Abstract
This research paper explores the potential use of chatbots (simulated interactive virtual conversations) in future faculty mentoring. In this case, a mentee asks career advice of a chatbot that draws responses from a pre-programmed database populated by renowned emeriti engineering faculty. Chatbots are being developed under the National Science Foundation INCLUDES Design and Developments Launch Pilot award (17-4458). Their efficacy for future faculty mentoring is explored through a phenomenological design grounded by the Efficacy of Chatbots for Future Faculty Mentoring conceptual framework utilizing focus groups with underrepresented minority (URM) doctoral engineering students. Chatbots were found to be effective as a supplementary mentoring option as URM doctoral students have ample unmet mentoring needs. Yet, intent to use this type of mentoring was mixed, despite high satisfaction ratings on positive user interface and perceived trustworthiness, because of the lack of personalization in this type of mentoring relationship. The preferred presentation method for this research paper is a traditional lecture, although a demonstration of the chatbot will be provided to afford session participants the opportunity to view and offer feedback on its perceived utility.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings |
| State | Published - Jun 15 2019 |
| Event | 126th ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: Charged Up for the Next 125 Years, ASEE 2019 - Tampa, United States Duration: Jun 15 2019 → Jun 19 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© American Society for Engineering Education, 2019.
Funding
This research paper explores the potential use of chatbots (simulated interactive virtual conversations) in future faculty mentoring. In this case, a mentee asks career advice of a chatbot that draws responses from a pre-programmed database populated by renowned emeriti engineering faculty. Chatbots are being developed under the National Science Foundation INCLUDES Design and Developments Launch Pilot award (17-4458). Their efficacy for future faculty mentoring is explored through a phenomenological design grounded by the Efficacy of Chatbots for Future Faculty Mentoring conceptual framework utilizing focus groups with underrepresented minority (URM) doctoral engineering students. Chatbots were found to be effective as a supplementary mentoring option as URM doctoral students have ample unmet mentoring needs. Yet, intent to use this type of mentoring was mixed, despite high satisfaction ratings on positive user interface and perceived trustworthiness, because of the lack of personalization in this type of mentoring relationship. The preferred presentation method for this research paper is a traditional lecture, although a demonstration of the chatbot will be provided to afford session participants the opportunity to view and offer feedback on its perceived utility. Comas Lamar Haynes is a Principal Research Engineer / faculty member of the Georgia Tech Research Institute and Joint Faculty Appointee at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His research includes modeling steady state and transient behavior of advanced energy systems, inclusive of their thermal management, and the characterization and optimization of novel cycles. He has advised graduate and undergraduate research assistants and has received multi-agency funding for energy systems analysis and development. Sponsor examples include the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and NASA. Dr. Haynes also develops fuel cells and alternative energy systems curricula for public and college courses and experimental laboratories. Additionally, he is the co-developer of the faculty diversity initiative, Increasing Minority Presence within Academia through Continuous Training (IMPACT). He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Florida A&M University and his graduate degrees (culminating in a Ph.D.) from Georgia Tech; and all of the degrees are in the discipline of Mechanical Engineering. Chatbot Design. The future faculty mentoring chatbots were populated by seven emeriti faculty members selected because of their renowned stature in the field, collective expertise, and continued engagement in academia during retirement. Most maintained sponsored research activities and research labs, some taught undergraduate and graduate engineering courses, and one held an administrative assignment in his Provost’s Office. All participants were White, male, and retired from the same doctoral-granting university with very high research activity representing various engineering disciplines such as aerospace, biomedical, chemical, industrial systems, and mechanical. All of the emeriti faculty had participated in the Increasing Minority Presence within Academia through Continuous Training (IMPACT) mentoring program, which paired emeriti and URM early-and mid-career engineering faculty for career mentorship. The IMPACT program is sponsored by a NSF INCLUDES Design and Developments Launch Pilot award (17-4458).
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| National Science Foundation Arctic Social Science Program | 17-4458 |
| U.S. Department of Energy EPSCoR | |
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Engineering