Integrated STEM-Based Projects to Inspire K-12 Students to Pursue Undergraduate Degree Programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Qing Zheng; Ramakrishnan Sundaram

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Conference: 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Vancouver, BC
Publication Date: June 26, 2011
Start Date: June 26, 2011
End Date: June 29, 2011
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Recruitment, Retention, and First-Year Programs in ECE
Tagged Division: Electrical and Computer
Page Count: 8
Page Numbers: 22.895.1 - 22.895.8
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--18204
Permanent URL: https://strategy.asee.org/18204
Download Count: 438

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Paper Authors

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Qing Zheng Gannon University

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Qing Zheng received the M.Eng. degree from the National University of Singapore in 2003 and the Ph.D. degree from the Cleveland State University in 2009, both in electrical engineering. She is currently an assistant professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Gannon University. Her research interests include modeling, estimation, control and optimization for complex systems, such as chemical processes, MEMS, hysteretic systems, biological systems, power systems, etc. Dr. Zheng is an IEEE senior member and an Associate Editor for American Control Conference.

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Ramakrishnan Sundaram Gannon University

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Dr. Sundaram is an Associate Professor in the ECE Department at Gannon University, Erie, PA. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and has been involved in computational algorithms for ESP applications.

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Abstract

INTEGRATED STEM-BASED PROJECTS TO INSPIRE K-12 STUDENTS TO PURSUE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERINGAbstractThis paper discusses how integrated electrical and computer engineering (ECE) projectswith science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) components can inspirethe K-12 students to pursue the undergraduate degree programs in ECE. These projectsare presented through Engineering day events hosted at the undergraduate baccalaureatedegree institution by the ECE department with ABET accreditation. In the fall of 2009,the ECE department at Gannon University, Erie, PA organized the Engineering Dayevent. The ECE project activity was based on the breadboard design of the traffic signalcontrol circuit. The students were given step-by-step instructions to (1) complete thedesign of the circuit, and (2) test the operation of the circuit. Due to the unreliable natureof breadboard-based systems and the students limited skills with wiring, the concepts ofintegrated product design and the relationship between scientific theory and engineeringdesign principles and practice were not delivered as effectively as had been envisioned.In order to overcome this shortcoming and to demonstrate the integrated project designand development process to the K-12 students, a printed circuit board (PCB) wasdesigned for the traffic signal control circuit. In the fall of 2010, the ECE departmenthosted the Engineering Day in their Systems Integration laboratory in which 30 highschool students engaged in the hour-long session to assemble and test the PCB-basedcircuit. This project activity has demonstrated that (a) the K-12 student is more activelyengaged in the integrated project, (b) gains the system level appreciation of the designproblem, and (c) has the confidence to complete the project. The ECE department plansto host Engineering day events with STEM-based integrated project activities in ECE to(a) encourage K-12 students to consider careers in ECE, (b) strengthen the undergraduateenrollment in ECE, and (c) link the undergraduate ECE program with the K-12 STEMcurriculum.

Citation
Format

Zheng, Q., & Sundaram, R. (2011, June), Integrated STEM-Based Projects to Inspire K-12 Students to Pursue Undergraduate Degree Programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--18204

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -      INTEGRATED STEM-BASED PROJECTS TO INSPIRE K-12        STUDENTS TO PURSUE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERINGAbstractThis paper discusses how integrated electrical and computer engineering (ECE) projectswith science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) components can inspirethe K-12 students to pursue the undergraduate degree programs in ECE. These projectsare presented through Engineering day events hosted at the undergraduate baccalaureatedegree institution by the ECE department with ABET accreditation. In the fall of 2009,the ECE department at Gannon University, Erie, PA organized the Engineering Dayevent. The ECE project activity was based on the breadboard design of the traffic signalcontrol circuit. The students were given step-by-step instructions to (1) complete thedesign of the circuit, and (2) test the operation of the circuit. Due to the unreliable natureof breadboard-based systems and the students limited skills with wiring, the concepts ofintegrated product design and the relationship between scientific theory and engineeringdesign principles and practice were not delivered as effectively as had been envisioned.In order to overcome this shortcoming and to demonstrate the integrated project designand development process to the K-12 students, a printed circuit board (PCB) wasdesigned for the traffic signal control circuit. In the fall of 2010, the ECE departmenthosted the Engineering Day in their Systems Integration laboratory in which 30 highschool students engaged in the hour-long session to assemble and test the PCB-basedcircuit. This project activity has demonstrated that (a) the K-12 student is more activelyengaged in the integrated project, (b) gains the system level appreciation of the designproblem, and (c) has the confidence to complete the project. The ECE department plansto host Engineering day events with STEM-based integrated project activities in ECE to(a) encourage K-12 students to consider careers in ECE, (b) strengthen the undergraduateenrollment in ECE, and (c) link the undergraduate ECE program with the K-12 STEMcurriculum.
AU  - Qing Zheng
AU  - Ramakrishnan Sundaram
CY  - Vancouver, BC
DA  - 2011/06/26
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Integrated STEM-Based Projects to Inspire K-12 Students to Pursue Undergraduate Degree Programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering
UR  - https://strategy.asee.org/18204
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--18204
ER  -