Assessing Technical Communication within Engineering Contexts Tutorial

Author

Davis, Marjorie T.

Author_Institution

Technical Communication Department, Mercer University, Macon,

Volume

53

Issue

1

fYear

2010

fDate

3/1/2010 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

33

Lastpage

45

Abstract

A major challenge in engineering education is to prepare professionals for communicating well in writing and speaking, using appropriate technologies, within professional contexts. Communication in the global engineering world includes collaboration on cross-functional teams, virtual-project team management, and writing for multiple, complex audiences. This tutorial discusses how one small engineering school has integrated technical communication teaching and assessment throughout the curriculum with demonstrated success. The integrated curriculum, formative and summative assessments, and real-world contexts offer one model to address growing communication challenges.

Keywords

Appropriate technology; Collaborative work; Context; Design engineering; Engineering education; Engineering management; Power engineering and energy; Professional communication; Tutorial; Writing; Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); assessment; engineering communication; learning outcomes; team projects; technical communication;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Professional Communication, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0361-1434

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPC.2009.2038736

Filename

5419151