The Mechanical Engineering Technology program at Purdue University at Columbus/SE Indiana hosted ABET evaluators for the first time in the fall of 2005. Both the program objectives and outcomes of the MET program contain elements of ethical behavior and lifelong learning. These elements are simply reflective of the importance put on ethics and lifelong learning by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology programs in the TC2K criteria. This work will describe the use of test cases and specific exercises that are incorporated in classes during the first semester and final semester of the two-year Associate of Science program. In-class surveys of students are also used to examine the ethical and professional behavior of students. The test cases are presented in multiple parts with students required to finish their answers to the questions from the first part before they get to see the second part. The same procedure is followed for the remaining parts of the test case. Each part of the test case also includes comments from a panel of experienced engineers who lend their expertise to the situation. These comments are shared with the students. For lifelong learning, the students are presented with a short lecture on the value of lifelong learning that includes relevant data and facts related to lifelong learning. After this, an assignment is given that asks the students to learn about how to design a container for nuclear waste storage and ship it to the proper waste disposal location. Other assignments are mentioned and can be used in a similar manner.

Volume Subject Area:
Mechanical Engineering Technology Department Heads
Topics:
Ethics, Mechanical engineering, Students, Accreditation, Containers, Design, Engineers, Finishes, Performance, Radioactive wastes, Ships, Storage, Waste disposal
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