Teaching Project Development Methodology To Engineering Technology Students

Lucian P. Fabiano
New Jersey Institute of Technology

Abstract:

Today's competitive need to develop high quality products has redefined the development role of engineering technologists. Today, Engineers and engineering technologist assume much broader responsibilities. Responsibility for achieving specific technical performance requirements is now coupled with achieving requirements for project management, concurrent engineering, interdisciplinary problem solving, and teamwork. In Effect, a technologist assumes two development roles; project designer and project manager. As a project designer a technologist is responsible for completing assigned design tasks. As a project manager, the technologist is responsible for defining a comprehensive and integrated plan that reflects overall development requirements.
The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Engineering Technology (ET) department has implemented a senior project course which is responsive to the changing role of engineering technologists. Specifically, the senior project course for NJIT's Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) program emphasizes two aspects of project development: 1. project design and 2. the development process associated with design and implementation. Although achieving a working model of a project is considered of prime importance, equal importance is given to the development process used to design and implement a project. Projects serve as a means (i.e. vehicle) for developing student technical skills as well those skills associated with project management, concurrent engineering, interdisciplinary problem solving, teamwork, and communications. Instruction and training in these skill areas is an essential element of the EET senior project course described in this paper.

mort@etp.com
Wed Oct 4 09:50:41 PDT 1995