most comprehensive – it lacked peerinput for team members. The students may experience something on a daily basis thatmay not be observed in a meeting – missed deadlines, lack of contributions – all elementsthat should be included when grades are issued.In order to address this challenge, the capstone advisor implemented a self-gradingrequirement. Twice a semester, at the mid-point and end, students have to grade theirwork as well as their peers. During this self-evaluation, no rubrics are provided; thestudent is responsible for not only detailing their contribution, but also supporting theirgrade selection with prose and examples of their work.In order to quantify the team-grading structure and determine its efficacy, as well asidentify
: 1) Mid-term presentation to the project manager and other faculty members associated with the project 2) Final presentation to the faculty members in the department and to the sponsorsIn addition, clinic students with or without the assistance of graduate students may writequarterly reports, visit the sponsor and make presentations, and write peer reviewed conferenceproceedings and journal papers. The overall objectives of the clinic and the grading guidelinesare shown below. These objectives and the grading guidelines were developed by a committeeof faculty members and are applicable to all engineering clinics. The author has adopted theseobjectives and grading guidelines. In addition to the overall clinic objectives, project
, granular flow, computational mechanics, and plates and shells, and results of his research have been published in more than 150 peer-reviewed journal papers. At present, he has been awarded an NSF-CCLI research grant. Page 15.1094.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Story-Centred Learning in a Computer-Based EnvironmentAbstract - This paper reports on implementations of active learning strategies carried out for thecivil engineering courses. Specifically, the activities are performed by students in a computer-simulated environment, in which they are assigned a role and follow a mission. As a
a presentation; (3) review feedback and revise slides; and (4) write and post areflection. This assignment enables students to • Demonstrate their understanding of a specific fluid mechanics concept; • Apply a specific fluid mechanics concept to a real-world situation; • Communicate their application in a clear, concise manner to their peers; • Design visuals to accurately demonstrate a concept; • Provide and accept constructive criticism; and • Reflect on their learning.The App was introduced in fall 2010 to improve both instructor teaching and student learningand to connect learning outcomes more explicitly with engineering practice. The App integratedthe core principles of effective teaching and learning with
pedagogy, we found them surprising.As a result of this survey, it became clear to us that many of our university’s instructors neededto be engaged in more conversation and training around pedagogical research, rather than beingleft to come to their own conclusions about what they feel the most important elements of theirpedagogy are. We may not have anticipated this particular need when we began designing theITM, but it is precisely the kind of opportunity it was designed for nonetheless.Beginning in the fall of 2020, the commission began to integrate the ITM into many of thepedagogical development activities it offers: actively during the annual workshop andconference, during new faculty training, and voluntary peer observation, as well as
scientific research. Finally, this activity encouragesstudents to practice making explicit connections between mathematical concepts, real-worldengineering problems, and policy.“Graph Theory and Gratitude”In the second activity, designed for the closing weeks of a course, students are invited to writenotes of appreciation, anonymous or otherwise, for peers who have elevated their learningexperience during the semester (additional details in Appendix B). These notes are collected anddistributed to their intended recipients; based on the flow of notes, the instructor constructs ananonymized directed graph (Figure 2).This activity reinforces numerouslearning objectives. At a basic level,by presenting yet another context inwhich a data set is
group work done by others and write a comprehensive peer-review report ≠ Student will communicate and debate the merits of engineering design alternatives in both written and oral formatsAfter the learning outcomes were specified, the next step was specifying the course structure andcontent. The course would focus on a single major design experience, and the basic structureshould allow for different structural systems to be considered at different years, depending on theexpertise of the main faculty member in charge of the course. Project-based learning is ideallysuited to this course as it is centered on a project that is characterized by a well-defined outcome,or deliverable, and an ill-defined task. This is exactly the
model usesdeviations (greater than or less than) from the centroid, essentially the middle point for allvalues. The BSTAM software can do this by writing the same constraint twice, first goal forpenalizing below the target and a second goal for penalizing above the target. These twoformulations are essentially similar since penalizing team levels above or below a target valuewill tend to bring the teams close to the average or target value essentially accomplishing thesame objective.Current techniques for solving binary variables and a quadratic objective function create difficultproblems in optimization, as pointed out in the literature (Bhadury et al., 2000)5. The BSTAMsource code is written in Visual Basic for Applications within Microsoft
Auckland. At the time of this writing, theproject for the 2020 implementation of the Capstone course has not been selected.2.2 Team Formation and Initial Communications to StudentsAbout halfway through Semester 1, students are given a brief overview of the Capstone projectand begin forming themselves into teams using a specific software application with the guidanceof Capstone course coordinators. In the Capstone Project, students generally work in teams of nine(with a few exceptions depending on the total enrolment). Experience from a trial year and twoyears of large classes in the Capstone course has shown that with six major specialisations withinCivil Engineering, a team of nine works well. Teams of eight are workable, but if a
Curriculum, Proceedings, 2002 ASEE Annual Conference, Montreal.20. Rose, A.T. (2001). Using the Peer Review Process to Implement Writing Assignments in an Engineering Technology Course, Proceedings, 2001 ASEE Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM. Page 13.1257.12
achievedstandard format project reports. this outcome. Table 2: Summary of Assessment ResultsConclusionsThe three-week geotechnical project developed by the author for the ItE course successfullyachieved the desired student learning outcomes related to geotechnical engineering. There wereno significant challenges associated with the project; however, to improve student writing, anadditional day could be added to the project to provide opportunities for peer review of draftreports.The project provided many benefits beyond the achievement of the desired learning outcomesincluding low cost, easy course preparation, significant student interest and engagement, andimproved student
.) • Writing Consultant (CLEAR) 4910 15 to 30 3 • Oral Presentation Consultant (CLEAR)Original Instructor Team Model within the Professional Skills SpineAs initially conceived, each of the three courses utilized an instructional team to organize,facilitate and delivery instruction, and provide feedback to the students. Table 2 shows typicalclass sizes, the number of times that the class has been offered in an academic year, and theinstructor team in each of the courses. The instructor teams and the courses were specificallydesigned to integrate with the Communications, Leadership, Ethics, and Research (CLEAR)Program in the College of Engineering at University of Utah.In the original model, the lead instructor was a
dialogues. However, instructor facilitation may result in an instructor-centered discussion whichlimit students’ participation and voice [18], and student-facilitated discussions provide analternative approach. Peer facilitation can foster a sense of student ownership and help studentsfeel more at ease in expressing their opinions [19], and allow practical hands-on experience ofbeing a discussion facilitator [18]. Compared to instructor-facilitated discussions, research onstudent-facilitated discussions is still limited focusing more on the student facilitation techniques[11], [20]. This study aims to explore how overall design and management of student-facilitateddiscussions influence peer interaction and critical thinking in engineering
-class, student presentations are an effective way to inspire student engagement whilesimultaneously improving communication skills. As part of three different civil engineeringcourses including infrastructure, structures, and sustainability at West Point and MississippiState, the authors have introduced a student presentation concept dubbed “Two-Minute Follies.”This paper discusses and demonstrates with supporting data that Two-Minute Follies are simpleto execute, consume a small amount of time, and engage students more directly in their owneducation while at the same time building the student’s presentation confidence and style. Byengaging the student in a direct way that provides an opportunity to share with their peers, thestudent is
investigate the development of technology in civil, mechanical,chemical, and electrical engineering in the context of historical case studies. As part of thecourse, students working in groups prepare and present an engineering history case study. Thestudents, working in groups of 3 to 5, write technical papers and present their results on the lastday of class. This allows the student groups to develop and demonstrate their communicationskills as well as their mastery of the course concepts. The student projects provide otherbenefits. Projects that are done well can be incorporated into future offerings of the course. Anexample is how the development and eventual decline of the Ohio canal system influenced thegrowth of the state’s economy, and how the
, he has written a number of peer reviewed journal articles and conference papers, as well as co-authored a book chapter and a technical guidance manual.Dr. David A. Veshosky, Lafayette College David Veshosky has a bachelor’s of civil engineering degree from Catholic University; a master’s in sci- ence, technology, and public policy from George Washington University; and a Ph.D. in business and economics from Lehigh University. He teaches courses in engineering economics and project manage- ment at Lafayette College. His current research interests involve sustainable development. Page 25.7.1
professional engineer.”3 Appropriate attitudes are also necessary. Attitudesdetermine how an engineer uses knowledge and skills and they reflect one’s values and how oneperceives and reacts to the world.4 Johnston5 writes, “An attitude is simply a predisposition toapproach or avoid an idea, event, person or object. In other words, it is a tendency to act in oneway or another toward an ‘attitude object.’" Attitudes do not exist in a vacuum; they require anobject toward which to act. Attitudes can be positive and negative and either might beappropriate given the object toward which the attitude acts.Several have shown that “attitudes” are important in the effective use of knowledge and skillswhen accomplishing engineering tasks. Elms noted that “besides
toquestions such as "Who am I ?" at the beginning of the course provides the opportunity for suchpractice. We also recommend that students critique each other's concept maps. The opportunityto offer peer feedback further exposes students to the rules and expectations for conceptmapping. This scaffolding approach is expected to improve the quality of the pre- and post-evaluation of the concept maps during module implementation.Furthermore, reflective writing is a useful tool for having students reflect on their personalexperiences while surprisingly teaching students empathy. The act of looking beyond their ownexperiences to the experiences of various stakeholders appears to have created opportunities forstudents to consider broader social and
balcony. The Competition was limitedby requiring students to design alternative viable solutions and using the alternative solutionsas the Competition. Each member of the group had to investigate and design a uniqueframing plan. Finally, the Benefits were to be articulated through evaluation metrics considered in the design such as cost and constructability. An example of the written proposal is shown in Appendix 1.3.) Peer Evaluation (10%) Two rubric evaluations are conducted. Failure to complete the peer reviews by the deadline will result in zero score for the peer evaluation portion of the project. Due: Wednesday, November 28, 2018 & Friday, December 7, 20184.) Presentation (15%) Each team is to give a
curriculum. This teaching method encouragessenior students to arrange their tasks to meet their individual schedule limitations. But even atthis stage students have problems to manage their tasks: 19% wrote that they had difficultiesresulting from the freedom in time and place.In contrast to the many advantages that were seen, 39% wrote that they missed the personalcontact to the lecturer. The possibility to ask questions in the moment they arise, thediscussion with the lecturer, the whole area of verbal and non-verbal communication isseverely reduced. To write the questions and post them to the forum, where they are availablefor all peers was a severe disadvantage for 24% of the participants.The motivation of the participants was manifold. It
introductory engineering course required by multiple programs in the College ofEngineering [Kunberger and Geiger, 2015, Kunberger, Geiger and Reycraft, 2016]. One aspect,the addition of Mentor TAs, was intended to develop informal near-peer mentor experiences,considered a “practice-based” mentoring initiative [Packard, 2016]. These students would servenot only as a traditional TA in providing feedback on course deliverables, but would also serveas a mentor within this first course in engineering in order to increase retention and promote amore inclusive culture in the college.The most recent evolution of the introductory engineering course added a summer trainingworkshop for course Mentor TAs. This 30-hour workshop took place over a one-week period
) program to support courses implementing significant active learningexperiences [10]; implementation of curricular peer mentoring and hiring of a PostdoctoralTeaching Fellow into the School of Engineering to serve as an embedded expert. While theseinterventions are all highly synergistic with each other and with broader university-levelinterventions, the introduction of a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow in the School of Engineeringserved as a keystone to the Engaged Learning Initiative. The first engineering Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow was present in the school fromAugust 2014 – May 2015 (PDTF A), and the second from August 2016 - present (PDTF B).Both PDTFs were hired through an open external search process, with the explicit goal that
School Psychology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has extensive research experience in the field of psy- chology. Her thesis explored the influence of individual differences in executive functioning on learning outcomes in active learning environments.Dr. Chuang Wang, University of Macau Dr. Wang is Distinguished Professor of Quantitative Research Methodology at the University of Macau. His expertise includes educational research design, statistical data analyses, and program evaluation. He has published 7 books, 19 book chapters, 103 peer-reviewed journal articles, and 12 conference proceed- ings. Dr. Wang also has 18 invited presentations and 98 paper presentations at national and international
; and practiced technical writing and communicationexercises. In a class project, students worked in teams of three to four to apply Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) principles forevaluation of proposed Community Development Plans or Redevelopment Projects. The projectassignment required teams to: a. Develop a proposal, b. Perform analysis, interpret findings, and provide recommendations, and c. Summarize study and results in a final report and PowerPoint presentation.Each team conducted an assessment of the principles and resulting LEED-ND scores that wouldbe achieved for the community area plan assigned to them. The selected sites included: CahabaHeights Community Plan, Calara
topics intended to guide students in their senior capstone design project andas they approach their transition from student to young engineers beginning a professionalcareer. Expert practitioners, some of whom are part of the IDS industry advisory team, areinvited to give one-hour seminars on following topics: • Introduction to the IDS Project Selected Page 11.1008.5 • Writing Reports and Giving Presentations • Environmental and Permitting Aspects of the Project Table 1. Suggested Outline for Final Report • Title page with date • Cover letter (from team to client) • Acknowledgements
on Undergraduate Research, undergraduate research is defined as “aninquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate student that makes an originalintellectual or creative contribution to the discipline [1].” As stated in literature, undergraduateswho conduct research show improvements in thinking independently, thinking critically, puttingideas together, solving problems, analyzing data, analyzing literature, interpreting researchfindings, conducting ethical research, writing and communicating [2-9]. Literature also assertsthat it is rare for students to have enough opportunity to gain higher-order thinking skills fromtheir undergraduate research experiences [10].Students involved in undergraduate research also report outcomes that may
rapport with my students, while initiallygood, became great during each term. I have had students who now, a year or two aftercompleting the course, still like to engage me in conversation about geo-poetry. The teachingportfolio essays, referenced previously, indicate that I was having fun and while I feltuncomfortable reading the poetry, I was notably very confident in the other aspects of myteaching. Perhaps the most significant measure of my post-poetry confidence is the frequencywith which I share this experience with my peers and indeed my interest in writing thisconference paper.A total of 35 students were enrolled in my two sections of the Spring 2012 administration ofCE371. Of those 35 students, 3 graduated from the Academy and 1 was no
instructors. These benefits caninclude increased learning gain3,4, flexibility5-15, increased interaction with peers and theinstructor6,8,9,12,13,16-22, improved professional skills20,23, and increased student engagement andpreparation9,13,25,26. Based, in part, on the potential benefits identified in previous studies, ajunior-level transportation engineering course was converted into a flipped format. This paperaims to investigate student perspectives on various components of the course. In particular, thefollowing research questions will be addressed. 1. Are students prepared to take a flipped course? 2. What are student perspectives on a flipped transportation engineering course?Course DescriptionCE 355: Principles of Transportation
instructor goes around answering students questions, providing guidance and/orcorrecting their mistakes as needed. Thereafter, the faculty continue with the succeeding part ofthe lesson. Throughout the years, students have positively evaluated this format emphasizing thatinstantaneous correction of errors by the instructor or the students’ peers is of a tremendousbenefit to the students and helps them understand the subsequent professor’s explanation withinthe same lecture.Students rarely use their graded exams to study and many just quickly go over their gradedassignments without giving the necessary attention to their errors, let alone discoveringalternative solution methods to the same problems. The reality is that many students seldom usethe
of flipping a large fluid mechanics course isassociated with small but positive improvements to quiz and final exam performance. However,it is best to rely on other indicators beyond course performance in order to more accuratelydepict the impact of a course transformation. To supplement the results of the quantitativeanalyses, student comments about the course and instructor observations of the transformationimplementation were assessed. Students found the work sessions to be very effective, enjoyedcollaborating with peers and the instructor, and thought the online videos were helpful. Theinstructor indicated that the benefits of the flipped class include the following: heightenedstudent engagement during class periods; greatly increased