Conference Session

Professional Papers

Collection

2025 ASEE Southeast Conference

Authors

Simon Thomas Ghanat P.E., The Citadel; Scott Curtis, The Citadel

Tagged Topics

Professional Papers

geotechnical systems. A homework assignment andconcept map activity were then created to assess these outcomes. Below is a brief description ofeach assessment activity.Concept MapsAccording to [9], a concept map can serve as a teaching technique, learning tool, and anassessment instrument. Concept maps are graphical tools that depict knowledge structures [10]and illustrate relationships between concepts, revealing gaps requiring instructional focus [11].For students, concept maps offer a meaningful way to analyze and organize knowledge. Theyalso help instructors assess understanding and identify learning gaps, enabling adjustments tooptimize concept sequencing and coverage [10]. As an assessment activity, students createdconcept maps, drawing arrows

Conference Session

Professional Papers

Collection

2025 ASEE Southeast Conference

Authors

Shenghua Wu, University of South Alabama; Min-Wook Kang, University of South Alabama; John Cleary, University of South Alabama; Lisa LaCross, University of South Alabama

Tagged Topics

Diversity, Professional Papers

abilities,such as incorporating peer-based exchanges [1], project-based goals, and structured writingsessions [6], [7]. Other approaches include developing outlines, creating concept maps duringpeer-review activities, and following structured guidelines that encourage critical analysis andeffective communication of scientific topics [8]. James [9] proposed a series of specific strategiesto improve technical writing, including: analyzing which technical terms, concepts, andabbreviations are appropriate given a document’s purpose, genre, context, and intended readers;ensuring the sequence of ideas is logical and signaling relationships among sections for clarity;alternating between claims and supporting evidence; reducing the density of ideas; using