THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYED INDUSTRY STUDENTS

摘要

The Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT), Portland Center, has been offering Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MfgET) and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) undergraduate programs for students around the greater Portland Metropolitan area for the past ten (10) years. A Master's degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MMfgET) is also offered. These programs are extensions of programs offered at OIT main Campus in Klamath Falls. Portland Campus programs are designed specifically to cater to students employed full-time in industry. This paper discusses engineering technology programs and their direct application in training local company fulltime employees to become engineers and managers. Most of these employees have associate degrees and years of experience in their respective companies. A discussion of engineering-related, hands-on work experience and understanding of engineering principles and their applications presented. The effectiveness of special instruction techniques, custom-developed for students with limited time availability, while maintaining ABET accreditations is also discussed. Discussion-oriented learning and teaching models and the impact of adding dimensions to these instructional models, with the industry-experienced students in mind, is emphasized. Case studies are presented to show improvement in student engagement, curiosity, and application of new knowledge to actual day-to-day, work-environment problems. Advantages and disadvantages of night school are discussed.