Post on 16-Apr-2017
EnTec: School of Engineering + Technology
Miami Dade CollegeEngineering Programs
Focus: BS Electronics Engineering Technology
Dr. Djuradj BabicDr. James Poe
School of Engineering + TechnologyMiami Dade College
1. Introduction
What characteristics make a great engineer?
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1. Good at math2. Good with
computers3. Good at solving
problems
1. Introduction
What characteristics make a great engineer?
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1. Creativity2. Curiosity3. Analytical Skills
1. IntroductionHow does the traditional university model recruit and retain creative, curious, problem solvers?
1. Calculus I ( 1 semester)2. Calculus II ( 1 semester )3. Differential Equations (1 semester)
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-3. Developmental Math (1-4 semesters)-2. College Algebra (1 semester)-1. Trigonometry (0.5 – 1 semester) 0. Pre-Calculus (0.5 – 1 semester)
Over 95% of Miami Dade College Associate of Arts students won’t see core engineering curriculum for at least three years!
2. Motivation
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[1] NSF Science and Engineering Indicators 2012, http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind12/
2. Motivation
• Undergraduate attrition out of engineering was greater than transfers into this field
• 10% of engineering majors switched to mathematics or physical or computer sciences majors
• The number of engineering bachelor’s degrees earned by underrepresented minorities has remained nearly constant since 1998 (12.4% even though underrepresented minorities account for 27.6 % of the population)
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Presentation Outline
1. Introduction
2. Motivation
3. Theories of Learning
4. Miami Dade College
5. Degree Structure
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
7. Course Structure
8. Benefits
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3. Theories of LearningWhy is it so difficult to recruit and retain engineers?
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• Deep Math Critical Path
– In a typical EE degree, there are four to six math courses before first core EE course
– If a student fails a math course, it completely halts progress
– Issue exacerbated at most community colleges, who disproportionately serve underrepresented groups
3. Theories of Learning
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• Additional Problems with Math Critical Path:
– Projects an inaccurate and often negative view of the engineering discipline/profession
– May reinforce ‘just plug into equation’ mentality
– Reduces student retention of material– By separating the math from the application, students
tend to forget the material
3. Theories of Learning
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• There has been relatively little evolution in basic EE core curriculum.
• The calculus sequence/differential equations prerequisite for first year core engineering courses has been static for decades, and is almost universal.
Does it have to be?
3. Theories of Learning
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Jerome Bruner’s Spiral Learning Theory [3]“one of the most important and influential works on education”
– Readiness for learning - any subject can be taught at any stage of development in a way that fit the person's cognitive abilities
– Spiral curriculum - revisiting basic ideas over and over, building upon them and elaborating to the level of full understanding and mastery
Curricula should be designed to foster such early intuitions and then build on them in increasingly
formal and abstract ways as education progresses.
4. Miami Dade College
• Miami Dade College– Founded as Dade Junior College in 1959– Eight Campuses, Twenty-one Outreach Centers– Largest public higher education institute in the
United States
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4. Miami Dade College
• Miami Dade College– Over 160,000 students
Hispanic: 68% Black: 19%White: 9% Other: 4%
– 51% First generation college student– 52% Work more than 20 hours a week
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4. Miami Dade College
• Miami Dade College– Transitioned to a four year college in 2003– Currently offers ten bachelor degrees
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4. Miami Dade College
• Engineering Department– Traditional Associate of Arts (AA) degrees in engineering– Associate of Science (AS):
– Electronics Engineering Technology (EET)– Computer Engineering Technology (CET)– Industrial Engineering Technology (IET) (New 2017!)
– Bachelor of Science (BS):– Electronics Engineering Technology
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5. Degree Structure
Goals during development of EET BS degree:
1. Provide a pathway for AS in CET/EET to transition to BS in Electronics Engineering Technology (EET)
2. Integrate techniques from Bruner’s Spiral Learning Theory
3. Provide early practical experience, later abstract experience
4. Gradual ramp-up into upper division instead of traditional step-function
5. Rearrange curriculum based on math progression, not the other way around!
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5. Degree Structure
Degree Structure:
• “Just in Time” mathematics approach‒ Bring in math as needed, where applied
• Begin with a practical and applied AS‒ Algebra and trigonometry based
• Transfer into analytical and applied BS‒ Calculus and differential equations based
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BS in EET
AS EET
AS CET
AA(not ideal)
5. Degree Structure
Circuit Analysis
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Digital Design
Electronics
First Semester• Direct Current
Circuits• C for Engineers• (College Algebra)
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
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Circuit Analysis
Digital Design
Electronics
Second Semester• Digital Circuits• Alternating Circuits• (Trigonometry)
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
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Circuit Analysis
Digital Design
Electronics
Third Semester• Advanced Digital• Electronics I• (Pre-Calculus)
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
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Circuit Analysis
Digital Design
Electronics
Fourth Semester• Digital
Communications• Electronics II• Microprocessors
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
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Circuit Analysis
Digital Design
Electronics
Fifth Semester• Analog
Communications• Power Systems• Engineering Economy
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
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Circuit Analysis
Digital Design
Electronics
Sixth Semester• ECE Elective
• (e.g. electronic security)
• (Calculus I)
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
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Circuit Analysis
Digital Design
Electronics
Seventh Semester• Computer
Architecture• Programmable Logic
Controllers• (Calculus II)
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
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Circuit Analysis
Digital Design
Electronics
Eighth Semester• Advanced Systems
Analysis• Applied DSP• (Differential
Equations)
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
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Circuit Analysis
Digital Design
Electronics
Ninth Semester• Linear Integrated
Circuits• Senior Design I• Signals and Systems
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
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Circuit Analysis
Digital Design
Electronics
Tenth Semester• Applied Robotics• Senior Design II• Feedback Control
Systems
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
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Circuit Analysis
Digital Design
Electronics
Graduation!
6. Spiral Course Sequencing
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Circuit Analysis
Digital Design
Electronics
7. Course Structure
• Combined Lecture-Lab– Same professor as the Lecture portion– Twice the time with the student
• Focus on Experiential Learning [4]– 75% of ECE courses are lab based– Labs are designed by our Full-time Faculty
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7. Course Structure
• Active Learning [5]– Lectures are conducted using active learning techniques
• Heavily Project Based– Students are challenged with design projects– Enhanced Discovery Based-Learning – prepare students first
through direct methods, then give students a discovery task [6]
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8. Benefits
We believe this approach provides the following benefits:
1. Longer duration of engineering focused education
2. Repetition of curriculum, at increasing depths
3. More inclusive, with better retention
4. Less time spent reviewing prerequisites
5. Improved performance/retention of math courses
6. Reduced time to meeting goals/milestones
7. Better understanding of both theory and application
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8. Recent GradsOur first 3 years of BS graduates can now be found at:
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Questions?
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References
• [1] NSF Science and Engineering Indicators 2012, http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind12/
• [2] Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
• [3] Bruner, J. (1960). The Process of Education. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
• [4] Itin, C. M. (1999). Reasserting the Philosophy of Experiential Education as a Vehicle for Change in the 21st Century. The Journal of Experiential Education,.22(2), 91-98.
• [5] Prince, M. (2004). Does Active Learning Work? A Review of the Research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223-232.
• [6] Marzano Robert J. (2007) The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction. Alexandria, Va.: ASCD.
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