Areas of Potential ECE-ENE Collaboration

1. Areas of Potential ECE-ENE Collaboration Dave Meyer Electrical & Computer Engineering March 5, 2005

2. Outline • Development of experimental course formats • Comparison of senior design options • Design of learning resource surveys • Strategies for utilization of student response units (“clickers”) • Metrics for assessing on-line discussion threads • Development of more “standardized” testing methods in lower-division courses

3. Experimental Course Formats • Limitations of traditional lecture format • Lackluster attendance (60-70% on a good day) • Rampant academic dishonesty on homework and labs • Difficulty in devising “new” homework problems and lab experiments • Overhead associated with handling/grading homework and providing timely feedback

4. Experimental Course Formats • Proposed experimental format • Deliver (modularized) course content using streaming video (on an “arrange hours” basis) • Use scheduled class meeting times for directed, collaborative problem-solving sessions (split class into three smaller “recitation” sections, each of which would meet once/week)

5. Experimental Course Formats • Goals of experimental format • Accommodate a diversity of learning styles by allowing students to “attend lecture” at a time/place most convenient for them (providing them more control of the learning process) • Provide an environment conducive to learning problem-solving skills (collaborative, instructor-directed) that provides immediate feedback • Eliminate homework paper collection/grading

6. Experimental Course Formats • Areas of potential ENE collaboration • Design of experimental course formats • Design of assessment tools (e.g., learning resource surveys) • Collection and analysis of data (common exams, surveys, exit interviews, lecture access traces) • Publication of results obtained

7. Comparison of Senior Design Options • Considerations • Qualitative/quantitative assessment of outcomes • Quantity/quality of course deliverables • Comparison of lab notebook strategies/assessments • Students’ perceptions of the design experience • Instructors’ perceptions of the design experience • Resolution of team dynamics issues • Measurement of students’ professional development • Determination of senior design course grades

8. Comparison of Senior Design Options • Areas of potential ENE collaboration • Development of meaningful metrics for the purpose of comparing: • quality of deliverables (working products, documentation, reports, presentations, posters) • team dynamics and efficacy • lab notebooks/design process • professional development/knowledge integration • Design of assessment tools • Collection and analysis of data • Publication of results obtained

9. Others… • Design of learning resource surveys • characteristics of students who benefit the most from using on-line resources • resource customization to maximize benefit for a diverse population of students • Utilization strategies for student response units • Metrics for assessing on-line discussion threads that support collaborative learning • Development of more “standardized” testing methods in lower-division courses