Engineering Education Research Seminar
Fall 2025
Friday October 24, 9am CT - Dr. Nicole Pitterson, Virginia Tech
The Power of Words: Language as a Tool for Teaching Foundational Engineering Concepts
KH A253 or https://unl.zoom.us/j/7487921136
Abstract: Language is an essential yet often underappreciated tool in engineering education, especially when teaching foundational engineering concepts. The clarity and precision of language directly affect how students interpret, internalize, and apply core principles across multiple courses within a curriculum. This presentation explores the role of language in shaping students’ understanding of core engineering concepts and provides practical strategies for improving communication in the classroom.
Through an examination of foundational circuits courses, the study on which this work is anchored investigates the impact of technical jargon, metaphors, and analogies in both aiding and obstructing conceptual clarity. In particular, emphasis will be placed on how language can either support or impede diverse learners, including students from non-traditional backgrounds or those encountering engineering terminology for the first time. Additionally, this presentation will explore the use of language as a means of fostering critical thinking and interdisciplinary connections, enabling students to navigate the complexities of engineering systems more effectively.
Participants will gain insights into how small linguistic adjustments - such as rephrasing questions, selecting accessible terminology, and encouraging students to articulate their reasoning - can lead to profound improvements in comprehension and engagement. By aligning language use with pedagogical goals, educators can empower students to grasp the foundational concepts that form the bedrock of their future engineering knowledge. This presentation ultimately aims to highlight the importance of intentional language in engineering education, offering actionable techniques to make foundational concepts more approachable and enriching the learning experience for all students.
Biography: Nicole P. Pitterson is an Associate Professor and Assistant Department Head for Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, she worked as a postdoctoral scholar at Oregon State University. Dr. Pitterson holds a PhD in Engineering Education from Purdue University, a Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering from Western Illinois University, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Technology, Jamaica. Her research interests include difficult concepts in engineering, increasing students' conceptual understanding of complex concepts, curriculum design, and promoting collaboration through using active learning strategies as well as exploring students' disciplinary identities through engagement with knowledge.
Friday November 14, 9:10 - 10:25am CT -Toluwalase Brower
UNL Ph.D. Candidate Toluwalase Brower will virtually present at Virginia Tech's seminar. More details to come.
Friday December 5, 9 - 10am CT - Seminar Exchange Program
UNL will virtually host a PhD student from Arizona State University. More details to come.