Increases in attrition rates among science, mathematics, and engineering (SME) majors have produced a variety of deleterious effects for society. This paper attempts to clarify and interpret the interaction of those characteristics of the structure and culture of undergraduate SME programs that perpetuate high loss rates among their first-year…

The National Institute for Science Education (NISE) is an organization in which scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds work collaboratively to address the important issues in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology (SMET) education. This document reports on NISE Fellows' experiences based on these questions: (1) How did you…

Recently, when employers of entry-level engineers were asked to prioritize the need for further instruction, over 60% of these employers identified communication skills as the primary curricular element needing increased emphasis. Two of the top 10 required skills ranked as important to engineering practice related to making oral presentations.…

This report examines the matrix of support patterns of science and engineering doctorates in 1995, showing the distribution of various modes of support to individuals. The data provided in this report are intended to be a source of contextual and background information for those interested in examining the various types of graduate support modes…

This is a companion study to "Shaping the Future: New Expectations for Undergraduate Education in Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology (SMET)" (NSF 96-139). Both the original report and Volume 2 focus on a collaborative approach to developing and implementing strategies to improve undergraduate SMET education. The reports, compiled…

A 1982 British study examined the furniture needs of 16-19 year-old students. This report presented the findings on the technical and performance requirements in terms of durability and ergonomics. This report examines the furniture requirements in teaching spaces, social, refreshment and private study areas, storage requirements for pupils'…

This report is part of an annual national survey that examines salaries of full-time teaching faculty in 54 selected academic disciplines. Data for the study were collected from a total of 296 public and 390 private four-year institutions from the baseline year of 1996-97 to the trend year of 1999-2000. This portion of the study covers salary data…

Modern means that can be used in the framework of teaching substantially extend the possibilities of schoolmasters, but they also complicate the pedagogical process. Can we make really effective use of them? Have we, at their application, really greater pedagogical effect? How do we include the possibilities of audiovisual techniques into the…

Engineering is the application of scientific and engineering principles to site-specific, real-world problems. However, engineering education tends to focus on abstract, decontextualized, generalizable knowledge and learning tasks. Research was done to find out the results of adding out-of-class, real-world courses to the conventional engineering…

"Introduction to Aerospace and Design" is a 3-hour per week freshman elective course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that culminates in a Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) vehicle design competition, exposing freshmen to the excitement of aerospace engineering design typically taught in the junior or senior years. In addition to the…

Interest in technical education of the higher order has been greatly increased by the European war, and as a consequence numerous inquiries have been received at the Bureau of Education with regard to the higher technical schools of foreign countries. These inquiries relate in the main to the organization and conduct of the foreign schools, their…

Discusses the design principles and operations of a new program with emphases upon integrated curriculum planning, individually paced instruction, and mastery learning. Indicates that students succeed better both in pre-professional courses and in follow-up engineering courses than do those in conventional courses. (CC)

Discusses the purpose and curriculum of interdisciplinary engineering management programs conducted at the University of Missouri-Rolla. Indicates that the development of a proper balance of engineering, science, and management is proved satisfactory by student acceptance, graduate placement, and feedback from both graduates and employers. (CC)

Discusses the conduct of a master degree industrial management program at the Polytechnic Institute of New York for students with undergraduate training in engineering and science. Indicates that the program is characterized by unique options developed on the basis of students' strengths and proved satisfactory in fostering actual upward mobility.…

Discusses the graduate engineering management program of Drexel University, including student characteristics, program objectives, academic requirements, and course options. Indicates that the program serves the demand for management talent by providing students with skills different from those of conventional programs. (CC)