The number of students under age 21 who entered college science or engineering courses rose markedly between 1963 and 1990, concurrent with general expansion in higher education. Female enrollments grew rapidly in science but remained very low in engineering. Rates of participation in both fields remained higher among better qualified students.…

Problem-solving models in memories of 11 good and 12 poor novice first-year university students were studied. The students reconstructed physics problems seen briefly, relying on models in memory. Both good and poor students had models of problem situations at their disposal, but good students performed better than poor students. (SLD)

Discusses information science needs in China and describes a specialized information program at Jilin University of Technology that was developed to prepare students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels to work at special libraries or information centers for management and engineering professionals. Courses are described, and degree and…

Compares teaching of engineers with teaching of policy analysts. Emphasizes similarities. Presents briefing format to be used in teaching students basics of policy analysis. Includes briefing instructions, selecting an issue, writing a proposal and briefing paper, and preparing the oral briefing. Suggests methods of evaluating students' efforts,…

Discusses possible risks to workers using visual display terminals (VDTs), standards relating to VDTs, the provisions of the European Community Directive concerning minimum health and safety standards, how the standards are being interpreted in the United Kingdom, and implications for libraries. A workplace assessment questionnaire is appended.…

Presents the 1990 American Society for Engineering Education award lecture for the Chemical Engineering Division. Following a brief outline of what the computing world includes, the lecture traces computing technology from the early years to milestones, as well as current trends, in both hardware and software development. Highlights the…

The New Jersey Institute of Technology's experience with encouraging Black participation in engineering and science illustrates the value of four precepts: (1) academic preparation begins early; (2) a comprehensive, multifaceted approach is essential; (3) lots of money is needed; and (4) universities must be ready to experiment and keep learning.…

Students in the classroom, the faculty who teach courses for which a specific course is a prerequisite, and the employers of graduates present their ideas on the topic of what is good instruction. The top 10 characteristics of good instruction according to students and faculty are provided. (KR)

A course curriculum model that shows how modern engineering design graphics can be used to conceptualize, develop, analyze, and communicate engineering designs is presented. Background studies, early investigations, and a weekly curriculum outline of the course are provided. (KR)

Salaries and demand for scientists and engineers are described. Comparisons of chemists and other scientists are provided. Resources for career planning in science and engineering are listed. (CW)

Explores areas to consider when planning and designing libraries/media centers. Examines wiring capabilities to meet future needs, ergonomics and furniture durability for workstations, and color and lighting schemes to enhance the indoor environment. (GR)

Explores reasons why some capable women enter engineering fields while others do not. Identifies highly significant variables associated with correct post-hoc classification of young engineering majors as opposed to humanities majors. Contains 17 references. (DDR)

Explores the ergonomic needs of students within the classroom and the mistakes schools commonly make regarding classroom furniture. Several considerations are discussed for improving desk and chair design, particularly involving computer desks, and the proper use and placement of lighting. (GR)

Presents a model of the admissions process for a bachelor's degree engineering program at Brown University. The study used key nonfinancial-aid related criteria to develop student profiles and then correlated admissions decisions with applicant profiles to test admissions officer bias. Results indicated that admissions officer bias plays a strong…

Attempts to collate various approaches that have been made around the world to first-year issues in engineering education. Reviews the literature and discusses the results of a survey. Contains 54 references. (DDR)