Trine engineering faculty member receives grant to write textbook

A faculty member in Trine University’s Allen School of Engineering and Computing has received a $5,000 grant to write an open education resource (OER) textbook for a new class to be offered beginning in the fall.

“Technical Documentation and Data Tools for Engineers - A Practical Guide to Reports, Presentations, Spreadsheets, and AI Tools,” by Timothy Jenkins, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Design Engineering Technology, joins 13 other OER publications produced by Trine University faculty and staff.

OER resources are educational and research materials such as textbooks, lesson plans or videos that are free to access, share and modify. OER materials reduce costs for students and allow educators more flexibility to customize content to meet course needs.

The grant is one of several ongoing OER funding opportunities provided through the PALSave Textbook Creation Grants program offered by the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) and funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc.

New engineering course

The text will be used in Trine’s new ETD 2103 Engineering Documentation and Presentation Tools course.

ETD 2103 will introduce students to the essential tools, standards and practices used for effective document preparation within a professional engineering environment.

“Receiving the grant validates my professional goals to improve the technical and communication skills of our students as they transition to professional practice from undergraduate college work,” Dr. Jenkins said. “For many years, I have encouraged our students to improve their writing and oral communication skills by completing written assignments, project reports and presentations to peers, faculty and project sponsors using specific requirements.”

The textbook, which will be between 250 and 300 pages long, will be intended primarily for engineering technology students who have completed an introductory technical communication course. The material is organized around authentic workflows and real-world deliverables commonly encountered throughout academic programs and professional careers.

Each chapter combines concepts, practical examples, hands-on activities and professional best practices designed to build competence and confidence with modern engineering information tools, with the goal of preparing students to communicate technical information clearly, collaborate effectively with others and support sound engineering decisions throughout their professional careers.

“Having my proposal for the textbook I am writing for the class accepted for this grant means I can formally publish this textbook and have it available not only to students but to the wider academic community,” Dr. Jenkins said. “I will also have other college faculty and staff who have completed OER texts to guide and support my work on this book, which will make it a better source for our students and other engineering students. “

"The excellence, effort and energy that Dr. Jenkins puts into making the Trine University Design Engineering Technology program an excellent learning environment for students is commendable,” said Tom Trusty, chair of Trine’s Department of Design Engineering Technology. “Being selected for a grant for the textbook he is writing shows his commitment to excellence is recognized by those outside our university as well."

About PALNI

The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) is a 501(c)(3) owned by 23 private academic institutions. This library-to-library collaboration strives to provide high-quality support for student learning and effective teaching aligned with institutional missions.