2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

WIP: Integrating Querencia into Engineering and Computer Science Courses

Presented at Liberal Education/Engineering & Society Division (LEES) Technical Session 2

In this work-in-progress research paper, we examine two LEES Program Themes—Colonialisms and Decolonization in Engineering and Sociotechnical Integration in Engineering Education—in the context of faculty-proposed teaching innovations in engineering and computer science. Specifically, we consider the ways faculty-proposed innovations incorporated decolonial and sociotechnical approaches after we began a focus on querencia. Querencia is a form of place-based or land-based education that emphasizes home-as-safety and belonging to, reciprocity with, and responsibility to place. We called for teaching innovation proposals from faculty and provided opportunities for them to learn about querencia. Seven faculty implemented teaching innovations. Using regression modeling of pre/post course surveys measuring engineering identity, design self-efficacy, cultural compatibility beliefs, persistence intentions, demographics, and instructionally-sensitive measures (relevance, learner agency), we found benefits from this approach.

Authors
  1. Tito Busani University of New Mexico [biography]
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