2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

A teaching technique to enhance student engagement and learning was attempted in civil engineering courses at X University periodically through the previous ten years. The activity is called Ten Questions (10Q). In 10Q, students interviewed professionals who work in a civil engineering field most relevant to the course subject. Students made contact with an individual of choice. Introductions from faculty were sometimes necessary, but many students went to someone where they previously had a co/op or internship. Most of the interviewees were alumni with workplaces throughout the state of X, though professionals from prominent firms elsewhere in the country were also agreeable. To conduct the private interviews, especially in recent years, students were encouraged to use Webex or equivalent, the apps which gained such popularity during the pandemic. The first seven of the ten questions were established in advance by class consensus and asked by everyone, while the final three questions were each student’s choice. These additional questions frequently came to students as the conversation unfolded and were not always prepared ahead. Interviewees dependably provided adequate responses, and some elaborated quite extensively. Students suitably edited and sometimes condensed the responses as they made transcripts to share with the rest of the class.

In the constantly changing civil engineering landscape, a contemporary viewpoint can help students tremendously. Students appreciated the unique opportunity to speak with an expert in the field. And the interviewees enjoyed the chance to reconnect with the university and visit with a student who would soon join the workforce. This project was a meaningful complement to the normal series of lectures and assignments that are typically heavy with tedious calculations. The concept of student interviews of professionals is amenable to any course and does not require resources not already available. 10Q may be particularly useful to universities in small towns where field trips and guest lectures are inconvenient. 10Q is intended to be an individual activity, although teamwork may be possible. The 10Q project aligns with several ABET student outcomes. Still, 10Q is not perfect, and this article discusses potential problems and best practices.