An Evaluation of Sustainable Education Assessment Tools Within Engineering Education
Open Access
- Author:
- Vacca, Kaitlin Elizabeth
- Graduate Program:
- Architectural Engineering
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- November 03, 2008
- Committee Members:
- Dr David Riley, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
David R Riley Ii, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor - Keywords:
- engineering assessment tools
sustainable education
sustainability - Abstract:
- ABSTRACT Sustainability has become a topic of increasing social concern and discussion globally. Engineering departments, accreditation agencies, and future employers are demanding that graduates possess certain knowledge and skills, and are aware of how their actions affect the environment, society, and the economy. As a result, engineering courses need to reflect these educational outcomes and assess how the chosen instructional resources and processes impact each student. This research evaluates two existing sustainability education assessment tools for usability, clarity, and reliability. The Sustainability in Higher Education Assessment Rubric (SHEAR) was developed to assist professors interested in pursuing sustainability education learning outcomes and course objectives; the Sustainability Assessment Survey (SAS) was developed to identify the impact a course has on student learning. Each of these assessment tools required further development to ensure they would be easily implemented across departments, disciplines, and institutions. The evaluation conducted resulted in a refined version of the SHEAR (SHEAR 2.0) and a supplemental User’s Guide. Item and factor analysis were completed to confirm that the SAS tool is reliable and reflects the theoretical framework upon which it is based. The SHEAR 2.0 and SAS tools were also aligned with ABET EC2000 learning outcomes to show theoretical connections that could be verified in the future through quantitative evidence from both assessment tools. Future recommendations include further development, testing, and refinement of each instrument to ensure eventual institutionalization at Penn State University.