scholarly journals A COMPARISON OF A VIRTUAL LAB AND A MICROCOMPUTER-BASED LAB FOR SCIENTIFIC MODELLING BY COLLEGE STUDENTS

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-173
Author(s):  
Wing-Kwong Wong ◽  
Kai-Ping Chen ◽  
Hong-Ming Chang

This research aimed to explore the effects of a virtual lab (VL) and a Microcomputer-based Lab (MBL) on students’ performance in scientific modeling. A web-based virtual lab and a low-cost MBL were proposed to help first-year engineering students build scientific models. Empirical research was done in a slope motion experiment. The participants were 118 first-year engineering students in Taiwan, and they were divided into a VL group and an MBL group. From the results of the questionnaire, these groups of students thought that the systems were usable and easy to use, and they expressed positive attitudes towards the labs. The post-test’s average score was higher than that of the pre-test for both groups, and the average posttest score of the VL group was better than that of the MBL group. From the students’ learning sheets, many students successfully manipulated the experimental variables and built correct models after gradual revision of earlier models. According to the results of the empirical research, these systems helped the students understand the meaning of the experiment and increased students' interests with hands-on labs. A comparison of the results of these two groups\suggests the integration of VL and MBL to facilitate students’ learning. Keywords: experimental design, MBL, scientific modelling, slope motion, virtual lab.

Author(s):  
Jean Brousseau ◽  
Andrée Sano-Gélinas

In undergraduate engineering programs, design competency is mainly developed through project-based design courses. In such courses, a well framed practice is one of the best strategy to help students develop the ability to design solutions to complex, multifaceted and open-ended engineering problems. Nevertheless, supervising students, especially first-year students, requires a lot of effort and time. As the number of students increases, the task of closely supervising them becomes more difficult. Considering the small number of academic staff, peer tutors can provide a solution to the lack of resources. In addition to this, peer-tutoring is a very interesting pedagogical solution. In fact, the literature demonstrates that peer tutoring can benefit both students and tutors.Teaching assistants (TAs) have contributed in project based courses for a long time but there are not so many documented experiences about how to integrate peer-tutoring in a project-based design course or how to use fourth year students to tutor first year students.In fall 2017, a peer-tutoring program (PTP) has been implemented in the first year multidisciplinary design course. Fourth-year engineering students with relevant design experience acted as tutors for teams of four or five students. The intention was to reduce the pressure on our professional staff, while maintaining the same quality level of supervision.PTP assessment revealed that all stakeholders appreciated the experience. At low cost, it allowed more weekly hours of supervision and gave the professionals the possibility to perform tasks that only them can do. Although the impact of PTP on the quality of learning was not measured, the student level of satisfaction was very high.


Author(s):  
Rahmat Nasution And Rahmah

The objective of this research is to find out whether the application Preview, Read,Write, and Recite (PRWR) method improve student’s achievement in readingrecount text. This research applied classroom action research model. This studywas done in six meetings. The subject of this study was first year of SMAN 1Delitua. Primary data were collected by giving 20 questions of multiple-choicetest, the aspects contained in the tests focused on generic structure, main ideas,factual information, and Secondary data were collected by (interview, observationsheet, and questionnaire sheet. Based on analysis data, it was found that thestudent’s achievement improved. It could be seen from the comparison of result inthe orientation test and the cycle test I and II. There were only 9 students who hadpassed minimum criteria KKM in orientation test (75). The improvement showedthat in cycle I and II, based on the total average score it was 16 (42,4%) up to 26(78,7%) in cycle II, The secondary data gathered from interview, observationsheet, and questionnaire sheet, showed that students’ expression and enthusiasticalso improved. Thus, it was found that the applications of Preview, Read, Write,and Recite (PRWR) method in process of teaching improved students’achievement in reading recount text. It is suggested that English teachers applyPRWR method in teaching reading recount text.


Author(s):  
Jeremiah Vanderlaan ◽  
Josh Richert ◽  
James Morrison ◽  
Thomas Doyle

We are a group of engineering students, in our first year of undergraduate study. We have been selected from one thousand first year students and have competed and won the PACE competition. All engineers share a common general first year, but we have been accepted into Civil and Mechanical engineering. This project was assigned as the final project in the Design and Graphics course. The project we are tasked with, called the Cornerstone Design Project, is to first dissect a product, discover how it works, dimension each part and create a fully assembled model using CAD software (Solid Edge V20 in our case). As part of discovering how it works we must benchmark it so the device can be compared with competing products. The goal of the project is to develop a full understanding of part modeling and assembly in Solid Edge, learn proper measurement techniques, and learn the process of reverse engineering and product dissection. All of these tasks were stepping stones to help us fully understand how the device, and all its components, work.


Author(s):  
Umar Iqbal ◽  
Deena Salem ◽  
David Strong

The objective of this paper is to document the experience of developing and implementing a second-year course in an engineering professional spine that was developed in a first-tier research university and relies on project-based core courses. The main objective of this spine is to develop the students’ cognitive and employability skills that will allow them to stand out from the crowd of other engineering graduates.The spine was developed and delivered for the first time in the academic year 2010-2011 for first-year general engineering students. In the year 2011-2012, those students joined different programs, and accordingly the second-year course was tailored to align with the different programs’ learning outcomes. This paper discusses the development and implementation of the course in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department.


Author(s):  
Sean Maw ◽  
Janice Miller Young ◽  
Alexis Morris

Most Canadian engineering students take a computing course in their first year that introduces them to digital computation. The Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board does not specify the language(s) that can or should be used for instruction. As a result, a variety of languages are used across Canada. This study examines which languages are used in degree-granting institutions, currently and in the recent past. It also examines why institutions have chosen the languages that they currently use. In addition to the language used in instruction, the types and hours of instruction are also analyzed. Methods of instruction and evaluation are compared, as well as the pedagogical philosophies of the different programs with respect to introductory computing. Finally, a comparison of the expected value of this course to graduates is also presented. We found a more diverse landscape for introductory computing courses than anticipated, in most respects. The guiding ethos at most institutions is skill and knowledge development, especially around problem solving in an engineering context. The methods to achieve this are quite varied, and so are the languages employed in such courses. Most programs currently use C/C++, Matlab, VB and/or Python.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinweike Eseonu ◽  
Martin A Cortes

There is a culture of disengagement from social consideration in engineering disciplines. This means that first year engineering students, who arrive planning to change the world through engineering, lose this passion as they progress through the engineering curriculum. The community driven technology innovation and investment program described in this paper is an attempt to reverse this trend by fusing community engagement with the normal engineering design process. This approach differs from existing project or trip based approaches – outreach – because the focus is on local communities with which the university team forms a long-term partnership through weekly in-person meetings and community driven problem statements – engagement.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Mwila

BACKGROUND The Copperbelt University is the second public University in Zambia. The School of Medicine has four major programs namely; Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Bachelor of Clinical Medicine and Bachelor of Biomedical sciences. The Copperbelt University School of Medicine runs a five-year training program for both the BDS and the MBCHB programs. Students are admitted into the Medical school after successfully completing their first year at the Main campus in the School of Natural Sciences with an average of 4 B grades or higher (B grade is a mark of 65 to 74%). OBJECTIVE The study was done to determine the association between admission criteria and academic performance among preclinical students. Hence, the study compares the academic performance among preclinical students admitted into the Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the Copperbelt University School of Medicine. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study conducted at Michael Chilufya Sata School of medicine Campus. A pilot study was conducted with 30 BDS and 30 MBCHB students and the obtained information helped determine the sample size. SPSS was used to analyze the data. The study period lasted approximately 7 weeks at a cost of K1621. RESULTS In 2014, there was an improvement in average performance between 2nd and 3rd year for each program. An average score of 15.4 (SD 4.2) was obtained in 3rd year compared to 12.8 (SD 4.9) in 2nd year (p<0.001). Meanwhile, 3rd MB ChB mean score was 12.6 (SD 3.7) compared to 10.7 (SD 3.6) in 2nd years (p<0.05). However, in 2016, both programs, 3rd year mean scores were lower than 2nd year (MB ChB 2nd year mean score was 12.0 (SD 4.3) compared to 3rd year with a mean score of 9.5 (SD 4.5), p<0.001; BDS 2nd year mean score was 10.6 (SD 4.0) compared to 3rd year mean score of 8.2 (SD 3.4), p<0.01. On average MB ChB students performed better than BDS students in all the years (p<0.05), except in 2016 when the results were comparable. CONCLUSIONS Results from the study shows that entry criteria has a correlation to academic performance as students admitted with higher grades perform much better than those with lower grades.


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