Session D-T3-3 INTRODUCING CREATIVITY AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION INTO ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY COURSES

Abstract

An extra credit assignment is offered to students in Civil and Construction Engineering Technology classes at IPFW (Indiana University Purdue University Ft. Wayne). The intent of this assignment is to motivate students to engage in the subject matter. Students are asked to develop a creative or artistic expression (CAEX) of the subject matter. The instructor models examples of these creative and artistic expressions before selected classes over the semester. In doing this, the instructor does things such as playing songs, showing photographs, making a collage, or writing other lyrics to a song. Students submit a typed document that explains how the CAEX relates to the subject matter to complete the extra credit assignment. The idea for this assignment developed from the author’s involvement in the ExCEEd program. ExCEEd is the teaching workshop sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The motivation for the assignment was bolstered by student evaluations of the author that indicated the author “needed to lighten up ” in class. In general, students enjoy this lighter side of class and many comment that the images allow them to connect the subject matter with the real world and the songs help make an impression of the subject matter. The response from students completing the extra credit assignment is substantially less enthusiastic than anticipated. Few students have actually taken the opportunity to earn this extra credit by engaging in the simplest artistic or creative endeavours. There seems to be little correlation between the efforts done to model actions for the students and students participating in the assignment. Making the assignment formal just like any other assignment and not “extra credit ” is being considered. The project, and the resulting paper, is a work in progress