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Kurt Becker


Academic Rank:

Professor, Department Head

Education:

Ph.D/ME, Texas A&M University, August 1988
M.S., Sam Houston State University, June 1983
B.S., Southeast Missouri State University, June 1977

Service at Utah State University:

1994 – Present, Professor

Other Related Experience:

1988 – 1994 Associate Professor, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
1979 – 1987 Teacher, Klein Independent School District, Houston, TX
1977 – 1979 Teacher, Lindbergh High School, St. Louis, MO

Consulting:

  • 2006-2010
    • PriZMa Project
    • Senior Project Analyst – Enterprise Competitiveness Training in Macedonia (PRiZMa Project)
    • Responsibilities include: 1) Developing a pilot training project for the National Employment Service in Skopje, Macedonia, 2) working with the with the Ministry of Labour and National Employment Service in Skopje, Macedonia to create a central training model using the Quick Start training method,
    • PRiZMa project, and 3) development and delivery of a Train-the-Trainer course for the PRiZMa project in Skopje, Macedonia.

Research:

  • 2006-2009
    • National Science Foundation – ESI-0554472 – Communities of Effective Practice: A Professional STEM Development Model for Teachers of American Indian Students. Project Director
  • 2004-2008
    • National Science Foundation – ESI-0426421 – National Center for Engineering and Technology Education. Co-Project Director, Project Manager

Technical Expertise:

Research includes adult learning cognition, engineering education professional development and technical training. He works with the technology teacher education program in the department and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. He has extensive international experience working on technical training projects funded by the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and U.S. Department of Labor, USAID. Countries where he has worked include Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, and Thailand.

Courses Taught (2006-07):

  • ETE 3200, Methods of Teaching Industrial Education (3 credits)
  • ETE 7810, Research Seminar (1 credit)
  • ETE 7500, Internationalizing Institutions of Higher Education (3 Credits)

Principal Publications:

  • Melton, D. and Becker, K. (submitted). A Comparison of Students’ Achievement and Attitudes Between Constructivist and Traditional Classroom Environments in Thailand Vocational Electronics Programs. Journal of Vocational Education Research, (29) 1, p 133.
  • Becker, K. (submitted). An integrated worker adjustment model in Eastern Europe. International Journal of Vocational Education and Training.
  • Hailey, C., Erekson, T., Becker, K., & Thomas, M. (February, 2005). National center for engineering and technology education. The Technology Teacher. 64, 5, 10-15.
  • Becker, K. and Maunsaiyat, S. (2004). A Comparison of Students’ Achievement and Attitudes Between Constructivist and Traditional Classroom Environments in Thailand Vocational Electronics Programs. Journal of Vocational Education Research, (29) 1, p 133.
  • Becker, K. and Stewardson, G. (Winter/Spring 2003). Improving international project success. The Journal of Technical Studies. Volume XXIX, Number 1. Electronic Journal, http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTS/Winter-Spring-2003/pdf/
  • Becker, K. and Maunsaiyat, S. (Spring 2002). Development of an attitude and concept scale toward technology in Bangkok, Thailand. Journal of Technology Education. Volume 13, Number 2, p. 6.
  • Becker, K. (April 2002). Constructivism and the use of technology.
  • The Technology Teacher (electronic journal), TTTe. http://www.iteawww.org/F1c4.html
  • Becker, K. (1999). Extending instructional reach using technology.
  • Journal of Technology Studies. (Winter/Spring 1999) (25) 1, p.70.

Published Training Manuals for US Department of Labor

  • Becker, K. (2000). A Manual for Developing Quick Start Projects. (USDOL), Poland Workforce Development Project, 2000, Macedonia PriZMa Project, 2000, Bulgaria Workforce Development Project, 2001.
  • Becker, K. (2000). A Training Manual for Training Methods for Adult Learners. (USDOL), Romania, Project Pledge, 2000 and Bulgaria Workforce Development Project, 2000.

Scientific and Professional Societies:

  • Associate Member – ASEE
  • Member - ITEA