Examining Engineering Migratory Students’ Funds of Knowledge: Uncovering Interpersonal Skills Needed in Engineering

• In Event: Equity, Inclusion, and Ethics in Engineering and Computing Education

Abstract

Interpersonal skills are essential to engineers’ work as they regularly manage large projects, engage with people, collaborate in teams, and offer vital services to society. This study explores how twelve undergraduate students from migratory/seasonal farmworker (MSFW) backgrounds use their funds of knowledge in the form of interpersonal skills in engineering. An hour-long semi-structured interview protocol was designed and used to understand the funds of knowledge participants brought into their respective engineering classrooms. Using thematic analysis, we found that MSFW students accumulated multiple interpersonal skills, such as teamwork, organizational skills, empathetic practices, work ethic, and communication. This work adds to the existing literature on funds of knowledge and puts MSFW students and their unique assets in engineering at the forefront.

Authors

• Ulises Juan Trujillo Garcia, Arizona State University - Polytechnic

• Dina Verdin, Arizona State University