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A Case Study in Motivating Students and Fulfilling ABET Criterion 3 through Materials Science

How does one meet ABET criteria and motivate students to learn well while maintaining our regional university’s policy of essentially open enrollment? A case study of a materials science course, MEEN 3344, at Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK), is presented. Techniques were developed to increase students’ interest in materials science, motivate them to study harder, increase their passing rate on the FE Exam and increase their earned grade point average. In the process of preparing for a successful ABET reaccredidation visit in the fall of 2003, it was found that these techniques were also useful in fulfilling ABET Criterions that dealt with science, engineering and math knowledge, communication, life-long learning, and contemporary engineering issues (Criterion 3: a, g, i, and j). Students from several engineering majors may take the rigorous course, so fundamental concepts and materials selection are emphasized, rather than focusing exclusively on one area, such as metallurgy. If students meet a set of performance criteria, they are allowed to waive the final exam. Knowledge assessment and retention are maintained through other exams, quizzes, and assignments. Students are assigned an essay and must make a “Show & Tell” presentation on new, contemporary, or personal materials of interest. Each chapter’s lecture includes discussion on current materials, material selection and design examples from the author. Review questions similar to those on the FE Exam are discussed and incorporated into exams. Student presentations, lecture notes, a syllabus and schedule, exam reviews, sample exams, and links of interest are maintained on a course web page. Student surveys, a completely successful ABET reaccredidation, an increase in TAMUK’s FE pass rate from 69% in 1999 to 96% by 2004, and extremely low drop/failure rates in the Materials Science course are indicators of the success of the techniques.