Increase your project's success through coordinated communication: Research and practice

Abstract

Engineering education researchers focus on research, putting research into practice, and creating innovative practice. These foci require meaningful communication that elicits a desired response (e.g. adoption of innovation). Innovation advocates and change agents know that communication is critical to a project's success. Without expertise in rhetoric, communications present significant challenges, but they are known challenges in the organizational change literature. We view a focus on communication as a major empowerment tool for advocates and change agents, thereby positively impacting the reach of innovative practices and research into our engineering classrooms. This workshop centers on providing a framework for communication, allies in communication efforts, and best practices in communicating change. We request no more than 40 participants and require only projection capabilities for audio-visual equipment.