scholarly journals GRADUATE ATTRIBUTE ASSESSMENT IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PROGRAM AT UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA – CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS

Author(s):  
Aneta George ◽  
Timothy Lethbridge ◽  
Liam Peyton

Management, measurement, and visualization of graduate attributes in a program can be complex and challenging. At the University of Ottawa, we have developed a Graduate Attribute Information Analysis system (GAIA) to support performance management of graduate attributes. It simplifies data collection and improves visualization of results with historical trend analysis at both the course level and the program level. Graduate attribute measurements are defined in a tool that can flexibly integrate internal indicators (such as tests, assignments, exam questions) or external indicators (such as surveys or feedback forms). We have mapped the assessment results with a four-scale rubric that allows the use of weighted grading when dominant and secondary components apply. And we support measurement-specific range boundaries to better match the expected level of knowledge students must achieve.

Author(s):  
Aneta George ◽  
Liam Peyton

The Graduate Attribute Information Analysis system (GAIA) was developed at the University of Ottawa to support data collection and performance management of graduate attributes for engineering programs at the program level and at the course level [10]. This paper reports on our research to develop support for cohort analysis and reporting by providing a single consistent view of graduate attributes (GA) and performance indicators for groups of students who started and finished an engineering program at the same time. This is supported by two special purpose reports: Graduate Attribute Report per Cohort (GAR/C) and Course Progression Report per Cohort (CPR/C). The former shows average GA data per attribute, the latter tracks student achievement as students progress in their program. It also adds to the historic data trend analysis for a program. Furthermore, a COOP Progress Report per cohort (COOPR/C) is generated.


Author(s):  
Aneta George ◽  
Liam Peyton

A successful co-op program is a partnership between university, student and employer. At the University of Ottawa, we have chosen to use an Employer Evaluation form as a critical component of graduate attribute assessment. We also created a new first year course that introduced students to professional communication and responsibility in order to adequately prepare them for their first work term. The graduate attributes from both the coop work experience and the new course are imported into the Graduate Attributes Information Analysis system (GAIA) we have developed. We show the historical trend analysis at both the course level and the program level generated and provide a sample of how we are using these results to guide improvement of our overall program, as well as the co-op experience of students and employers.


Author(s):  
Bryson Robertson ◽  
Margaret Gwyn ◽  
LillAnne Jackson ◽  
Peter Wild

This paper describes a proposed redesign of the instruction and assessment of the Co-operative (Co-op) Education (or work term) components of the University of Victoria Engineering program. The redesign ensures instruction and assessment of the higher-level Graduate Attributes (GAs), such as individual and teamwork, communication skills, professionalism, impact on society, ethics and equity, economics and project management, and life-long learning, that may not be included in all of the technical courses in a traditional Engineering curriculum. Concurrently, the redesign includes a renewed emphasis on improving the technical writing competency of graduating engineers by: ‘laddering’ student technical writing development; introduction a new grading scheme; increased timeframes for report revisions; and, finally, reducing the number of pedagogically ineffective reports required to graduate.


Author(s):  
Jillian Seniuk Cicek ◽  
Robert Renaud ◽  
Danny Mann ◽  
Sandra Ingram

This study was designed as an exploratorycase study to determine the relative importance anddependencies of the CEAB graduate attributes asperceived by engineering stakeholders of the University ofManitoba. The findings were used to examine the contentvalidity of the Biosystems Engineering program. Theoverarching objective was to explore how well theemphasis on graduate attributes development in theFaculty of Engineering at the University of Manitobareflect the graduate attribute importance reported by keystakeholders. Findings showed that all stakeholdersranked Individual and Teamwork and CommunicationsSkills as the top engineering competencies, and all CEABgraduate attributes were perceived to between 6.1% and10.9% relatively important. This was in sharp contrast tothe Biosystems Engineering program, which is comprisedof approximately 50% of the graduate attribute, AKnowledge Base for Engineering. In this paper, themethods and findings in the determination of the contentvalidity of an engineering program are presented anddiscussed.


Author(s):  
Aneta George ◽  
Liam Peyton

We survey the approaches taken at several universities for faculty level support of graduate attribute assessment and continuous improvement process and present the approach taken at the University of Ottawa. Our approach consists of a common process for continuous improvement across programs, supported by templates for key tasks, and a common set of performance indicators for graduate attribute assessment supported by our Graduate Attribute Information Analysis system. We demonstrate our approach across three engineering programs (electrical engineering, computer engineering and software engineering) and report on specific issues encountered and results obtained. 


Author(s):  
Nariman Sepehri ◽  
Witold Kinsner ◽  
Jean-Paul Burak ◽  
Cyrus Shafai ◽  
Udaya Annakkage ◽  
...  

This paper describes the process that has been implemented for continual improvement of the Engineering programs at the University of Manitoba. The continuous improvement process developed is founded on: (i) assessment of graduate attributes, (ii) evaluation of student success, and (iii) further improvement of the programs. Graduate attributes are assessed both directly and indirectly. The direct assessment of attributes is through course-embedded procedures, while the indirect assessment is through compilation of many activities at both the Program, Department and Faculty levels, as well as via effective feedback from the students and the external engineering community. Together these assessments provide important information for the newly- established Curriculum Management Committee (CMC) to identify/prioritize needs, make recommendations and oversee the implementation of improvements. We describe steps taken to ensure a sustainable continuous program improvement process.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-23
Author(s):  
Mohd Aderi Che Noh ◽  
Normurni Mohamad ◽  
Adibah Hasanah Abd Halim ◽  
Absha Atiah Abu Bakar

This study aims to see the implementation of project based learning methods (PBL) implemented by lecturers in the Science, Technology and Engineering P&P processes in Islam as an effort to enhance students' understanding in the Fiqh Method. Respondents in this study were students of second semester, Diploma of Mechanical Engineering program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Banting. Observation and interview methods are used for data collection purposes. The data were analyzed descriptively and presented in narrative form. The findings show that PBL activity is a fun and enjoyable P&P activity for students. Abstrak Kajian  ini  bertujuan  untuk  melihat  perlaksanaan  kaedah  pembelajaran  berasaskan  projek  (PBL)  yang dilaksanakan  oleh  pensyarah  dalam  proses  P&P Sains,  Teknologi  dan  kejuruteraan  dalam  Islam  sebagai usaha  meningkatkan  kefahaman  pelajar  pelajar  dalam  tajuk  Kaedah Fiqh.  Responden  dalam  kajian  ini adalah   terdiri   daripada   pelajar   semester   dua   progran   Diploma   Kejuruteraan   Mekanikal,   Jabatan Kejuruteraan  Mekanikal,  Politeknik  Banting.  Kaedah  pemerhatian  dan  temu  bual  digunakan  bagi  tujuan pengutipan data. Data dianalisis secara deskriptif dan dipersembahkan dalam bentuk naratif. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan aktiviti PBL merupakan aktiviti P&P yang disukai dan menyeronokkan bagi para pelajar.


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