Robin Adams

Professor of Engineering Education; Director of Engineering Education Undergraduate Degree Programs
Mailing Addresses
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
ARMSTRONG HALL
701 WEST STADIUM AVENUE
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN 47907-2045
Office: ARMS ARMS 1339; Research Lab WANG 3569
Phone: (765) 496-3267
Fax: (765) 494-5819
Email: rsadams@purdue.edu
Personal Page

Education

Ph.D., Education, Leadership, and Policy Studies, University of Washington
M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University

Research Interests

Investigation of engineering practice: (1) cross-disciplinary ways of thinking, acting, and being; (2) design knowing and learning; and (3) the everyday nature of engineering thinking (at home, in school, at work). Creating "systems" bridges between education research and the practice of engineering education: (1) cross-disciplinary communities; (2) research-based instructional resources; and (3) translating research methods into pedagogical methods

Selected Publications

Adams, R. S., Turns, J. & Atman, C. J. (2003). Educating effective engineering designers: The role of reflective practice.” Design Studies, 24(3), pp. 275-294. [Design Studies best paper]

Atman, C.J., Adams, R.S., Mosborg, S., Cardella, M. E., Turns, J. & Saleem, J. (2007). Engineering design processes: A comparison of students and expert practitioners.” Journal of Engineering Education, 96(4), pp. 359-379. [JEE Wickenden award]

Awards & Honors

  • American Society of Engineering Education, Member
  • International Society of the Learning Sciences, Member
  • American Society of Higher Education, Member
  • American Education Research Association, Member
  • Society of Women Engineers, Member
  • Design Studies, Best Paper of the Year, 2003