American Society for Engineering Education facts for kids
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| Founded | 1893 |
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| Type | Professional organization |
| Focus | Engineering education |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
| Method | Conferences, publications |
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Key people
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Stephanie Adams, President |
The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) is a group that helps make engineering education better. It's a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't try to make money. ASEE was started way back in 1893.
Their main goal is to improve how we teach and learn about engineering and technology. This includes everything from teaching methods to research and helping the public understand engineering. ASEE also runs an honor society for engineering technology students called Tau Alpha Pi.
Contents
A Look Back: ASEE's History
ASEE started as the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education (SPEE) in 1893. This was a time when many new colleges were opening in America.
New Schools for Practical Skills
In 1862, a law called the Morrill Land-Grant Act helped states create public colleges. These schools focused on teaching practical skills, especially in farming and mechanical arts. More people started getting advanced training in these fields.
However, some professors noticed that students often lacked a strong understanding of the science and engineering behind these practical skills.
Focusing on Science and Math
After a while, engineering professors wondered if they should teach more about the basic science and math principles. They decided that engineering classes should focus on these important ideas. Hands-on training was still good, but understanding the why was key.
To support this new way of teaching, SPEE was formed during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. This event, called the World's Columbian Exposition, showed off amazing new inventions like electricity. It really highlighted the power of science and engineering. SPEE members wanted to make engineering education better in classrooms everywhere.
Over the years, the society has published important reports. These reports helped shape how engineering is taught in colleges.
From SPEE to ASEE
During World War II, the government started to focus more on scientific research. Because of this, SPEE created a new group called the Engineering College Research Association (ECRA). This group focused on research in engineering colleges.
After the war, SPEE and ECRA decided to join forces. In 1946, they combined to form the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
For many years, ASEE was run by volunteers. But in 1961, ASEE opened an office in Washington, DC. This helped them become more active in promoting engineering education.
Supporting Teaching and Diversity
In the 1960s and 1970s, ASEE leaders worked to bring the group's focus back to teaching. As a result, ASEE started to manage special programs with the government. For example, they helped with summer programs for college professors at NASA and fellowships for students. Until 2019, ASEE helped manage the important National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
ASEE also started programs to encourage more minorities and women to study engineering. They helped improve engineering programs at colleges that traditionally served Black students. They also worked to understand why fewer women and Native Americans were entering engineering. ASEE continues to study these topics and create programs to make engineering open to everyone.
Recognizing Excellence: ASEE Awards
Each year, ASEE celebrates amazing engineering and engineering technology teachers. These awards recognize people who are dedicated to their profession. They also honor those who help ASEE's mission and are active in their communities. ASEE award winners show what's best about engineering education.
Sharing Ideas: Conferences
ASEE and its members hold many conferences, meetings, and workshops. The biggest one is the ASEE Annual Conference. These events are places where people can share new ideas about teaching engineering. They also have meetings for different groups of members and training for K-12 teachers.
Helping Students and Researchers: Fellowships
ASEE manages many fellowship and research opportunities. These programs get money from government groups like the Department of Defense (DOD), NASA, and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
These programs offer different chances for students and teachers. For example, high school students can get summer internships. College professors can do research during the summer or while on sabbatical. There are also programs for undergraduate and graduate students, and for people who have just earned their PhDs. ASEE helps with everything from finding applicants to giving out money for these programs.
See also
- Ira Osborn Baker
