Defining the outcomes: A framework for EC-2000

The "new" accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology criteria, EC-2 000, has caused engineering educators to focus on 11 intentionally undefine d outcomes as a necessary step in the accreditation process. As part of a l arge study sponsored by the National Science Foundation, a framework, based on Bloom's taxonomy, has been developed for better specifying these outcom es. Using this framework, each outcome has been expanded into a set of attr ibutes that can then be used by engineering facility in adapting the outcom es to their own program. Also discussed are two ways in which this characte rization of outcomes can be used as part of an assessment and feedback proc ess. These outcome definitions are considered to be in a dynamic state; i.e ., they will continue to be modified and updated as more is learned about t heir specificity and use. Interested readers may download the most recent s et of outcomes from the project website.