Evaluating Student Conceptions of Technology Majors: Development of Assessment Keyword Tables

This paper presents the continuation of research on student conceptions related to technology majors (TMs) and careers using the Aspirations, Interests, and Confidence (AIC) survey. For four years, first-semester students at Purdue New Albany, a statewide location for the Purdue Polytechnic, were surveyed in order understand their conceptions of TMs and job titles they associate with them. Prior work reported on dominate terms used by students to describe TM and careers including: Computer Graphics Technology (CGT), Electrical Engineering Technology (EET), Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET), and Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MHET). This paper presents the results of an online survey that asked subject matter experts (SMEs) to form benchmark definitions for the aforementioned TMs. Qualitative data from the responses (i.e. structured survey text) was analyzed using NVivo® to identify themes, patterns, and dominate terminology. The data was combined with information from ABET accreditation documentation and a collaboratively edited online knowledge base to form tables of subject, action, and application keywords. These tables provide an empirical database that will enable future evaluation of collected student definitions for accuracy. By better understanding student understanding of TMs, the authors hope to provide a resource by which the educational community can improve their messaging and better communicate the role and value of technology degrees to stakeholders (i.e. students, parents, industry, etc.).