Developing Engineering
Education Publications through
Teaching and Service Activities
Kevin Dahm, Rowan University
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Evolution of a Journal Publication
Grant
Proposal
Project
Publish
Results
Two challenge-based
laboratories for introducing
undergraduate students to
biomaterials
Jennifer Vernengo and Kevin Dahm, 2012
Education for Chemical Engineers
Elements of Paper
 Introduction/Lit Review on the importance of
biomaterials
 Background/Lit Review on the pedagogical
rationale for using laboratory-based projects
 Project descriptions
Scenarios
Materials
Procedures
Grading
 Assessments
Pre/Post quizzes
Mapping of quiz questions to ABET outcomes
Final Exam questions, control vs. experimental
Jennifer Vernengo
 Joined Rowan in Fall 2009
 Technical expertise in Biomaterials
 Two initial teaching assignments:
Freshman Engineering Clinic- project-based
interdisciplinary introduction to engineering
Senior/Graduate elective course in own area of
specialization
Biomaterials Laboratories
 Freshman Engineering Clinic:
Students make bioactive ceramics and measure
their toughness
 Introduction to Biomedical Materials:
Literature review project incorporated into first
offering
Open-ended laboratory project on hydrogels
developed for subsequent offerings
Elements of Paper
 Introduction/Lit Review on the importance of
biomaterials
 Background/Lit Review on the pedagogical
rationale for using laboratory-based projects
 Project descriptions
Scenarios
Materials
Procedures
Grading
 Assessments
Pre/Post quizzes
Mapping of quiz questions to ABET outcomes
Final Exam questions, control vs. experimental
Elements of Paper
 Introduction/Lit Review on the importance of
biomaterials
 Background/Lit Review on the pedagogical
rationale for using laboratory-based projects
 Project descriptions
Scenarios
Materials
Procedures
Grading
 Assessments
Pre/Post quizzes
Mapping of quiz questions to ABET outcomes
Final Exam questions, control vs. experimental
Elements of Paper
 Introduction/Lit Review on the importance of
biomaterials
 Background/Lit Review on the pedagogical
rationale for using laboratory-based projects
 Project descriptions
Scenarios
Materials
Procedures
Grading
 Assessments
Pre/Post quizzes
Mapping of quiz questions to ABET outcomes
Final Exam questions, control vs. experimental
Final Exams as Assessment
Instrument
 Two cohorts
Lit review project on hydrogels
Lab project on hydrogels
 Two common final exam problems
One on hydrogels
One control question
 Solutions from both cohorts given to Kevin with no
identifying information except a number.
 Kevin evaluates solutions without knowing which
cohort each individual is in
Rubric for Evaluation of Final
Exam Solutions
4
3
2
1
Shows clear
understanding by
mentioning two or
more variables
specific those
discussed for PVA
hydrogels, such as
polymer
concentration,
number and
duration of freeze
thaw cycles,
molecular weight,
etc
Student was
able to
identify only
one variable
specific to
PVA
Student did not
mention any
variables
Student
specific to
displayed no
PVA, but
knowledge of
mentioned
hydrogels and
general ways how to design
of varying
them
polymer
properties
Student understands
general concepts on
Student identified
mechanics of
properties of
elastomeric
elastomeric
materials, especially
materials (flexibility
those natural
and extensibility)
elastomers found in
the body
Leaves out
some minor
aspects of
elastomeric
tissue
mechanics
Has difficulty in
discerning
Has displayed
between
no knowledge
elastomers
in this area
and other
materials
Student identified
process involved in
making polyvinyl
alcohol (PVA)
hydrogels and was
able to apply to new
scenario, cardiac
tissue engineering
Assessment Results
Cohort
# students
Lit Review
Laboratory
17
18
Avg. Rating
HYDROGEL
3.17
3.70
Avg. Rating
CONTROL
3.63
3.54
Competition between student
groups in the protein
production challenge
 Brian Lefebvre, Loren Connell and Kevin Dahm,
2009
 Elective in Bioprocess Engineering created by new
faculty member
 2005 course involved a literature review project
 2006/2007 offerings incorporated the “Protein
Production Challenge”
Baseball Stadium Design: Teaching
Engineering Economics and
Technical Communication in a MultiDisciplinary Setting
K. Dahm and J. Newell, 2001
Sophomore Engineering Clinic: teamtaught interdisciplinary course on
technical communication and
engineering design
Implementing and Assessing the
Converging-Diverging Model of
Design in a Sequence of Sophomore
Projects
 Course had an existing design project on design,
construction and testing of cranes
 Faculty team implemented a new course
organization that included a recently published
model for the design process
 Used student performance on the design project
as an assessment instrument
Grading Rubrics for Design
Reports
Indicator
Prepares a
technical report
with content
appropriate to
audience
Presents
summarized
results based on
analysis of
measurements
Score
4
Considers audience
fully. Report is
exactly geared to
correct audience
3
Considers audience
well, but may have a
few moments of
inappropriate level
Provides clear,
complete, correct,
and concise
analysis. Does not
present
uninterpreted data
Results are well
summarized. Little
or no uninterpreted
data. Major points
are covered. A few
minor errors may
occur.
Describes in
Procedures are clear
appropriate detail
and succinct.
the experimental
procedures used
Uses appropriate
methods to
estimate and
interpret error
Present correct and
detailed error
analysis and
explains its
relevance
2
Tries to consider
audience but may
over- or
underestimate
technical level
Some interpretation
and summary is
made, but significant
data is missing or left
uninterpreted.
1
Gives little or no
regard to the
audience
Procedure is clear,
but perhaps a bit
short or wordy
Procedure is
complete but
difficulty to follow.
Inappropriate detail
level is presented
Procedure is
incorrect or
incomplete
Presents correct
error analysis but
does not fully
elaborate on its
importance
Attempts to address
errors but is lacking
in procedure or
consistency
Makes little or
no effort to
address
experimental
error
Students
present data
incorrectly with
little or no
interpretation.
Technical Merit of Crane Design
“Performance” is an objective measure of how “good” the student
design
“Performance” of 2005 cranes was significantly better than that of
2004 cranes, according to the 2004 “Performance Equation”.
ABET Accreditation Criteria
EC2000 contained new outcomes-based
criteria
Programs tasked with
Establishing objectives and outcomes
Providing evidence that these were
attained
Emphasis on continuous assessment and
continuous improvement
Publications on Assessment
 K. Dahm, “Combining the Tasks of Grading
Individual Assignments and Assessing
Program Outcomes in Project-Based Courses,”
Journal of SMET Education, 15, 1 (2014).
 J. A. Newell, H. L. Newell, K. D. Dahm, "Rubric
Development for Assessment of Undergraduate
Research: Evaluating Multidisciplinary Team
Projects," Chemical Engineering Education, 37,
3 (2003).
 J. A. Newell, H. Newell, and K. D. Dahm,
“Rubric Development and Inter-Rater Reliability
Issues in Assessing Learning Outcomes,”
Chemical Engineering Education, 36, 3 (2002).
Summary
Publications on educational innovations
can often be produced with modest time
investment beyond the work you would
have done anyway.
Assessment needed for publication can
often be integrated with the task of grading,
if you have rubrics or other instruments
designed to enhance the specificity and
objectivity of grading.