Volume 12

COVID-19 Technology Student Success Challenges : Influence of Tools and Strategies

Barbara L Stewart ¹ , Carole E Goodson ¹ , Susan L Miertschin ✉ ¹

1 University of Houston

Abstract

COVID-19 brought rapid and substantial change to course formats as colleges and universities transitioned from on-campus to online instruction to mitigate the spread of the pandemic. While faculty and administrators sought solutions to maintain instructional quality and student success, students endeavored to adapt to the changes. This study investigated a) College of Technology students’ perceptions of their potential for success including initial reactions, adaptation, and perceptions of impacts to grades and learning; b) course features and tools preferred by Technology students; and c) factors that enabled Technology students’ course completion.

Keywords

covid-19, technology, tools

Introduction

The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic brought expansive changes to higher education including massive disruptions to students as they were forced to transition from on-campus to online classes (Binkley & Amy, 2020; Brownlee, 2020).

Read the full article here

gruepr, a Software Tool for Optimally Partitioning Students onto Teams

Download PDF

DOI COMING SOON

Joshua L. Hertz ✉ ¹

1 Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

Abstract

Abstract—Choosing how to split a group of students into teams for project work can be a time-intensive task for an instructor. An instructor might have a complex set of parameters to optimize, perhaps desiring each team to have a certain number of times throughout the week where they can meet, while also seeking to create teams that are homogeneous in some characteristics and heterogeneous in other characteristics. Demographic composition may also be considered, and perhaps the instructor has certain students that must be placed on the same team or must be placed on different teams. Maybe teams will be formed several times, and no student should have the same teammate twice. A few software tools can be found in the literature to assist an instructor with this task, but few of them seem to be easily and freely accessible.

Read the full article here

Teaching Signal Processing Applications using an Android Echolocation App

Download PDF

DOI Coming Soon

Mahesh K Banavar ✉ ¹ , Seema Rivera ² , Blaine Ayotte ¹ , Kevin Vincent Mack ¹ , Dana Barry ¹ , Andreas Spanias ³ , Chinmay Sahu ¹ , Tianqi Yang ¹

1 Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clarkson University

2 Education, Clarkson University

3 School of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering, Arizona State University

Abstract

An Android application that realizes an audible version of echolocation has been implemented. Bundled within the app are videos, notes, problems, and discussion questions, thus creating an “eModule”. The eModule contains material that is relevant to several educational levels including K-12 and undergraduate engineering. By using the echolocation features of the app, at the K-12 level, teachers are able to introduce labs, and science and engineering practices into their lesson plans. By using data collection and interpretation, undergraduate students can be exposed to various concepts in signals and systems, digital signal processing, and machine learning.

Read the full article here

Educational Challenges Presented by COVID-19 at Technical Colleges Offering Aviation Maintenance Technology Program

Download PDF

DOI Coming Soon

Manav Jain ¹ , Tara Morris ² , Jonathan Beck ³ , Karen Johnson ⁴ , Rebecca Short ⁵ , Katherine Shakour ⁵ , Kapil Chalil Madathil ✉ ⁶

1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

2 School of Computing, Clemson University

3 National Center for Autonomous Technologies, Northland Community and Technical College

4 Department of Aviation Technologies, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

5 Center for Workforce Development, Clemson University

6 Departments of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Clemson University

Abstract

In mid-March, many schools in the United States were forced to stop teaching in-person classes and switch to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic; as a result, teachers had to quickly implement new technologies and instructional strategies in the classroom. This rapid pandemic response especially affected teachers and students in Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) programs around the country as AMT instruction is inherently hands-on in nature.

Read the full article here

Multi-Year Case Study in Blended Design: Student Experiences in a Blended, Synchronous Distance Controls Course

Download PDF

DOI Coming Soon

Alisa Gilmore ✉ ¹ , Tareq Daher ² , Markeya Peteranetz ²

1 Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

2 Engineering & Computing Education Core, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Abstract

This case study combines two primary areas of literature, blended learning and synchronous distance instruction. The literature provides various interpretations and definitions of blended learning. We define blended learning as a classroom learning model that integrates in-person and online asynchronous instruction with reduced time in class. We discuss blended learning with a synchronous distance teaching component that incorporates evidence-based instructional strategies. We explore a specific mode of synchronous distance instruction where the faculty member is physically located with one set of students and other students are connected into the class remotely. In our case study, students are located in two classrooms on two campuses that are sixty miles apart.

Read the full article here