FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions


Below you'll find answers to questions we get asked the most about the entrepreneurial mindset and our community.

Additional resources:


The Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM)


What is the entrepreneurial mindset?

An entrepreneurial mindset empowers you to question, adapt, think differently, and make positive change. It consists of three key elements - the 3Cs: 


How does entrepreneurially minded learning align with ABET?

Network partners highlighting their KEEN work to embed both mindset and skillset outcomes in engineering courses consistently receive positive feedback from ABET accreditors.


What is entrepreneurially minded learning (EML)?

Entrepreneurially Minded Learning (EML) is an emergent pedagogy that emphasizes discovery, opportunity identification, and value creation. It is a teaching method that can be applied to all areas of study and is being developed by hundreds of faculty members at colleges and universities across the country.


Why couple entrepreneurial mindset to engineering?

Every time a job is added in the innovation sector, five more jobs of various types are created. The innovation sector includes engineers and scientists who create technically-enabled, tradable goods. It is an astonishing and unequaled job-multiplier. 

At the heart of this 5x-engine are entrepreneurially minded individuals. It is why KEEN’s mission is to champion an entrepreneurial mindset within engineering graduates.Learn more in this video.


Why should I teach my students to be entrepreneurially minded?

By purposefully including mindset outcomes in curricular and extracurricular activities, you are able to influence success in the same way you do when defining engineering skills outcomes in courses.


How can I start integrating entrepreneurial mindset in my courses?

The good news is that you don’t have to throw anything out or recreate your entire course! Get started with this primer



What is KEEN?


What does KEEN stand for?

KEEN is an acronym for the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network. 


What does KEEN do?

KEEN provides a laboratory for institutions to innovate and showcase best practices for engineering education. Learn more here.



Membership Questions


Who can join the community?

The Engineering Unleashed community is open to anyone trying to impact engineering education. While our focus is primarily on undergraduate engineering faculty, we welcome members of industry, K12, and other groups who are part of the engineering ecosystem. The only exception is students, who are not permitted to join the community.


Can students join the community?

Students are not permitted to be members of Engineering Unleashed. This allows faculty and staff to have an open community where they can share resources and ideas that students can benefit without fear that they are tipping answers or opening the door for cheating.


What are the benefits of joining?

As a member, you’ll have unlimited access to lesson plans, presentations, student artifacts, webinars, and more from engineering faculty and staff across the nation. You’ll be able to share your own plans and projects. And you can collaborate in the forums and other community spaces. 


Is there a cost to join?

There is no cost to be an Engineering Unleashed member.


How do I join the community?

Simply click the link to join today!



Membership Tools


What are cards?

An Engineering Unleashed "card" is an online template for faculty and staff to share modules, projects, classes, and more. Across a variety of disciplines, you'll get lesson plans, walkthroughs, instructor tips, presentation templates, student artifacts, and other resources to use and adapt for your own needs as you implement entrepreneurially minded learning. As an Engineering Unleashed member, you'll not only be able to get resources from cards, but you can create as many cards as you want to share your own resources with others.


How do I find other members?

You can easily search for other members using the search tool in the top navigation, talk with card authors right on their cards, join one or more groups, and browse through forum posts. 

The Members page also contains links to dedicated groups of faculty and staff.


How do I collaborate and share with others?

There are many ways and opportunities to collaborate. You can create and share content in cards, contribute in the forums, enroll in a faculty development workshop, and join groups.



Events & Conferences


Do you need to be a KEEN partner to attend the KEEN National Conference? 

No! All engineering faculty are invited to attend the KEEN National Conference.

Still have questions?