Improving Student Results in a Statics Course using a Computer-based Training and Assessment System
Por:
Zapata Rivera, Luis Felipe, Restrepo Ochoa, Jorge Luis, Barbosa Perez, Jaime L.
Publicada:
1 ene 2013
Resumen:
One of the main causes of desertion in engineering programs is the poor
student academic performance in basic courses. One of these courses is
Statics, which is taught at the undergraduate level. Between 2009 and
2011 about 30% of students did not get a satisfactory grade to pass the
course and a high percentage of these students deserted from their
engineering program at EAFIT University.
The evolution of computer systems and the Internet progress have enabled
educators to develop software to support teaching and learning
processes. For instance, educational software like E-learning platforms
now allow teachers and students to interact through collaborative and
friendly environments that can result in improvement on student learning
outcomes and therefore improvement in their final results. Various
learning tools based on problem-based learning approaches have been
developed for the Statics area. These systems usually pose problems for
students to solve; however, the problems usually used to evaluate and
certify student knowledge are different from those used by the students
during their training process. This is aimed at focusing students'
attention to the use of analytical skills instead of memorizing
processes.
This paper describes the results of using a computer system to support
training and assessment processes to convey concepts related to a
Statics course using an existing open source tool and implementing a
dynamic assessment generation scheme (i.e., generation of multiple
versions of the same problem using algorithms with variables). This
system has been used in the Statics courses during two academic periods
in 2012 involving the participation of 400 students. The results of this
experiment are compared with performance results of students from
previous years who used traditional practice and assessment methods such
as solving tasks in conventional paper and pencil tests. Results have
had a positive impact in student grades and retention.
Filiaciones:
Zapata Rivera, Luis Felipe:
EAFIT Univ, Medellin, Colombia
Restrepo Ochoa, Jorge Luis:
EAFIT Univ, Medellin, Colombia
Barbosa Perez, Jaime L.:
EAFIT Univ, Medellin, Colombia
|