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Session Description

Join us for a stimulating discussion sponsored by the First-Year Programs Division (FYP) titled "Generative AI and First Year Students: Shaping Tomorrow’s Engineers." In this 90-minute moderated roundtable, our panel of experts—comprising first-year educators, undergraduate engineering students, engineering ethicists, engineering education researchers, K-12 state department of education officials, and industry representatives—will examine the potential impact of Generative AI on engineering curricula and pedagogy. Discover the ethical dilemmas, potential benefits, and best practices for incorporating AI into early engineering education. During this interactive session, you will get to learn from and engage with thought leaders with a variety of perspectives on this topic, thus empowering you to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing dialogue and decisions surrounding the integration of this transformative technology into engineering education contexts.

Moderated by

1. Mr. Kevin Calabro and Catherine Marie Hamel

Speakers

1. Dr. Ethan E Danahy

   Tufts University

   In addition to coordinating first-year engineering at Tufts University, Dr. Ethan Danahy teaches two courses in the intro to engineering sequence and does research into educational technologies. For several years he's been investigating the intersection of machine learning and educational robotics, developing new tools and interfaces, writing AI/ML curriculum, and running professional development workshops. With a new focus on generative AI, Prof. Danahy has most recently updated his intro to engineering design course to be based fully around the role of artificial intelligence in engineering.

2. Forrest Milner

   University of Maryland College Park

   Forrest is an Electrical Engineering Undergraduate, DIY maker, and AI enthusiast who enjoys testing out the latest AI technology. This semester, Forrest developed a system that allowed students in a freshman engineering course at UMD College Park to easily integrate machine learning into their Arduino-based robots.

3. Dr. Steffen Peuker

   California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

   Dr. Steffen Peuker is the James L. Bartlett, Jr. endowed Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He specializes in HVAC&R and mechanical engineering education, focusing on student retention and success through innovative teaching methods. He is also a co-author of the widely used textbook, "Studying Engineering.”

4. Beth Blumenstein

   Oregon Department of Education

   Beth Blumenstein is currently the Interim Director of Well-Rounded, Integrated & Digital Learning at the Oregon Department of Education, which aims to ensure that every student has access to a high-quality, well-rounded learning experiences through STEAM and digital learning programs. She began serving in this role in August 2023, transitioning from her prior role as the Senior Strategist for Well-Rounded Learning. Beth has served with the Oregon Department of Education since 2006.

5. Matthew Mueller

   PTC

   Matthew Mueller is the manager of Education Innovation at PTC where he helps develop Onshape’s education features and leads academic research collaborations. Prior to joining PTC, he completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Tufts University where his research focused on engineering education. His current research focuses on how CAD can be used to understand and improve how engineers work.

6. Mr. Timothy Duane Reedy

   University of Maryland, College Park

   Timothy Reedy is a professor in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, teaching courses in the Science, Technology and Society (STS) program and the Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy minor. By integrating sociotechnical systems thinking into his curricula, he aims to help STEM and Public Policy majors navigate ethical, political, and social issues in science and technology.