Teaching and Learning Design Presentations in Engineering: Contradictions between Academic and Workplace Activity Systems

Deanna P. Dannels North Carolina State University

Abstract

In courses within technical disciplines, students are often asked to give oral presentations that simulate a professional context. Yet learning to speak like a professional in this academic context is a process often laden with complications. Using activity theory and situated learning as theoretical frameworks, this article explores the teaching and learning of one of the most common oral genres in technical fields—the design presentation. A study of the teaching and learning of this oral genre in three sequential engineering design courses reveals critical academic and workplace contradictions regarding audience, identity, and structure. Results of this study show that in the teaching and learning of design presentations, audience and identity contradictions were managed by a primary deference to the academic context whereas structural contradictions were addressed by invoking both workplace and academic activity systems.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2003-04-01
DOI
10.1177/1050651902250946
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (19)

  1. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  2. College Composition and Communication
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  5. Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 19 →
  1. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  4. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  5. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  6. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  7. Written Communication
  8. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  9. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  10. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  11. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  12. Technical Communication Quarterly
  13. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  14. Journal of Business and Technical Communication

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