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A new chemical engineering faculty member can get a significant career head start by team-teaching the material and energy balance course with a mentor--an excellent instructor who has taught that course many times. The experience gives the mentee modeling and guided practice in research-validated teaching practices, and substantially reduces the burden in time and effort of his or her first new course preparation. This paper summarizes benefits and costs of this mentoring model and offers recommendations for making its implementation effective.

Discusses the quality of instruction for communication skills and creative thinking skills in engineering education and the difficulties caused by the single-subject approach in different engineering majors. Provides alternative solutions to the problem such as irrelevant teaching methods, difficulties in implementing technology in classrooms, and the use of theoretical-based literature in engineering education. (Contains 79 references.) (YDS)

Describes the changes in teaching methods in engineering classrooms over the last 60 years and implementations by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in curriculum not only of mathematics, science, and engineering fundamentals, but also communication and lifelong learning skills. Lists ABET Engineering Criteria required skills. (Contains 52 references.) (YDS)

Chemical engineering students were required to create an open-book final examination and to include questions reflecting analytical, synthetic (creative), and evaluative skills. Rationale for the assignment, sample student responses, and how the technique might be profitably adapted to any course on any subject are discussed. (JN)

Papers comparing technology-based and traditional course offerings are appearing with regularity and technology looks better all the time. Universities that specialize in distance education are using multimedia courseware and the Internet effectively, and the quality of their offerings is gaining increased recognition. Speculates on the future of technology in higher education and the continuing need for gifted professors. (PVD)

Describes the structure of a course for improving oral communication skills of engineering students. Lists suggestions to speakers on preparation, organization, and presentation of material. Additional comments regarding critiques are stated. (RT)

The author offers tips on completing the draft of a writing project related to chemical engineering. He suggests keeping the creating and editing functions separate. He advises to make a commitment to regularly devote short periods of time to major writing projects. He also recommends paying attention to grammar, syntax and style.

The article discusses an on-the-job training of some chemical engineering students in North Carolina State University. Two Process Engineering-related tasks such the investigation of the declining efficiency of the hydride processing tower and the design of a distillation column for separation process were assigned to the trainees.

The author discusses the Crisis Clinic segment of the teaching workshops he conducts together with Rebecca Brent. He gives a scenario wherein a chemical engineering student named Charlie is in distress. He suggests that teachers do not let their students leave their office because they will miss their chance to help. Students should not be forced into counseling but instead be persuaded to avail of the service.

The article presents the text of a discussion among the members of the Chemical Engineering Department faculty of North Carolina State University. One of the topics discussed at the meeting was the decline in the emergency budget of the department. An argument was raised on whether to teach the Gibbs-Duhem equation to chemical engineering students. The argument was unresolved and the department chair relayed a message from the administrative assistant to the faculty about ethical issues.