Impact of Needs Finding and Design in Undergraduate Engineering Curricula: Evidence for Enhanced Self-Efficacy of Female Engineering Students

• In Event: AERA Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual Poster Session: SIG-Motivation in Education Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

We examined impacts of addition of needs finding and design to six courses in the early years of bioengineering and chemical engineering bachelor’s programs. Effects on three theoretical motivators, engineering value, self-efficacy and identity, were measured using our validated survey-based scales. The scale for the female students’ self-efficacy increased significantly (p=0.029). These results are the first that indicate our curricular changes impact the self-efficacy of the female students. We suggest that motivation and potentially also success of female engineering students might be increased by offering courses that contain needs finding and design in the program before the students have reached their senior year. The results may be important for efforts to increase the diversity of the engineering workforce.

Authors

• Stephen Knisley, North Carolina A&T State University
  Presenting Author

• Tobin Walton
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jared Webb, North Carolina A&T State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Simrit S M Arakkal, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Arvind Chandrasekaran, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
  Non-Presenting Author