A Direct Method for Simultaneously Teaching and Measuring Engineering Professional Skills

Abstract – Proficiency in professional skills related to teamwork, ethical responsibility, communication skills, the impact of engineering solutions, life-long learning, and contemporary issues is critical for success in the multi-disciplinary, intercultural team interactions that characterize 21st century engineering careers. Yet, programs across the nation have struggled to define, teach, and measure professional skills since their introduction as ABET criteria for engineering programs in 2000. The Engineering Professional Skills Assessment (EPSA) is a direct method for both teaching and assessing these professional skills at the course or program level. This method is centered on one of several inter-disciplinary scenarios that frame a contemporary societal problem, a generalized set of discussion questions intended to guide a meaningful, 45 minute discussion of multiple scenarios among 4-6 students, and the Engineering Professional Skills (EPS) rubric that is broadly applicable for all scenarios.