Shields, Nicholas (2024) Designing Interactive Engagement Activities for Multi-Year Mechanical Engineering Programs: A Mixed Methods Evaluation. [USQ Project]
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Abstract
This dissertation investigated the effectiveness of mechanical engineering outreach activities in engaging students across various educational levels and influencing their career aspirations. The study encompassed a comprehensive review of existing literature, theoretical frameworks, and practical implementations to evaluate how outreach programs best foster interest in mechanical engineering.
The literature review highlighted the significant role outreach programs play in promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) awareness and shaping students' attitudes toward careers in these fields. The review also identified challenges such as the lack of systematic evaluation mechanisms to identify the long-term impact of outreach programs on tertiary transitional rates. The dissertation presented a conceptual design for outreach activities tailored to four separate grade levels, from interactive, hands-on experiences for younger students to complex, technology forward exposure for older students.
Key findings suggested that targeted outreach activities can significantly impact students' interest in engineering, provided they are presented with age-appropriate content. The study also highlighted successful examples of outreach programs and provides recommendations for improving the frameworks for outreach program design. Future research recommendations included longitudinal studies to track the long-term effects of outreach activities and the development of innovative evaluation methods, supported by collaborate efforts and institutional stakeholders. Overall, this project contributed to a deeper understanding of how mechanical engineering outreach activities can effectively engage students and promote interest in the engineering field.
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Statistics for this ePrint Item |
| Item Type: | USQ Project |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Engineering (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Quince, Zachery |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)(Mechanical) |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Mar 2026 03:48 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Mar 2026 03:48 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | outreach programs; mechanical engineering |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/53162 |
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