2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Integrating Canvas and Power BI for Evidence-Based Assessment of ABET Student Outcomes in a Mechanical Engineering Program

Presented at Mechanical Engineering (MECH) Session 11: Assessment, Accreditation, and Evaluation

This paper presents a systematic approach to program-level assessment in a Mechanical Engineering program that integrates Canvas-based data collection, standardized rubrics, and Microsoft Power BI visualizations to evaluate ABET Student Outcomes. Program outcomes are defined within Canvas, aligned with ABET criteria, and mapped to assessment tasks across the curriculum, while standardized rubrics embedded in assignments ensure consistent evaluation of student performance and enable automated aggregation of assessment data. The paper details the Canvas assessment process, including how outcomes are linked to coursework to streamline data collection and management. Assessment data are exported and organized for analysis in Microsoft Power BI, where dynamic dashboards illustrate outcome achievement levels, performance trends, and cohort comparisons, providing insights for program improvement and evidence-based decision-making. This integrated approach reduces the manual burden of data handling, enhances the reliability and transparency of assessment results, and promotes continuous program improvement. By combining a learning management system with advanced visualization tools, this approach transforms program assessment and offers a replicable model for other engineering programs seeking to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of ABET-related assessment processes.

Authors

Dr. Kevin Wanklyn Kansas State University [biography]

Kevin Wanklyn is the Undergraduate Program Director in the Alan Levin Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Kansas State University. He serves as a Teaching Associate Professor, where he teaches the first-year experience course for the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering and teaches core subjects such as Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics. Dr. Wanklyn earned his B.S. (2000), M.S. (2002), and Ph.D. (2008) in Mechanical Engineering, all from Kansas State University.
Frederick W Burrack Kansas State University [biography]

Director of Assessment
Bradley J. Regier http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1229-7959 Kansas State University [biography]

Bradley J. Regier is Associate Director of Assessment at Kansas State University. Previously he was Assistant Professor of Music Education at Illinois Wesleyan University and taught instrumental music in Chase County, Kansas and Cairo, Egypt.

An active music education and assessment researcher, Dr. Regier has presented at state, national, and international conferences including the National Association for Music Education Music Research and Teacher Education Conference (2026), Association for Assessment of Learning in Higher Education Annual Conference (2025), the Mid-America Association for Institutional Research Conference (2025), and the Symposium for Music Teacher Education (2025). His research interests include music teacher psychology and self-efficacy, instrumental music teaching strategies, and higher education assessment strategies. He is published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, International Journal of Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education, Missouri School Music Magazine, and Ale Breve. Dr. Regier currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Research in Music Education and Intersection: A Journal at the Intersection of Assessment and Learning. He previously served on the editorial boards for Update: Applications of Research in Music Education and Contributions to Music Education.

Dr. Regier received degrees in music education with an instrumental conducting emphasis from the University of Missouri (PhD), the University of Oklahoma (MME), and Kansas State University (BME).

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