Hybrid Course Design: Leading a New Direction in Learning Programming Languages

Lulu Sun; Matthew Kindy; Caroline Liron; Christopher D. Grant; Shirley Anne Waterhouse

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Conference: 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Publication Date: June 10, 2012
Start Date: June 10, 2012
End Date: June 13, 2012
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Aerospace Technical Session
Tagged Division: Aerospace
Page Count: 14
Page Numbers: 25.705.1 - 25.705.14
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--21462
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/21462
Download Count: 302

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Paper Authors

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Lulu Sun Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

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Lulu Sun is an Associate Professor in the Department of Freshman Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she has taught since 2006. She received her B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Harbin Engineering University (China), in 1999, and her Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from University of California, Riverside, in 2006. Before joining Embry-riddle, she worked in the consulting firm of Arup at its Los Angeles office as a Fire Engineer. Her research interests include pedagogy in engineering education and fire behavior study. She is a professional member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineer and a member of the American Society of Engineering Education and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering.

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Matthew Kindy Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

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Matthew Kindy is an instructor in the Freshman Engineering and the Electrical, Computer, Software, and Systems Engineering departments of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He obtained his B.S. in chemistry from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.; his BS in applied mathematics from Purdue University, Calumet, Hammond, Ind.; and his M.S. in computer science from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla. His research interests include the use of multimedia in introductory programming courses, hardware applications for the new programmer, and the application of real-world experiences in the learning process.

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Caroline Liron Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

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Caroline Liron is an Assistant Professor in the Freshman Engineering Department, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), where she has been teaching since 2005. She obtained her bachelor's in aeronautics and space from EPF, Ecole d'Ingénieur (France), and her M.S. in aerospace engineering from ERAU. She currently teaches Introduction to Programming for Engineers and Introduction to Engineering. She is also involved in advising various robotic projects, including the Lunabotic Competition Team, and researching improvements methods to teach programming to incoming freshmen using new technologies.

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Christopher D. Grant Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

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Christopher Grant is the Associate Dean of the College of Engineering and Chair of the Freshman Engineering Department. His teaching at ERAU includes Introduction to Engineering, Introduction to Transportation Engineering, Computer Applications in Transportation, Airport Design I, and Airport Design II. Current research projects include leading the NSF Research Experience for Teachers in Engineering (http://www.ret-erau.com/) and Remote Airfield Lighting Systems funded by the FAA through the Center for General Aviation Research. And Grant has also led the Engineering Scholars Program at Embry-Riddle (ESPER) for the past four years, a program to introduce high-achieving to engineering and engineering fields.

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Shirley Anne Waterhouse Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

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Shirley Waterhouse is the Senior Director of the Office of Academic Excellence and Innovation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach. She is the author of six books, and the most recent is the Power of eLearning: The Essential Guide for Teaching in the Digital Age. Prior to her administrative role at Embry-Riddle, she was a professor in the Computer Science Department and won the outstanding teaching award, bestowed by graduating seniors, 11 out of 14 semesters. Waterhouse is a frequent keynote speaker and consultant on elearning, both nationally and internationally.

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Abstract

Hybrid Course Design: Leading a New Direction in Learning Programming Languages “Introduction to Computing for Engineers” is a programming course emphasizing problem solving. However, the lack of time for practice in addition to the algorithm‐centric nature of programming results in an inadequate comprehension of course material. To give students more “hands‐on” learning, rather than expecting them to absorb content through lecture, starting in the fall of 2010 three faculty members initiated the creation and implementation of online activities consisting of video lecture slides, and mini on‐line quizzes at Embry‐Riddle Aeronautical University. Students do online lecture study by themselves, then come to the lab to do the practice on the following day with instructor and teaching assistant. In the fall of 2010, four out of ten sections were delivered using hybrid instruction. Analysis of exam results at the end of the semester showed no significant distinction between hybrid learning and traditional study. Feedback received from the students indicates that the majority of students preferred the hybrid course over the traditional course. Students who took the hybrid course during this semester are happy with their hybrid experience. These positive results encouraged faculty members to increase the number of hybrid sections to four during the spring of 2011 and the fall of 2011 semester. They continued the hybrid course design and the course wide assessment. In this paper, improvement of the online video design is introduced, and assessment results are presented. It is believed that by switching from the traditional classroom to hybrid learning, students’ comprehension of the course content will be improved, in addition to their interest and subsequent retention in engineering.

Citation
Format

Sun, L., & Kindy, M., & Liron, C., & Grant, C. D., & Waterhouse, S. A. (2012, June), Hybrid Course Design: Leading a New Direction in Learning Programming Languages Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--21462

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -      Hybrid Course Design: Leading a New Direction in Learning Programming                                    Languages   “Introduction  to  Computing  for  Engineers”  is  a  programming  course  emphasizing  problem solving.  However,  the  lack  of  time  for  practice  in  addition  to  the  algorithm‐centric  nature  of programming  results  in  an  inadequate  comprehension  of  course  material.    To  give  students more  “hands‐on”  learning,  rather  than  expecting  them  to  absorb  content  through  lecture, starting in the fall of 2010 three faculty members initiated the creation and implementation of online  activities  consisting  of  video  lecture  slides,  and  mini  on‐line  quizzes  at  Embry‐Riddle Aeronautical University. Students do online lecture study by themselves, then come to the lab to do the practice on the following day with instructor and teaching assistant. In the fall of 2010, four out of ten sections were delivered using hybrid instruction. Analysis of exam results at the end of the semester showed no significant distinction between hybrid learning and traditional study.  Feedback received from the students indicates that the majority of students preferred the hybrid course over the traditional course. Students who took the hybrid course during this semester  are  happy  with  their  hybrid  experience.  These  positive  results  encouraged  faculty members to increase the number of hybrid sections to four during the spring of 2011 and the fall of 2011 semester. They continued the hybrid course design and the course wide assessment.   In this paper, improvement of the online video design is introduced, and assessment results are presented.  It  is  believed  that  by  switching  from  the  traditional  classroom  to  hybrid  learning, students’ comprehension of the course content will be improved, in addition to their interest and subsequent retention in engineering.  
AU  - Lulu Sun
AU  - Matthew Kindy
AU  - Caroline Liron
AU  - Christopher D. Grant
AU  - Shirley Anne Waterhouse
CY  - San Antonio, Texas
DA  - 2012/06/10
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Hybrid Course Design: Leading a New Direction in Learning Programming Languages 
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/21462
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--21462
ER  -