The iCollaborate MSE Project: Progress Update 2013

Kathleen L Kitto; Debra S. Jusak

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Conference: 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Publication Date: June 23, 2013
Start Date: June 23, 2013
End Date: June 26, 2013
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: NSF Grantees' Poster Session
Tagged Topic: NSF Grantees Poster Session
Page Count: 20
Page Numbers: 23.1204.1 - 23.1204.20
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--22589
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/22589
Download Count: 495

Paper Authors

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Kathleen L Kitto Western Washington University

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Kathleen L. Kitto is currently the acting vice provost for research and the dean of the Graduate School. Additionally, she serves as special assistant to the provost for strategic initiatives. She is a faculty member within the Department of Engineering Technology and specializes in Materials Science and Engineering.

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Debra S. Jusak Western Washington University

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Dr. Jusak is vice provost for academic resources. She is also a professor, having taught computer science for twenty-two years.

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Abstract

The iCollaborate MSE Project: Progress Update 2013The iCollaborate Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) project is a comprehensiveresearch program that has an overarching goal of improving student outcomes inintroductory materials courses. The project is multifaceted and includes severalinterwoven components, all of which are based on literature based best practices inSTEM education. The project components include: a detailed study of pre-courseknowledge and misperceptions, an investigation of student preparation influencing courseoutcomes, an analysis of Index of Learning Styles (ILS) data, a switch to inductiveteaching practices which include collaborative, active learning modules and concept/peerlearning opportunities, collaborative writing of research papers, low stakes quizzing, thedevelopment of targeted iPod applications that promote enhanced student understandingof known conceptual difficulties, MSE vocabulary terms, visual and conceptuallycontained presentations of material properties, material calculators and conversion tools,and the development of a web site based upon concept maps with web applicationversions of the iPod applications. The project includes formative and summativeassessment elements.This paper focuses on previously unreported components of the iCollaborate project thatwere researched, analyzed or developed during the 2011-2012 academic year. A detailedanalysis of student preparation coupled with the comprehensive study of pre-courseconceptual knowledge and misperceptions provided particularly rich and extremelyinformative data sets that are outlined in this paper. Additionally, students perceive thatlow stakes quizzing improve personal outcomes more than the targeted, collaborative andactive modules and iPod applications, but traditional test scores indicate all three enhancecertain student learning outcomes when at least two are present. The entire suite of MSEiPod applications developed for this project (Concept Questions, Vocabulary, BasicKnowledge, Tune-Up, Material Properties, Composite Calculator, MSE Convert, MSEKnowledge Tools and Review) is described in detail. The supporting web site for theproject is currently under development, is concept mapped based, built upon studentinput/assessments, and targeted to address known conceptual difficulties in MSE. Theconcept map base for the project is reported in this paper. The paper concludes with adescription of the remaining objectives for the iCollaborate project for the next academicyear and further dissemination plans. At the conclusion of the project, all materials willbe placed on the NSF sponsored National Science Digital Library (NSDL).The National Science Foundation is supporting the project (NSF CCLI/TUES #XXXX).

Citation
Format

Kitto, K. L., & Jusak, D. S. (2013, June), The iCollaborate MSE Project: Progress Update 2013 Paper presented at 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--22589

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -                           The iCollaborate MSE Project:                              Progress Update 2013The iCollaborate Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) project is a comprehensiveresearch program that has an overarching goal of improving student outcomes inintroductory materials courses. The project is multifaceted and includes severalinterwoven components, all of which are based on literature based best practices inSTEM education. The project components include: a detailed study of pre-courseknowledge and misperceptions, an investigation of student preparation influencing courseoutcomes, an analysis of Index of Learning Styles (ILS) data, a switch to inductiveteaching practices which include collaborative, active learning modules and concept/peerlearning opportunities, collaborative writing of research papers, low stakes quizzing, thedevelopment of targeted iPod applications that promote enhanced student understandingof known conceptual difficulties, MSE vocabulary terms, visual and conceptuallycontained presentations of material properties, material calculators and conversion tools,and the development of a web site based upon concept maps with web applicationversions of the iPod applications. The project includes formative and summativeassessment elements.This paper focuses on previously unreported components of the iCollaborate project thatwere researched, analyzed or developed during the 2011-2012 academic year. A detailedanalysis of student preparation coupled with the comprehensive study of pre-courseconceptual knowledge and misperceptions provided particularly rich and extremelyinformative data sets that are outlined in this paper. Additionally, students perceive thatlow stakes quizzing improve personal outcomes more than the targeted, collaborative andactive modules and iPod applications, but traditional test scores indicate all three enhancecertain student learning outcomes when at least two are present. The entire suite of MSEiPod applications developed for this project (Concept Questions, Vocabulary, BasicKnowledge, Tune-Up, Material Properties, Composite Calculator, MSE Convert, MSEKnowledge Tools and Review) is described in detail. The supporting web site for theproject is currently under development, is concept mapped based, built upon studentinput/assessments, and targeted to address known conceptual difficulties in MSE. Theconcept map base for the project is reported in this paper. The paper concludes with adescription of the remaining objectives for the iCollaborate project for the next academicyear and further dissemination plans. At the conclusion of the project, all materials willbe placed on the NSF sponsored National Science Digital Library (NSDL).The National Science Foundation is supporting the project (NSF CCLI/TUES #XXXX).
AU  - Kathleen L Kitto
AU  - Debra S. Jusak
CY  - Atlanta, Georgia
DA  - 2013/06/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - The iCollaborate MSE Project: Progress Update 2013 
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/22589
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--22589
ER  -