Learning to Be Professional: Technical Classroom Discourse, Practice, and Professional Identity Construction

Deanna P. Dannels North Carolina State University

Abstract

Instruction in the technical and scientific disciplines often provides students with the technical skills necessary to succeed in industry. However, these disciplines also focus on socializing students into professional identities. This study examines one exemplar discipline, mechanical engineering, to see how classroom discourse and practice construct professional identities for students (as future engineers) and their customers. Results suggest that although students' conceptions of the customer provided glimpses of professional identity, design processes in these classrooms were ultimately driven and shaped by academic communicative practices, audiences, and goals. Given this, instructional interventions are provided to integrate professionalization processes within classrooms where situated learning is apparent.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2000-01-01
DOI
10.1177/105065190001400101
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (19)

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

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