Engineering Course Research Articles

Hybrid project-based didactic strategy in mechanical engineering courses

Adopting a didactic strategy that promotes education and autonomous work in the training of an engineering student while it generates academic products for the teacher-student binomial is a real possibility. The application of such a strategy in the hybrid educational model is presented to implement interactive courses in the Mechanical Engineering career at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. The methodological foundation is highlighted as a basis for the pedagogical design of the bimodal courses, and the practical cases developed by the authors in the undergraduate and graduate programs in mechanical engineering under this modality are presented. The research provides the analysis of results obtained from seven subject programs during the last academic periods from the second semester of 2015 to the first semester of 2022. The research based on design specifications, learning objectives, temporal organization, activities, formative and summative evaluation, and a scoring guide proved the efficiency of hybrid format for mechanical engineering courses.

The impact of an online technology course on pre-service teachers’ technological knowledge: Strategies and design

This study investigated how pre-service teachers’ technology integration knowledge changed as a result of participating in an online educational technology course for a semester in the Fall of 2020 and the Spring of 2021. The pre-service teachers’ technology integration knowledge development was assessed through their self-reported technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK). A total of 194 participants completed a validated TPACK pre- and post-test survey. The results of multilevel modeling analysis suggested that the participants had significant gains in all TPACK domains. Strategies used in designing the online educational technology course were examined for their contribution to pre-service teachers’ TPACK development. Educational technology-based course included activities that facilitated the integration of the components of TPACK framework through peer interactions, lesson planning, and peer feedback. The findings have implications for future research and provide guidance for the design of effective online learning environments to improve pre-service teachers’ technology integration knowledge.

Teaching Complex Introductory Concepts in a Sophomore Circuits Course: A Descriptive Case Study

This descriptive case study explores the teaching and learning of complex introductory circuit concepts in a compulsory sophomore circuits’ course. The study investigates the instructional strategies employed by the instructor to facilitate students’ understanding of intricate circuit phenomena. Data were collected through classroom observations, interviews with the instructor, and an analysis of the course documents. The findings shed light on the challenges encountered by students when grappling with introductory circuit concepts, the effectiveness of different instructional methods, and implications for curriculum design and pedagogical approaches in electrical engineering education. Specifically, the instructors reported students’ prior knowledge, the nature of the content, and the structure of the course itself as some of the main features that impact students’ overall learning of the content. The study highlights the importance of providing targeted support and scaffolding to students, promoting active learning strategies, and incorporating practical applications to enhance the comprehension of introductory circuit concepts in sophomore-level electrical engineering courses.

PENGEMBANGAN APLIKASI SOFTWARE MULTIMEDIA DALAM PEMBELAJARAN BAHASA INGGRIS TEKNIK PADA PRODI PENDIDIKAN TEKNIK BANGUNAN

This research was developed using a research and development (R&D) model that refers to the Lee & Owens Instructional design model so that it can develop learning media in Engineering English courses in the form of Android-based multimedia software applications, thus facilitating access and student learning activities in the class as well as outside of the class. Lee and Owens' model consists of five stages, namely assessment/analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The data analysis technique in this study used a questionnaire to collect data from needs analysis, linguist validation, and product evaluation. The results of the media development research are 13 meetings of Android-based multimedia software application products that have been validated by linguists who obtained 85.75% results and fall into the very feasible category. The conclusion that can be drawn is that the Android-based multimedia software application is grammatically feasible, but it should be validated by a material expert before the developed media can be used in Technical English for Engineering courses.

Linear algebra in engineering: a study of specialized knowledge of Chilean and Brazilian teachers

Abstract The objective of this paper is to establish comparisons between the Linear Algebra (LA) approach practiced in Engineering courses offered by Chilean and Brazilian Higher Education Institutions and, for that, teachers from both countries were interviewed. From a methodological point of view, the research consists of two case studies. For the analysis of the interviews, we used the precepts of Content Analysis. The data were qualitatively analyzed considering the MTSK theoretical model. In this analysis, we sought to identify what specialized knowledge these teachers have regarding AL and about its teaching and learning. The results have shown that, in relation to the Mathematical Knowledge (MK) domain, which refers to content knowledge, the Knowledge of Topics subdomain (KoT), linked to the way that teachers know the topics they teach, is the most present among interviewees. In the Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) domain, covering specific pedagogical knowledge linked to Mathematics, the Knowledge of Mathematics Teaching (KMT), regarding strategies, teaching theories, resources and materials, and Knowledge of Mathematics Learning Standards (KMLS) subdomains, concerning the curricular specifications and the moments in which the student must or can learn certain content and with what level of depth prevail.

Applying active learning by contextualizing robotic applications to historical heritage

AbstractOptional university courses are designed to allow undergraduate students to specialize in relevant fields to enhance their skills and knowledge for their future careers. However, there are some cases in which students prioritize enrolling in courses that are easy to pass. This choice results in having students with low motivation and commitment, who mainly focus on doing just enough to pass the course, missing the opportunity to boost their skills. In this study, an eclectic approach is proposed, applying a mixture of active learning methods together with the theory of multiple intelligences to improve students' performance, motivation, and commitment throughout the course. The study was applied to the 56 students enrolled in the optional Micro‐Robotics Application spring course in the year 2021 at the University of Cádiz (Spain). Results demonstrate that this combination of active learning methodologies increased students' motivation, prompting them to give their best in terms of commitment, performance, and creativity. Furthermore, they were convinced that during the course they not only learned relevant robotic knowledge but also acquired essential skills needed for their future. Finally, this study highlights the benefits and future directions for implementing active learning methodologies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses.

The online teaching design of software engineering courses to alleviate social anxiety among college students

BackgroundThe software engineering course is essential for cultivating the abilities of computer major college students. It is an introductory course for software majors. The design purpose of the online software engineering course is to improve students’ teamwork and hands-on abilities in certain aspects. Social anxiety disorder is a mental disorder characterized by fear of speaking or communicating in public. Nowadays, it is widely distributed among young people worldwide.Subjects and MethodsThis study focuses on 30 college students with social anxiety disorder from the School of Computer Science and Technology of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. The main direction of improvement is to improve team collaboration and hands-on skills and their software engineering courses. A 3-month experimental period is used, using the Anxiety Self Rating Scale (SAS). The social status of the tested college students is observed, and the survey results are statistically analyzed using Amos software.ResultsFrom the experimental results, it can be seen that team collaboration has a good effect on improving the symptoms of social disorders, with 70% of the tested college students experiencing varying degrees of improvement in their social skills, and another 30% are more resistant to exploring social media.ConclusionsThe focus of online teaching design for software engineering courses should be on innovation and time, which can alleviate the social anxiety disorder of college students and effectively improve their social skills.

MOOC-Based Flipped Classroom for On-Campus Teaching in Undergraduate Engineering Courses

<italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Contribution:</i> This work studies how to integrate massive open online courses (MOOCs) into traditional, face-to-face, Undergraduate Engineering Courses. <p xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <i>Background:</i> MOOCs emerged as an innovative trend in online learning with distinctive and attractive features, such as ease of access and cost effectiveness for large audiences. For this reason, they have attracted a lot of attention for their potential in contributing to global challenges in contemporary Engineering education. However, the integration of MOOCs into traditional, on-campus courses and programs in higher education remains an open problem. <p xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <i>Research Question:</i> What is the most effective MOOC-blending strategy for traditional, on-campus engineering programs? <p xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <i>Methodology:</i> To answer this question, first a literature review was conducted on the utilization of MOOCs within face-to-face Undergraduate Education. Based on this literature review, this work advocates for the MOOC-based flipped (MBF) classroom as the strategy with the highest potential for MOOC-based blending. The main pedagogical and design principles of this methodology are described and a case study is presented on a cohort of students (<i>N</i> <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$~=~$</tex-math> </inline-formula>23) enrolled in a Digital Signal Processing course within an Undergraduate Electronics Engineering Program. This is a position paper based on evidence from the literature, but the case study is used to illustrate how the MBF design principles can be implemented in practice. <p xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <i>Findings:</i> The results suggest that the MBF methodology is a growing trend in Undergraduate Engineering Education with the potential to facilitate student’s active learning in synchronous face-to-face sessions while fostering the adoption and usage of MOOCs.

Effect of Extended Reality Learning Experience on Student Engagement in Science and Engineering Courses

Effect of Extended Reality Learning Experience on Student Engagement in Science and Engineering Courses

Implementing Technical Communication Instruction in a Civil Engineering Course: The Value of Knowledge Surveys and Peer Review

Implementing Technical Communication Instruction in a Civil Engineering Course: The Value of Knowledge Surveys and Peer Review

Interprofessional Education in Health Informatics (IPEHI) for Health Sciences Programs.

Given the significant changes the healthcare system has undergone recently; information technology has become an indispensable tool. To properly train future healthcare providers, it is vital to introduce information technology courses in Health Sciences programs. The provision of healthcare services now requires teamwork, which has led to the need for interprofessional education in health sciences schools. Therefore, this study explores the necessity of introducing Interprofessional Education in Health Informatics (IPEHI) in health sciences programs. Additionally, the structure and content of the course were assessed. A mixed-method approach was employed in this study to explore the need for health informatics interprofessional education among individuals with a health-related science background and who possessed health informatics expertise through work experience or formal post-graduation education. Following a cross-sectional survey-based study, expert subjects from academia and the workplace were convened for Delphi meetings to create an IPEHI course founded on the CAHIIM competency framework. 128 questionnaires were collected from three cities in Saudi Arabia. Of all the respondents, 80% agreed that the present health sciences education should be expanded. Additionally, 74% of them agreed that the proposed IPE-HI (Interprofessional Education in Health Informatics) would enhance their knowledge and positively impact the healthcare system. During the second phase, eight experts were invited to identify seven domains, which include health information science and technology, social, behavioral and information science and technology applied to health, information science and technology, leadership, social and behavioral aspects of health, professionalism, and interprofessional collaborative practice. The results emphasize the need for introducing an IPE-HI, as previous studies have also shown that educating health professionals in health information technology is crucial. IPEHI plays a crucial role in producing competent health science graduates. Consequently, experts have developed and validated a proposed IPE-HI course.

Learners’ Experiences in an Online Learning Environment: An Analysis of the Impact of International Collaboration

This qualitative study investigates learners’ experiences in online international collaborative environments using both asynchronous and synchronous communication methods. Specifically, it focuses on the rewards, shortcomings, and difficulties learners encountered through posing critical questions about the nature of collaboration forms. Eight graduate interview participants completed two separate instructional technology courses, and an interpretive qualitative approach was used to deepen the understanding of the interview responses. The findings suggest a few key themes, primarily positive in nature, about the use of online international collaboration tools. While asynchronous communication platforms help to enhance, enrich, and expand course content, media-rich synchronous communication platforms allow learners to have a more significant sense of social presence, encouraging them to be more actively engaged in the learning environment. Synchronous communication platforms also help to enhance intercultural understanding and develop non-verbal communication skills. In addition to commentary about communication platforms, the participants expressed immense satisfaction with learning various skills (i.e., research and interpersonal skills, project planning, and digital literacy) in the international collaboration projects. Despite their success, the participants did encounter several challenges, most notably the incompatibility of their respective academic calendars. This is perhaps the most ubiquitous obstacle in the collegiate online collaborative learning environment.

Analysing the Impact of Emerging Technology Course on Student Satisfaction by Exposing Freshmen to Dynamic Industry Trends

Abstract : Technology is an inescapable necessity; it dominates almost every aspect of human existence. Emerging technol ogy hel ps to unl ock new possibilities for connecting things/people. At the same time, technological advancement changes industrial trends and the demand for engineering graduates' expertise. Hence, it becomes necessary for the students to imbibe the skills of continuous learning and understand the emerging trends, right from the inception year of engineering education. Also, with an amendment to the national education policy (NEP), the Indian Government has shown its clear intention to promote a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to technological developments through engineering education. Therefore, to accomplish this, it is critical to bridge the gap between industry and academia. The proposed course in this article is an initiative taken by Chitkara University Punjab to bring industry mentors and first-year students face-to-face and promote holistic learning amongst themselves. A total of 1000freshman engineering students took part in this course and participated in the post-course survey to express their satisfaction level with the course thus introduced. The Cronbach's Alpha coefficient α = 0.957 shows the high Reliability of data obtained through a survey questionnaire. Students expressed high motivation levels after completion of the course. The survey shows that the course gave the students clarity about the attributes required by the industry, which can help them decide their action points towards their career development. In the future, a hybrid model of teaching-learning can be employed to provide an added advantage of industry mentor interaction with students in live physical space. Keywords:Emerging-technology, NEP2020, Reliability, Engineering, Student-satisfaction, Motivation.

Artificial Intelligence Models for Assessing the Evaluation Process of Complex Student Projects

The evaluation of student projects is a difficult task, especially when they involve both a technical and a creative component. We propose an AI-based methodology to help in the evaluation of complex projects in Engineering and Computer Science courses. This methodology is intended to evaluate the assessment process itself allowing to analyze the influence of each variable in the final grade, to discover possible biases, inconsistencies and discrepancies, and to generate appropriate rubrics that help to avoid them. As an example of its application, we consider the evaluation of the projects submitted in an undergraduate introductory course on Computer Science. Using data collected from the evaluation during five academic years, we follow the proposed methodology to create AI models and analyze the main variables which are involved in the assessment of the projects. The proposed methodology can be applied to other courses and degrees, where both technical and creative components are considered to evaluate the projects.

Leveraging audio and music experience in a first-year engineering sequence

Recently, the introductory courses in Audio and Music Engineering (AME) at the University of Rochester have succeeded in attracting an academically diverse group of students, such that engineering majors often comprise a minority of those enrolled. Therefore, we see our mandate as balancing the need to prepare AME majors for subsequent courses while simultaneously engaging and supporting non-majors. To meet this challenge, we leverage students’ existing experiences with sound and music to introduce foundational concepts in acoustics, circuits, and programming in a project-based environment. In the fall, students complete a series of labs where they build and conduct experiments on sections of a guitar amplifier. Each lab emphasizes a key electronics concept, culminating in a completed amplifier that students can keep. Similarly, the spring semester centers around a series of MATLAB assignments, culminating in a short-time Fourier transform project where students investigate the properties of reverberant speech. In both classes, lectures are designed to provide students with the theoretical tools necessary to fully engage with these projects. In this presentation, we share a specific approach that has been successful for us in engaging non-majors while supporting majors in STEM courses and plan to provide associated open curriculum materials.

Development of Interactive Learning Media Based on Video Tutorials using the Lectora Inspire and Macromedia Flash Applications in Stone and Concrete Engineering Courses

This research aims to create learning media in the Stone and Concrete Engineering course with the help of the Lectora Inspire and Macromedia Flash applications. The approach carried out in this study uses the R&amp;D method using a 4D development model which includes the defining stage (define), design stage (design), development stage (develop) and trial stage (disseminate). The subjects of the study were civil engineering students enrolled in the Stone and Concrete Engineering course as many as 16 people. Assessment of the feasibility of learning media is carried out by providing validity and practicality questionnaires to media experts, material experts. Data from the questionnaire is then processed to determine the level of validity and practicality of the learning media. The effectiveness of learning media is measured from student learning outcomes using developed learning media. The assessment results from media and material experts for learning media made get an average score of 0.86 in the very valid category. The results of the assessment of the practicality of the learning media made get an average score of 86% in the very practical category. Based on the implementation of the pretest, the average score was 58.25 and the implementation of the posttest or final test obtained the average value was 80.12. There is an increase in student learning outcomes after being given video tutorial-based learning media so that it can be concluded that the level of effectiveness of using this media is very effective. Referring to the assessment of material experts, media experts, tests to students can be declared learning media that are developed suitable for use as learning media.

Application of the Flipped Classroom Model Using Games-Based Learning Multimedia in Increasing Students’ Learning Outcomes

This paper discusses the low students’ learning outcomes and students’ satisfaction, which continues to decline. In contrast, distance and face-to-face learning are limited to non-formal education learning technology courses. The study aimed to improve learning in the Non-Formal Education Learning Technology course in the S1 Non-Formal Education Study Program by implementing games-based learning multimedia with the flipped classroom model. The research was conducted on 30 students in semester III/A. By applying the flipped classroom model, the research was conducted in the classroom and at each student's home. The research used a Pre-Experimental Design with a One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design. The data collection technique was carried out by testing. The pre-test was carried out to collect data on students' initial abilities, while the post-test was carried out to test the effect of the treatment. The study used three statistical tests, namely (1) normality, (2) homogeneity, and (3) hypothesis testing. The results indicate that the control class sample data were normally distributed. After treatment, initial data on students' abilities are interpreted as normal or homogeneous. The results of hypothesis testing show that there is a significant effect of flipped classrooms based on game multimedia in non-formal education learning technology courses with an average value of the experimental class at 81.63.

Matematik Öğretmen Adaylarının Dijital Teknolojiye Yönelik Tutumlarının Bazı Değişkenler Açısından İncelenmesi

The role of technology continually increasing and its use is becoming no longer an option but inevitable in all fields of education. From teachers to students, technology literacy and the knowledge and skills to use it are now expected. Along with studies on the adequacy, skills, and approaches of students and educators from all levels regarding the use of technology, the attitudes of all these groups towards technology also fall under the scope of educational researchers. This study investigates whether the attitudes of pre-service mathematics teachers towards digital technology differ according to gender, university type, department, grade level and final grades in information technology courses, using statistical methods. The data set consists of the survey results of 440 mathematics pre-service teachers from two universities. According to the statistical results of the research, significant differences have been found in the attitudes of mathematics pre-service teachers towards digital technology in the sub-dimensions of technology use, conscious use of technology, and game-oriented use of technology, by gender; in the sub-dimensions of interest and willingness, technology use, and social media, by university type; and in the sub-dimensions of technology use and negative factors, based on the final grades of the information technology course. According to the data mining algorithms of the research, the branches generated by the Random Tree algorithm yielded the best results. According to the Random Tree algorithm, it was concluded that gender is the most dominant factor affecting the attitudes of mathematics pre-service teachers towards digital technology.

SQMetrics: An Educational Software Quality Assessment Tool for Java

Over the years, various software quality measurement models have been proposed and used in academia and the software industry to assess the quality of produced code and to obtain guidelines for its improvement. In this article, we describe the design and functionality of SQMetrics, a tool for calculating object-oriented quality metrics for projects written in Java. SQMetrics provides the convenience of measuring small code, mainly covering academic or research needs. In this context, the application can be used by students of software engineering courses to make measurements and comparisons in their projects and gradually increase their quality by improving the calculated metrics. Teachers, on the other hand, can use SQMetrics to evaluate students’ Java projects and grade them in proportion to their quality. The contribution of the proposed tool is three-fold, as it has been: (a) tested for its completeness and functionality by comparing it with widely known similar tools, (b) evaluated for its usability and value as a learning aid by students, and (c) statistically tested for its value as a teachers’ aid assisting in the evaluation of student projects. Our findings verify SQMetrics’ effectiveness in helping software engineering students learn critical concepts and improve the quality of their code, as well as in helping teachers assess the quality of students’ Java projects and make more informed grading decisions.

Empowering Future Educators: Leveraging Openness by Design when Integrating Technology in Teacher Education Programs

Teacher educators who design and teach educational technology courses have an important role to play in developing thoughtful approaches to using educational technology in teaching and learning through the development of digital literacies that make use of accessible, meaningful, and pedagogically appropriate technology. Several researchers have argued that K-12 teachers are well suited to both adopt and develop aspects of open education by growing awareness of open educational resources and practices. This paper aims to articulate the potential, gaps, and opportunities for teacher educator programs to bring aspects of open education into teacher training. Based upon a small survey with students in a teacher education program in British Columbia Canada, gaps in knowledge among teacher candidates are identified and reflections from participants provides motivation to consider how open educational resources and practices might be further integrated into teacher education programs. Kahle’s (2008) design philosophy approach is recommended and discussed based on the results with a focus on using technology to prioritize openness that aligns well to prominent themes in teacher education programs.