DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AN INTEGRATED,PROBLEM-BASED ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM IN AN AMERICAN TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

The South Carolina Advanced Technological (SC ATE) Center of Excellence is establishing a model for postsecondary reform of mathematics, science, engineering technology, and communications education through its mission of increasing the quantity, quality, and diversity of engineering technology graduates from two-year technical colleges. An integrated, problem-based curriculum, collaborative teaching strategies, and extensive active learning techniques - together with faculty and student teams - form the cornerstone of the SC ATE approach. Two major instructional components have been developed: Technology Gateway, also known as pre-engineering technology, and the first-year engineering technology core (ET Core). Just-in-time delivery of mathematics concepts and other subject matter is an important component of the integrated curriculum. The SC ATE approach to technician education is greatly improving student retention in challenging engineering technology programs. Student confidence in mathematical ability is increasing, along with student capabilities in working in teams in an integrated curriculum setting. SC ATE is partially funded by the National Science Foundation and the South Carolina State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education.