Improving University Second-year Students’ Problem-Solving Skills in Computer Science Course (Digital Logic course) through Engineering Design Process in Inner Mongolia

Abstract

Many researchers regarded that problem solving skill is one of the most important learning outcomes to help students adapt to the learning and working environment (Xiao et al, 2019). Through reading a large number of articles and experimental research, this study finds that currently the development of and research on problem-solving skill in university students who are major in computer science in digital logic course in Inner Mongolia is limited, especially in the context of STEM education. STEM education is currently widely valued in the K12 stage, but the STEM literacy of college students also needs to be paid attention to. There is an important need for developing university students’ problem-solving skill systematically and effectively, revealing the importance of this research. In the research field, process of engineering design was designed to developing students’ problem-solving skill. In order to have an in-depth understanding of the research questions, mixed methods were adopted. Students were divided into 2 groups: Experimental Group and the Control Group. The participants were 1 teacher and 140 students at university second-year at a university in Inner Mongolia. To collect reliable and valid data, standardized test of problem-solving skill, teacher interview form was designed. Independent T-test was used to analyze the quantitative data.