National Electrical Engineering Department Heads Association

ABET Workshop for C2k programs visited in 2000

Facilitator Hints

Getting the group started:

• Introductions, with enough detail so that the group understands the involvement of each person with the preparations at his/her institution
• Invite any initial comments on problem areas:
  • Clarity of the ABET documentation (What does ABET want?)
  • Hints on getting involvement on campus
  • "If we'd only known.." Hints on what to do early
• Ask for a brief status report for the program implementation of EC 2000
• Provide guidance to see that all the significant EC 2000 aspects are touched on:
  • Program goals and objectives, and how determined (who was involved)
  • Curricular development based on objectives
  • An assessment plan which associates measurable outcomes with each of the goals and objectives
  • Implementation of the assessment plan
  • Critical review of the assessment data
  • Integration of the program goals with the EC 2000 criteria
  • Attention to program criteria

Aspects to look for:

• Too much attention to one aspect of EC 2000, ignoring others
• Data collection without an overall assessment plan
• Little analysis or use of the data collected
• Inadequate attention to the means by which the program status (particularly with respect to EC 2000) can be conveyed to the ABET visitor

Group report contents, A.M. session:

• Overall, summary compiled from all the programs in the group:
  • Best Practices, both in implementing EC 2000 and in preparing for the visit
  • Major Stumbling Blocks, with solutions if possible
• From each program, presented/discussed as time permits:
  • The program educational objectives and key curricular and assessment aspects
  • Plans for the coming year, with respect to both implementation of EC 2000 and preparation for the visit
  • Salient accomplishments or problems

Facilitator Reflections from the A.M. session:

• Any surprises?
• Overall did the programs appear to on track?
• Were any aspects generally overlooked or misinterpreted?

Possible group topics, P.M. session:

• Assessment, possibly enough for two groups, one on identifying outcomes related to goals, and another on collecting and evaluating data on outcomes
• The continuous improvement process in curricular design
• Preparation for the visit: how to avoid drowning in data

Group report contents, P.M. session:

• Overall summary, compiled from all the programs in the group:
  • Major lessons learned today
  • Plans for the future
  • Advice to the Class of 2001

ABET EC 2000 Workshop Evaluation Form (Richmond, June 12, 1999)

What aspect of the Workshop did you find most valuable?




What would you suggest to improve the Workshop?




Was the workshop length (1 day) about right, too long, or too short?




Please comment on the assistance provided by your group's facilitator




Would you recommend this workshop (modified as appropriate) as a regular 
NEEDHA event?




As a regular NEEDHA event, this Workshop would probably be scheduled in 
conjunction with the NEEDHA Annual Meeting.  Does this cause any problem 
for you?




Is the timing of the Workshop with respect to the ABET visit about right, 
too early, or too late?




Please add any other comments:

Related pages: 1998-99 NEEDHA Archives | Workshop invitation, update, information, agenda
URL of this page:

Author: John A. Orr | Created: Jun 8, 1999 | Modified: Jul 1, 1999
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