EVALUATION OF DIRECT ASSESSMENT TOOLS IN ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

The Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) program at Pittsburg State University (PSU) was a pilot program for an electronics engineering technology nationally-normed assessment exam in 2009. The exam, developed by a cooperative effort between IEEE, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Department Heads Association, was designed as a direct assessment tool. PSU has used this exam now for three consecutive years. Results of this exam are discussed. How the results of the exam have been utilized in program improvement as well as how the exam has assisted in relation to preparation for an ABET visit is also discussed. In addition to the nationally-normed exam, the EET Program at PSU has used a novel, direct assessment tool over the past ten years. The usage of the two assessment tools at PSU have for the past three years been congruent. The two tools also overlap in much of the content. However, application of the two tools diverges in a few significant manners. This paper reviews both exams, their results and how the EET program at PSU has interpreted the results. Also the changes to the EET program that the assessment tool has triggered are also discussed.