Analysis of undergraduate students’ learning experience regarding hands on laboratory courses using new innovated techniques of hybrid delivery

MD Shahriar Jahan Hossain; Rafiqul Islam

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Conference: ASEE 2021 Gulf-Southwest Annual Conference
Location: Waco, Texas
Publication Date: March 24, 2021
Start Date: March 24, 2021
End Date: March 26, 2021
Page Count: 11
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--36360
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/36360
Download Count: 460

Paper Authors

biography

MD Shahriar Jahan Hossain Northwestern State University

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Dr. Hossain is currently serving as an endowed Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology at Northwestern State University, LA. He earned his PhD degree in the industrial engineering area, from Louisiana State University, under a fellowship funded by EDA Program. He has 11 years of teaching, research and consultation experience in industrial and production engineering. His current research interest includes manufacturing process optimization, operations research, lean production systems, supply chain management and inventory control. He is a member of DSI, INFORMS and IISE.

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biography

Rafiqul Islam Northwestern State University of Louisiana

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Biography

Dr. RAFIQUL ISLAM has been a faculty of the Northwestern State University at Natchitoches, Louisiana in the department of Engineering Technology since January, 2000. He had been the faculty of the DeVry University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for five years. He also taught for four years at the West Coast University, Los Angeles, California. He has four years of working experience in the areas of communications and computer applications in power and control systems. His areas of interest include automation and control, alternative energy systems, cellular and PCS phones, microwave and satellite systems, fiber optics, wireline and wireless LANs and WANs, biomedical engineering technology.

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Abstract

Year 2020 witnessed a severe adverse effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the engineering and technology education, especially, where laboratory based hands-on activities are integral parts of the learning process. Due to the health risk and CDC guidelines, several universities all over the United States switched to online instructions, mostly relying on virtual lecture delivery tools and simulation software which substitute some lab-based activities. This research is oriented to offer and evaluate the effectiveness of some new methods for lab-based course instruction and assessment. Several courses offered in the Engineering Technology department at NSU, including Manufacturing Processes, Technical Drafting, Electrical Principals and Digital Electronics, require lab-based hands-on activities for strengthening theoretical knowledge. However, the face-to-face meeting with the students in these courses have been restricted due to the pandemic since March 2020. In this situation, we offered several innovative hands-on learning methods and assessment tools customizing respective course requirements. These methods include, (i) giving small individual project, (ii) distributing equipment to the student allowing work at home, (iii) using simulation software, and (iv) providing video instruction for the hands-on activity. The performance of the students are assessed by (v) oral presentation and viva, (vi) random quiz from large question bank, (vii) structured report writing, (viii) personalized lab test by random experimental setup, and (ix) video/picture/product submission from the completed hands-on activity. The effectiveness of these methods and tools is evaluated by a structured survey among the respective students, on a five-point Likert scale defined as, 1—very unsatisfied, 2—unsatisfied, 3—neutral, 4—satisfied, and 5—very satisfied. Statistical analysis of the survey result supports the hypothesis that the students are at least satisfied (H0: µ ≥ 4) with the instruction methods and assessment tools in all four courses listed above. We, in the Engineering Technology department, are continuing our research with several other innovative ideas focused on improving student’s learning experience in online and hybrid environment.

Citation
Format

Hossain, M. S. J., & Islam, R. (2021, March), Analysis of undergraduate students’ learning experience regarding hands on laboratory courses using new innovated techniques of hybrid delivery Paper presented at ASEE 2021 Gulf-Southwest Annual Conference, Waco, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--36360

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Year 2020 witnessed a severe adverse effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the engineering and technology education, especially, where laboratory based hands-on activities are integral parts of the learning process. Due to the health risk and CDC guidelines, several universities all over the United States switched to online instructions, mostly relying on virtual lecture delivery tools and simulation software which substitute some lab-based activities. This research is oriented to offer and evaluate the effectiveness of some new methods for lab-based course instruction and assessment. Several courses offered in the Engineering Technology department at NSU, including Manufacturing Processes, Technical Drafting, Electrical Principals and Digital Electronics, require lab-based hands-on activities for strengthening theoretical knowledge. However, the face-to-face meeting with the students in these courses have been restricted due to the pandemic since March 2020. In this situation, we offered several innovative hands-on learning methods and assessment tools customizing respective course requirements. These methods include, (i) giving small individual project, (ii) distributing equipment to the student allowing work at home, (iii) using simulation software, and (iv) providing video instruction for the hands-on activity. The performance of the students are assessed by (v) oral presentation and viva, (vi) random quiz from large question bank, (vii) structured report writing, (viii) personalized lab test by random experimental setup, and (ix) video/picture/product submission from the completed hands-on activity. The effectiveness of these methods and tools is evaluated by a structured survey among the respective students, on a five-point Likert scale defined as, 1—very unsatisfied, 2—unsatisfied, 3—neutral, 4—satisfied, and 5—very satisfied. Statistical analysis of the survey result supports the hypothesis that the students are at least satisfied (H0: µ ≥ 4) with the instruction methods and assessment tools in all four courses listed above. We, in the Engineering Technology department, are continuing our research with several other innovative ideas focused on improving student’s learning experience in online and hybrid environment.
AU  - MD Shahriar Jahan Hossain
AU  - Rafiqul Islam
CY  - Waco, Texas
DA  - 2021/03/24
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Analysis of undergraduate students’ learning experience regarding hands on laboratory courses using new innovated techniques of hybrid delivery
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/36360
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--36360
ER  -