Introducing Writing Assignments in Engineering Technology Courses to Enhance Technical Writing Skills and Critical Thinking

Authors

Otilia Popescu, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Vukica M. Jovanovic, Old Dominion UniversityFollow

Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2016

DOI

10.18260/p.25462

Publication Title

2016 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings

Pages

1-12

Conference Name

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 26, 2016

Abstract

This study was prompted by the university wide initiative to improve students' technical writing skills across-the-curriculum by introducing low stakes writing assignments as early as in their freshman year. Effective written communication skills are important for engineering education, with critical thinking being one of the most important aspects of the learning process at the college level. However, the efforts in required core curriculum English and communication courses are not always further integrated into engineering curriculum. Introducing a technical paper writing assignment in lower division engineering courses had the purpose of helping students to be better prepared for major writing assignments in their upper division courses as well as for their capstone project. For this study a writing assignment was introduced in an Electrical Circuits course, for electrical engineering technology students at Old Dominion University in fall 2015. At the end of the semester a survey was distributed to the students to evaluate their opinion on the effectiveness of introducing a writing assignment early in their college education. The research also evaluates the students' opinion on how such assignment can help them better understand the concepts studied in class, improve their studying methodology and enhance their critical thinking.

Comments

© 2017 American Society for Engineering Education, ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 26-August 28, 2016.

Original Publication Citation

Popescu, O., & Jovanovic, V. M. (2016). Introducing writing assignments in engineering technology courses to enhance technical writing skills and critical thinking. Paper presented at the 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, LA.

ORCID

0000-0002-8626-903X (Jovanovic)

Repository Citation

Popescu, Otilia and Jovanovic, Vukica M., "Introducing Writing Assignments in Engineering Technology Courses to Enhance Technical Writing Skills and Critical Thinking" (2016). Engineering Technology Faculty Publications. 71.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/engtech_fac_pubs/71