Study 

Abstract

How does participating in an engineering degree result in a person coming to ‘think like an engineer’? We know from research that there are so many aspects of the experience of studying engineering that play a role in formulating an identity as an engineer, and this has prompted much important emphasis on project-work, extra-mural involvements and internships. But what about the challenging engagement with engineering knowledge that is at the heart of the engineering degree? Research has given us a good sense of the conceptual challenges in these domains of knowledge, and much innovative pedagogy has been developed to address these issues. But there has been limited work that tracks closely the development in ways of thinking over the four years of the undergraduate engineering degree. This project thus tracks engineering students in a particular discipline (Chemical Engineering) longitudinally over their progression from university entry through degree completion. In order to understand in more detail, the subtle and distinct aspects of the engineering curriculum, the study also tracks students in a closely related science program (Chemistry). The study has a further interest to be able to identify the influences of cultural and institutional context, and thus data collection is carried out at two institutions in three different countries – United States, United Kingdom and South Africa – that have been carefully selected for their differing characteristics especially around student intake. This talk will highlight some of unique features of each program and students’ perception of how they are developing as professionals as they engage with disciplinary knowledge.

Biography

Dr. Nicole Pitterson is an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, she worked as a postdoctoral scholar at Oregon State University. Dr. Pitterson holds a PhD in Engineering Education from Purdue University, a Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering from Western Illinois University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Technology, Jamaica. Her research interests include difficult concepts in engineering, increasing students’ conceptual understanding of complex concepts, curriculum design and promoting collaboration through using active learning strategies as well as exploring students’ disciplinary identities through engagement with knowledge. Dr. Pitterson is dedicated to bridging the gap between theoretical concepts with practical applications. She also aims to guide students to develop critical understanding of core engineering concepts that goes beyond rote memorization so that they can adapt to the changing demands of a global workforce.

About the EED Seminar Series

Registration is required prior to each seminar. SP21 seminars will take place via remote video conferencing. A link and password to each seminar will be sent once you register. Each seminar will be held live and may be recorded for archival and marketing purposes. If you have questions regarding this seminar series, please contact Dr. David Delaine.