Work in Progress: Using e-Portfolio to Define, Teach, and Assess ABET Professional Skills

While most engineering programs are confident developing specific criteria and assessment tools for the technical skills described in ABET Criterion 3a-k, the question of how to define, teach and assess the professional outcomes (teamwork, professional and ethical responsibility, communication, impact of engineering solutions, life-long learning, and contemporary issues) remains much more challenging. This paper will describe expectations that connect student work to professional skills, broken down by level and organized into ePortfolio assessment matrices. The authors drew on two well-known learning paradigms: Bloom´s taxonomy and Baxter Magolda´s schema of Intellectual Development. Changes resulting from consulting with an external assessor are discussed. Finally, the paper will conclude with a series of problems and answers in using this digital tool to meet the divergent goals of students, faculty, and program administrators