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Faculty Learn How to Cultivate Innovative Practices into Courses During Opening of School Symposium
August 31, 2011
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology can play a key role in
bringing innovation to engineering education, according to Karl A.
Smith, veteran engineering education researcher and instructor.
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Looking Into The Future:
Researcher and distinguished professor Karl Smith discussed
emerging trends in engineering education to Rose-Hulman Institute
of Technology faculty members and administrators at this year's
Opening of School Symposium.
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Smith served as the keynote speaker at Rose-Hulman's Opening of
School Symposium on Aug. 26. The theme of the session was
"Advancing the Practice of Engineering Education."
There is increasing emphasis on innovation in engineering,
science and math education. The National Science Foundation
has implemented the Transforming Undergraduate Education in
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program. The
National Academy of Engineers' Frontiers of Engineering Education
Symposium has increased its emphasis on evaluation and assessment
of innovative practices.
Smith is cooperative learning professor of engineering education
at Purdue University and distinguished teaching professor at the
University of Minnesota. Starting as a materials processing
engineering researcher, he struggled to find better ways to help
engineering students learn, embraced cooperative learning as an
education innovation. Along the way he became an engineering
education researcher who has been deeply involved with the
emergence of engineering education as a field of research.
Smith's presentation to Rose-Hulman faculty members and
administrators touched on the following topics:
- How should engineering educators cultivate innovative practices
in engineering education? It examined the role
students, teachers, the discipline content experts, engineering
practitioners, learning scientists and education specialists have
in the education process?
- How do educators move a new practice from a classroom to the
larger engineering education community? What is the role of
engineering education research?
- What is Rigorous Research in Engineering Education
(RREE)? How is it similar and different from traditional
engineering research and practice?
- How can we keep RREE grounded in and useful for engineering
education practice?
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Preparing For New School Year: Phillip Cornwell (left), vice
president of academic affairs, greets returning Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology faculty members during the Opening of
School Symposium.
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Smith has been actively involved in engineering education
research and practice for nearly 40 years. He is a Fellow of
the American Society for Engineering Education and past chair of
the Educational Research and Methods Division. He has worked
with thousands of faculty all over the world on engagement,
especially cooperative learning, problem-based learning, and
constructive controversy. He has co-written eight books,
including "Active Learning: Cooperation in the College Classroom,
3rd Ed."
The Opening of School Symposium featured remarks from President
Matt Branam, Vice President of Academic Affairs Phillip Cornwell
and Interim Dean of Faculty Bill Kline. There was also
presentations by faculty members earning the title of professor in
their academic specialties. These professors were Thomas
Adams, mechanical engineering; Galen Duree, physics and optical
engineering; Glen Livesay, applied biology and biomedical
engineering; J.P. Mellow, computer science and software
engineering; David Rader, mathematics; Anneliese Watt, English; and
Ed Wheeler, electrical and computer engineering.