Ethnography and changing engineering education culture

This is a discussion of preliminary results of anthropological collaboration with Greenfield Coalition for New Manufacturing Education (GC). With National Science Foundation funding, GC promotes engineering education culture change by integrating academic studies and real world manufacturing expertise. GC joins five universities, seven manufacturing firms, and Society of Manufacturing Engineers, with Focus:HOPE (FH), a human rights organization dedicated to using intelligent, practical action to overcome racism, poverty and injustice in Detroit and suburbs. GC creates a revolutionary educational experience for students at FH´s Center for Advanced Technologies earning bachelor´s degrees in engineering and engineering technology. Anthropological action research documents existing culture and supports culture change as new courses emerge. This qualitative ethnographic study aids teaching and learning culture change by providing critical feedback to GC staff constructing new, experienced-based curricula.