Industrial Technology Directory

Nathan Mentzer

Assistant Professor

Campus: West Lafayette
Contact Form

Department: Technology Leadership & Innovation
Department: Industrial Technology

Office: Knoy Hall 377A
Phone: 765.494.0298
Fax:765.496.2700
Mailing Address:
401 N. Grant Street
West Lafayette, IN 47906-2021

Biography:

Nathan Mentzer is an assistant profession in the College of Technology with a joint appointment in the College of Education at Purdue University. He prepares Engineering/Technology candidates for teacher licensure. Dr. Mentzer’s educational efforts in pedagogical content knowledge are guided by a research theme centered in student learning of engineering design thinking on the secondary level. Nathan was a former middle and high school technology educator in Montana prior to pursuing a doctoral degree. He was a National Center for Engineering and Technology Education (NCETE) Fellow at Utah State University while pursuing a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. After graduation he completed a one year appointment with the Center as a postdoctoral researcher.

Publications

Relevant Publications and Presentations

Daugherty, J., Mentzer, N., Lybrook, D., & Little-Wiles, J. (accepted). Philosophical Perspectives on Technology Leadership. In S. Wang and T. Hartsell (EDs.), Technology Integration and Foundations for Effective Technology Leadership (pages to be determined). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Huffman, T., Mentzer, N., Oaks, W. & Zoltowski, C. (Accepted). EPICS: Engineering Projects in Community Service. Presentation at the 75th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Columbus, OH.

Huffman, T., Mentzer, N., Kaluf, K. & Kelley, T. (Accepted). How Students Learn Design: Lessons from the Classroom. Presentation at the 75th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Columbus, OH.

Huffman, T., Mentzer, N. & Thayer, H. (Accepted). Student Utilization of Modeling during Design. In the Council of Technology Teacher Educators at the 75th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Columbus, OH.

Mentzer, N., Becker, K. & Locker, C. (Accepted). Expert and Novice Design Thinking Comparison. In the Council of Technology Teacher Educators at the 75th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Columbus, OH.

Beckwith, L., Nunan C. & Mentzer, N. (Accepted). Human Centered Design Thinking in High School. In the Council of Technology Teacher Educators at the 75th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Columbus, OH.

Dewar, J., McKeever, Z. & Mentzer, N. (Accepted). Team Design Thinking performance in High School. In the Council of Technology Teacher Educators at the 75th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Columbus, OH.

Farrington, S. & Mentzer, N. (Accepted). Ideation in High School Team Design. In the Council of Technology Teacher Educators at the 75th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Columbus, OH.

Mentzer, N., Fosmire, M, Marsh, K. & Conklin, A. (Accepted). Information Literacy in Engineering Design. In the Council of Technology Teacher Educators at the 75th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Columbus, OH.

Zakaria, P. & Mentzer, N. (Accepted). High School Student Transition through Design Stages. In the Council of Technology Teacher Educators at the 75th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Columbus, OH.

Locker, C. & Mentzer, N. (Accepted). Rapid Prototyping in Context. Presentation at the 75th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Columbus, OH.

Mentzer, N., Becker, K., & Pieper, J. (2012). High School Student Design Thinking and Performance. In the Council of Technology Teacher Educators at the 74th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Long Beach, CA.

Pieper, J., Mentzer, N., & Becker, K. (2012). High School Student Information Sources and Design. In the Council of Technology Teacher Educators at the 74th Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Long Beach, CA.

Pieper, J. & Mentzer, N. (under review). High School Students’ Use of Paper Based and Internet Based Information Sources in the Engineering Design Process. Journal of Technology Education.

Becker, K. and Mentzer, N. (2012). High School Student Engineering Design Thinking and Performance. A paper presented at the 2012 World Engineering Education Forum (WEEF), October 15^th to 18^th, Buenos Aires, Argentina.   

Becker, K., Mentzer, N. & Park, K. (2012). High School Student Engineering Design Thinking and Performance. In the ASEE 2012 Annual Conference and Exposition, San Diego: California.

Dewar, J., McKeever, Z. & Mentzer, N. (2012). Design Team Performance in High School sTEm Education. In the Technology Leadership and Innovation Departmental Advisory Board Poster Session at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Beckwith, L., Nunan C. & Mentzer, N. (2012). High School Student Use of Human Centered Design. In the Technology Leadership and Innovation Departmental Advisory Board Poster Session at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Thayer, H., Huffman, T. & Mentzer, N. (2012). High School Student Generation and Unitization of Modeling During Design. In the Technology Leadership and Innovation Departmental Advisory Board Poster Session at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Locker, C. & Mentzer, N. (2012). Exploring Engineering Design Knowing and Thinking ad an Innovation in STEM Learning. In the Technology Leadership and Innovation Departmental Advisory Board Poster Session at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Farrington, S. & Mentzer, N. (2012). High School Student Information Gathering Behaviors while Designing. In the Technology Leadership and Innovation Departmental Advisory Board Poster Session at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Huffman, T. Thayer, H., & Mentzer, N. (2012). A Study Examining How High School Student Modeling during Engineering Design Challenges. Purdue University 2012 Annual Graduate Student Educational Research Symposium.

Thayer, H., Huffman, T. & Mentzer, N. (2012). Modeling by Design. Purdue University 2012 Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium. [won Dean’s Choice Award]

Beckwith, L., Nunan, C. & Mentzer, N. (2012). Human/User-Centered Design. Purdue University 2012 Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium.

Mentzer, N., Becker, K., & Park, K. (2011). High School Students as Novice Designers. In the ASEE 2011 Annual Conference and Exposition, Vancouver: Canada.

Mentzer, N. (2011). High School Engineering and Technology Education Integration through Design Challenges. Journal of sTEm Teacher Education, 48 (2).

Daugherty, J. L., Mentzer, N., & Kelley, T. (2011). Technology design and engineering design: Is there a difference? In the IAJC/ASEE International Joint Conference on Engineering and Related Technology, Hartford, Massachusetts.

Sayers, J. & Mentzer, N. (2011). Integrating 3D Scanners. Presentation at the Engineering/Technology Educators of Indiana Annual Conference; Indianapolis, IN.

Mentzer, N., Laux, C., & Pieper, J. (2011). Thinking Lean for Sustainability in the Classroom. Presentation at the 73nd Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Minneapolis, MN.

Park, K., Pieper, J., Mentzer, N., & Becker, K. (2011). Teacher Education Implications of a National Pilot Study on Design Thinking. In the Council of Technology Teacher Educators Poster Session at the 73nd Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference; Minneapolis, MN.

Farrington, S., Moseley, K., Beckwith, L. & Mentzer, N. (2011). High School Student Design Performance. Purdue University 2011 Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium.

Moseley, K., Farrington, S., Beckwith, L. & Mentzer, N. (2011). High School Student Information Gathering Behaviors while Designing. Purdue University 2011 Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium.

Butler, I., Laux, C. & Mentzer, N. (2011). How Students Learn Through Lean Simulation. Purdue University 2011 Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium.

Mentzer, N. (2011). Good to Great Initiative: High School Design Thinking. Technology Leadership and Innovation Departmental Advisory Board Fall 2011. West Lafayette, IN.

Mentzer, N. (2011). Grant Writing for Teachers. Purdue University Technology Education Collegiate Association: professional development series. West Lafayette, IN.

Mentzer, N. (2011). Engineering design thinking and information gathering (Final Report to the National Center for Engineering and Technology Education, Logan Utah). West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University. Available online: http://ncete.org/flash/pdfs/Mentzer%20Final%20Report.pdf.

Mentzer, N. (2011). High School Design Thinking: Making Meaning of the Mess. Institute for P-12 Engineering Research and Learning Advisory Board Spring 2011. West Lafayette, IN.

Mentzer, N. (2011). Implications of Those Damn Kappa Values. Institute for P-12 Engineering Research and Learning Bi Weekly Seminar. West Lafayette, IN.

Mentzer, N. (2011). Design Thinking and Information Gathering. National Center for Engineering and Technology Education Preconference Research symposium at the 73nd Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference. Minneapolis, MN.

Mentzer, N. (2011). Exploring Engineering Design Knowing and Thinking as an Innovation in STEM Learning. National Center for Engineering and Technology Education Preconference Research symposium at the 73nd Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference. Minneapolis, MN.

Mentzer, N., Austin, C., Denson, C., Dixon, R. & Lawanto, O. (2011). Panel Session: Inter-Institutional Research Collaboration. National Center for Engineering and Technology Education Preconference Research symposium at the 73nd Annual International Technology & Engineering Education Association Annual Conference. Minneapolis, MN.

Mentzer, N. (2011). Biodiesel in the Classroom. Purdue University Technology Education Collegiate Association: professional development series. [Note this presentation is repeated from 2009]

Mathis, P. & Mentzer, N. (2011). Classroom Resources for Civil Engineering. Children’s Technology and Engineering 15 (4), 12-14.

Mathis, P. & Mentzer, N. (2011). Classroom Resources for Environmental Engineering. Children’s Technology and Engineering 15 (3), 12-14.

Daugherty, J. L., Mentzer, N., & Lybrook, D. (2010). Perspectives on technology leadership. In the Technological Learning and Thinking: Culture, Design, Sustainability, Human Ingenuity International Conference Proceedings, Vancouver: Canada.

Park, K., Pieper, J., Mentzer, N., & Becker, K. (2010). Exploring Engineering Design Knowing and Thinking as an Innovation in STEM Learning. In the P12 Engineering and Design Education Research Summit Proceedings, Seaside: Oregon.

Mentzer, N., & Pieper, J. (2010). Exploring Engineering Design Knowing and Thinking as an Innovation in STEM Learning. In the ACET Engineering and technology Education Division and Association for sTEm Teacher Education (ACTE) Joint Research Symposium at the Association for Career and Technical Education annual Conference: Las Vegas, NV.

Denson, C., & Mentzer, N. (2010). Using Modified Verbal Protocol to Assess Engineering Design Thinking of High School Student Teams. Common Ground Publishing: Design Principles and Practices Conference; Chicago, IL.

Lammi, M., Mentzer, N., & Denson, C. (2010). How students think and learn with STEM design. Presentation at the 72nd Annual International Technology Education Association Annual Conference; Charlotte, NC.

Mentzer, N. & Becker, K. (2010). Academic Preparedness as a Predictor of Achievement in an Engineering Design Challenge. Journal of Technology Education, 22 (1).

Pieper, J. &  Mentzer, N. (2010). Classroom Resources for Mechanical Engineering. Children’s Technology and Engineering, 15(1), 14-15.

Becker, K. & Mentzer, N. & (2010). Exploring Engineering Design Knowing and Thinking as an Innovation in STEM Learning. DRK12 Principal Investigators Annual Meeting. Washington, D. C.

Adamo-Villani, N., Cooper¸ S., Kelley, T., Laux, C., & Mentzer, N. (2009). STEM Education Research. Purdue University, College of Technology Presidential Provost Visit.

Mentzer, N. (2009). Biodiesel in the Classroom. Purdue University Technology Education Collegiate Association: professional development series.

Mentzer, N. & Becker, K. (2009). Exploring Engineering Design Knowing and Thinking as an Innovation in STEM Learning. DRK12 Principal Investigators Annual Meeting. Washington, D. C.

Mentzer, N. & Becker, K. (2009). Motivation while Designing in Engineering and Technology Education Impacted by Academic Preparation. Journal of Industrial Teacher Education, 46(3), 90-112.