Measuring Student and Faculty Engagement in Engineering Education

Supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (Grant No. DUE-0404802) this project included three main goals: 1) synthesizing a combined set of student learning outcomes for undergraduate engineering students; 2) drawing upon the literature to create a pilot database on the current education research linking desired student learning outcomes to specific educational best practices; and 3) adapting the NSSE, FSSE, and EC2000 Study instruments into a comprehensively integrated and synthesized set of pilot instruments, vetted with a cross-section of the engineering education community to assess the current state of the instructional practices and student learning outcomes. CASEE staff reviewed hundreds of conference proceedings, journal articles, manuscripts, etc. to complete goals 1 and 2. We then adapted the NSSE, FSSE, and EC2000 survey instruments, and using up-to-date and relevant literature on engineering and higher education, developed a number of survey items for a faculty and student questionnaires. CASEE staff conducted 10 focus groups at a total of five engineering colleges to ensure the items’ readability and face validity. With feedback from the focus group participants, we refined the items and instruments, which are presented in Appendices A and B.

NOTE: The draft instruments in this report use or adapt the following items from the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement:
FSSE 13b, 13e, 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e, 18f, 18g, 18h, 18j and the following items
from the National Survey of Student Engagement:
NSSE 1a, 5a, 5b, and 9a
These items are copyrighted by the National Survey of Student Engagement and must be licensed from them before they can be used.