Validation of a Measure of Design Problem Framing Ability

• In Event: 63.021 - Computational and Engineering Abilities in Higher Education and Adult Learners

Abstract

While skills like design problem framing are critical in the professional formation of engineers, assessing student progress remains challenging, because of a lack of validated measures of problem framing ability. We report on the development, implementation, and validation of such an assessment—the design skills test (DST). We detail the use of the instrument in a chemical engineering department at a Hispanic-serving research university in the southwestern US. Students completed the DST as a pre/post measure to track progress on design problem framing before and during a major curricular change effort to thread design throughout the curricula. We discuss validity and reliability, adapting metrics from qualitative research, and discuss the feasibility of using the instrument in other settings.

Authors

• Lindsey White, The University of New Mexico

• Todd Hynson, The University of New Mexico

• Vanessa Svihla, University of New Mexico