Fostering Passion Among First Year Engineering Students

Abstract

Engineering is a complex field of study.  Declining enrollment in engineering programs in the United States is of concern and understanding the various factors that contribute to this decline is in order.   Fostering a higher level of student engagement with the content may foster passion towards engineering which could increase academic competency as well as sustained interest in remaining in the profession.  This study examined the role of passion toward engineering content on students’ overall academic performance in an introductory course taught to university and high school students.  A pre-test, post-test, weekly surveys and periodic classroom observation measured levels of passion in the student, classmates, and professor. Mid-semester feedback prompted the professor to adjust his teaching for the purpose of infusing greater student passion towards the content. Results suggest that student passion in both settings fluctuated widely from week to week perhaps due to variable interest in the specific topic.  Overall, high school students’ level of passion remained more stable than that of university students and they performed better academically. Among university students, higher passion was not linked to higher academic performance.  Professor’s passion was highly valued by students though it did not increase their own passion.