Engineering Futures Curriculum

The Tau Beta Pi Engineering Futures Program consists of four modules of materials which deal with interpersonal relationships and working with others, either as teams or in other group settings. Each module is broken into sessions; each session runs from 90-120 minutes in length. All of the materials make use of several of the following formats:

• icebreakers for allowing students to get to know each other
• group discussion
• videotaped examples of applications of the skills
• role playing (individually, in pairs, or in groups of 3)
• group exercises
• flip charts and handouts
• contracts (to focus on applying the skills to real-life situations)

• People Skills Module - one-on-one problem solving
  Basic (Sessions 1 & 2) and Advanced (Sessions 3 & 4)

  
  
  
  • PS1 - Describing Problems
    Learn how to describe problems in a direct, specific, and non-punishing manner and start problem solving that gets the problem solved and maintains relationships with others.
    
    
  • PS2 - Motivation Problems
    Learn how to motivate people through the use of consequences, both natural (consequences which happen without effort on their part) and imposed (where someone needs to take an action to make the consequence happen). Also learn how to set up and follow plans once a solution is agreed upon to help ensure that the problem is permanently solved.
    
    
  • PS3 - Ability Problems
    Learn how to help others solve their own ability problems by asking them for ideas and helping them come up with solutions on their own, or with the student's help. Examples show how to do this in a way that encourages the other person, and helps them to solve their own problems more effectively in the future.
    
    
  • PS4 - Emergent Problems
    Learn to identify emergent problems, determine when they can be put aside, how to put them aside, and how to address them when necessary. Also learn how to address problems involving high emotion (anger, stress, etc.) or a high degree of complexity.
    
    

• Team Chartering - working in teams

  
  
  • TC1 - Role of Teams (Session 1)
    Discuss the importance of teams by learning about the changes in tasks and demographics which have made them so important in today's world. Also learn about the advantages of teams and how teams work together through several hands-on exercises.
    
    
  • TC2 - Defining a Team's Own Charter (Session 2)
    Designed for teams such as chapter officers or project groups. Gives team members an opportunity to get to know each other better through an extended icebreaker-type activity, and gives them tools for setting goals and defining plans for the future. Also have time during the session to actually use the tools for goal setting and planning.
    
    

• Group Process - preparing for and running or participating in group meetings

  
  
  • MM - Meeting Management (Session 1)
    Provides information on how to effectively prepare for group meetings. Learn how to decide when meetings are necessary, who to invite to meetings, how to set up a room depending on the purpose and size of the meeting, how to organize and publish an effective agenda, what roles (such as facilitators, time keepers, note takers) people need to take on during the meeting in order to keep it on, and how to successfully perform these roles.
    
    
  • TD - Team Dynamics (Session 2)
    Deals with how to keep a meeting on track once it has started. Learn about a variety of situations (interruptions, changing topics, criticism of other participants, participants unwilling to move on to the next topic) which can force a meeting off track, and the students then learn how to apply the skill of "tipping the baton" to get the meeting back on course.
    
    

• Analytical Problem Solving - processes and tools for solving challenging problems in a team setting

  
  
  • APS1 - The Problem Solving Model/Creativity
    Learn a model for problem solving which involves identifying issues, root causes, solutions, implementation of plans, and evaluation of success. Each step of the process requires two basic activities in order to perform it successfully: generating ideas and evaluating ideas. Learn basic skills for generating ideas via creative thinking, with the help of several rehearsal activities which give them a chance to practice thinking creatively.
    
    
  • APS2 - Advanced Creativity
    Use additional activities and puzzles to learn new ways to think creatively, and to further improve their ability to generate a large list of ideas to work with.
    
    
  • APS3 - List Reduction
    Learn a process for the "other" half of the process: how to take a large list of a variety of ideas, and narrow it down to the one or the few "best" ideas to go forward with. Also learn how to clarify issues, create selection criteria, remove non-controversial ideas, narrow down the list to a "vital few", and use consensus to identify the best solutions.
    
    

• Medley Session - overview of all sessions

  • Designed for chapter officers who will have a role in selecting or publicizing Engineering Futures sessions at their school. Covers highlights from all of the EF materials, and shows participants examples of the variety of formats that are used to teach the material. The purpose of the session is to give participants enough of an understanding of the EF curriculum to be able to explain it to others, and to help them select sessions that would be most appropriate for their fellow students.