KNOXVILLE — A CD-ROM touting the University of Tennessee’s innovative freshman engineering program has won the top award in a conference showcasing National Science Foundation projects.
The multimedia presentation prepared by the UT College of Engineering recently was named best of show at the annual conference of the American Society of Engineering Education in Albuquerque.
“We were pleased to receive the recognition,” said Dr. Fred Gilliam, associate dean of the college. “The CD-ROM uses state-of-the-art multimedia techniques to give an overview of the Engage program, which is one of the first programs in the country to give first-year students an immersion experience in engineering.”
Gilliam said the CD uses professional and student-shot video footage to illustrate real-life student success stories and offer information about engineering careers.
Dr. Roger Parsons, professor and head of the program, said Engage was piloted in 1997 with 60 students and expanded in 2000 to include all first-year engineering students. The National Science Foundation was a major supporter of the project and of the CD-ROM presentation, he said.
The College of Engineering will hold a preview of the CD-ROM production at a reception for college staff, UT administrators and local media at 3 p.m., July 11, in the Science and Engineering Research Facility’s Kessel Auditorium.
Kim Cowart, communications specialist with the college, teamed with Abacus Arts and Witt Video Productions to create the CD.