Motivating Students for Learning Using Scaffolding and a Variety of Assignments

This paper discusses the impacts of various course assignments and activities that were used to increase student motivation and learning. The courses selected for the study are Quality Analysis and Design of Experiments courses, which are offered as required courses in the industrial engineering graduate program at the University of New Haven. The assignments and activities include term project, term paper, homework, in-class exercises, quizzes, exams, library training and factory visit. In an earlier pilot study in the Quality Analysis course, scaffolding -an instructional strategy that enables students to build on prior experience and knowledge as they work towards mastering higher level skills- was employed using these activities and assignments, and the impact on student motivation and learning was analyzed. The results supported the hypothesis that scaffolding is effective in motivating and engaging students in learning. In the following semesters, the same scaffolding structure was used in a Design of Experiments course in addition to the Quality Analysis course, and data in the form of responses from student feedback surveys, student work and course grades were collected and analyzed. The focus of the analysis was on the following items: What type of activities and assignments do students value the most? Which activities and assignments enhance motivation for learning and contribute to learning?, and Does scaffolding have positive impacts on student outcomes? The sample size was 68, which was generated from three courses offered in fall 2016 and fall 2017. The results reviewed as a whole and individually provided insights on student preferences, engagement and learning particularly from the perspectives of the two courses, Quality Analysis and Design of Experiments, which have substantial practical applications within the Industrial Engineering discipline

Influencing Student Motivation Through Scaffolded Assignments in a Quality Analysis Course and Its Impact on Learning

This paper discusses the impact of various class assignments and activities that build upon each other with the aim of increasing student motivation and student learning in a Quality Analysis course. Scaffolding is an instructional strategy that aims to reduce the amount of cognitive effort that students have to make to learn the materials by breaking down the material into more manageable components. In this study, critical thinking scaffolding is applied in the quality analysis course by structuring several elements to lead students to an assignment that is more complex. At the end of the semester, the impact assessment of critical thinking scaffolding was studied by analyzing student feedback and end-of course surveys, quality of student assignments and course grades

Simulation Modeling of Electronic Health Records Adoption in the U.S. Healthcare System

Increasing the efficiency of the healthcare system in the United States is an important subject due to rapidly rising costs. Among many propositions to improve the operation of the system, adoption of Electronic Health Records is widely discussed. This study uses a system dynamics methodology to develop a simulation model of the adoption process that will allow for the exploration of policies. This paper presents the development and the preliminary findings of this model

Quality Function Deployment: More Than a Design Tool

Purpose – This study investigates to what extent QFD can be used in quality improvement rather than design activities. Design/methodology/approach – A framework was developed for implementation of QFD as a quality improvement tool. A case study approach is used to test this framework, and quality issues were analyzed using the framework in a ceramic tile manufacturing company. Findings – The results showed considerable improvements in the critical quality characteristics identified and sales rates, demonstrating the potential of QFD to be used in assessing and prioritizing areas of improvement, and converting them into measurable process or product requirements. Research limitations/implications – One case study was completed. More studies would be beneficial to support current findings. Practical implications – This framework provides structured approach and guidelines for practitioners in adapting QFD for quality improvements in existing products or processes. Originality/value – This study proposes a new framework to use QFD in quality improvement activities, expanding its application areas. Moreover, the results of the literature study performed provide a valuable collection of practical QFD implementation examples. Keywords Quality function deployment (QFD), quality improvement, customer complaints, voice of customer (VOC), house of quality (HOQ)

College-Wide First Year and Career Mentorship Programs

The College of Engineering at the University of New Haven began two formal mentorship programs in spring 2020 with the help of a for-profit company named Mentor Collective. The First-Year Mentorship Program is designed for students entering the university and the Career Mentorship Program is designed for juniors and seniors. The programs were sponsored by a generous gift from Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company. This paper focuses particularly on the impact of the First-Year Mentorship Program on the first to second year retention of engineering and computer science students

Embedding Sustainability in Lean Six Sigma Efforts

The emphasis on the concept of sustainability in businesses and operations is growing either due to increasing public interest, regulatory pressures, or corporate social responsibility. However, where and how to integrate sustainability needs further development for broadening its applications. Using Lean and Six Sigma (LSS) principles in sustainability studies is becoming popular in research and practice. The common approach in these studies is to identify a sustainability project followed by current state sustainability performance assessment, and then work towards improving sustainability performance using LSS tools. The goal of this study was to develop a model framework to fully embed sustainability into any LSS project building on current practices. The wide coverage of LSS, its effectiveness record, and its overlap with sustainability goals establish the foundation for expanding LSS methodology to include sustainability concepts. The proposed framework is not specific to an industry, but is intended to be applicable to the wide spectrum of projects where LSS can be applied. Examples were provided from manufacturing and construction industries in the study. The existing methodologies are framed to target only sustainability initiatives while the presented framework aims to integrate sustainability into any type of improvement initiative. Furthermore, existing methodologies focus almost solely on environmental and economic sustainability, whereas the presented study includes social dimension too. Both academicians and professionals will benefit from the presented framework as it provides a different perspective than what is found in literature enabling broader applications, together with concrete steps and examples demonstrating its implementation, use, and potential benefits

Application of Artificial Neural Networks to Assess Student Happiness

The purpose of this study is to develop an analytical assessment approach to identify the main factors that affect graduate students\u27 happiness level. The two methods, multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural networks (ANN), were employed for analytical modelling. A sample of 118 students at a small non-profit private university constituted the survey pool. Various factors including education, school facilities, health, social activities, and family were taken into consideration as a result of literature review in happiness assessment. A total of 32 inputs and one output variables were identified during survey design phase. The following survey conduction, data collection, cleaning, and preparation; MLR and ANNs were built. ANN models provided better classification performance with over 0.7 R-square and a smaller standard error of estimate compared to MLR. Major policy areas to improve student happiness levels were identified as career services, financial aid, parking and dining services

EML Indices to Assess Student Learning through Integrated e-Learning Modules

The University of New Haven has facilitated the development and integration of e-learning modules on entrepreneurial topics into regular engineering and computer science courses. In addition to faculty at the University of New Haven, over three years 77 faculty at 53 other universities in the US have also integrated these modules into their courses. Starting in fall 2017, rubrics were developed so that student work related to topics covered in the modules could be assessed directly by instructors. Topics covered by each module were also mapped to learning outcomes published in the KEEN Framework [1]. An Entrepreneurial Minded Learning (EML) Index is proposed to quantify how well students attain each learning outcome in the KEEN Framework through completion of a given e-learning module and the related contextual activities developed by instructors for the courses into which the module was integrated. The EML Index is computed for each learning outcome in the KEEN Framework for seven e-learning modules deployed by 1-8 faculty at various universities. Results from multiple offerings of the same module are compared to assess how well the different deployments worked. An EML Effectiveness Index is proposed to quantify the effectiveness of a particular deployment in enabling students to achieve each learning outcome. The EML Effectiveness Index is useful for identifying faculty and courses that need attention in order to improve module deployments. By completing several e-learning modules in different courses, students can successfully attain many of the learning outcomes in the KEEN Framework. A comprehensive EML Index is proposed to quantify student achievement of each learning outcome from completing multiple e-learning modules integrated into different courses. This comprehensive index is computed for students at the University of New Haven who do take several courses in which the e-learning modules are integrated. This paper refines preliminary ideas on the EML Index presented by the authors previously and presents data from a broad set of e-learning module deployments. References 1. Kern Entrepreneurial Education Network (KEEN) (2016). Mindset + skillset: Education in tandem. Retrieved from https://engineeringunleashed.com/Mindset-Matters/Framework.asp

Integrating e-Learning Modules into Engineering Courses to Develop an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Students

Engineering graduates who will be leaders in today’s rapidly changing environment must possess an entrepreneurial mindset and a variety of professional skills in addition to technical knowledge and skills. An entrepreneurial mindset applies to all aspects of life, beginning with curiosity about our changing world, integrating information from various resources to gain insight, and identifying unexpected opportunities to create value. The Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) defines curiosity, connections and creating value as three core components of an entrepreneurial mindset. These 3Cs coupled with associated engineering skills forms KEEN’s entrepreneurial mindset framework. An entrepreneurial mindset enables engineers to develop sound technical solutions that address customer needs, are feasible from a business perspective, and have societal benefit. The Tagliatela College of Engineering at the University of New Haven is working to develop an entrepreneurial mindset in its engineering students through a four-faceted framework based on KEEN’s constructs that includes: 1) developing an entrepreneurial mindset amongst faculty; 2) providing curricular components that develop specific student knowledge and skills; 3) structuring the physical environment to promote entrepreneurial minded learning; and 4) providing opportunities for students to engage in meaningful extra-curricular activities. This paper focuses on the curricular component of this framework. As part of these curricular activities, 18 short, self-paced, e-learning modules will be developed and integrated into courses spanning all four years across all engineering and computer science disciplines. Each module contains readings, short videos and self-assessment exercises. Five of these e-learning modules were developed in fall 2014, four of these five were piloted in the Spring 2015 semester, and all five modules were broadly deployed in the Fall 2015 semester. A flipped classroom instructional model is used to integrate the modules into courses. Content is delivered via a short online module outside the class, and student learning is improved by reinforcing the content covered in the module through class discussions and contextual activities. Direct and indirect assessment is performed through formative and summative class assessments and module specific pre and post surveys, respectively. The five integrated e-learning modules presented in this paper are: 1) Developing customer awareness and quickly testing concepts through customer engagement, 2) Learning from failure, 3) Cost of production and market conditions, 4) Building, sustaining and leading effective teams and establishing performance goals, and 5) Applying systems thinking to solve complex problems. The first two modules were integrated into freshman classes, the third into a sophomore class, the fourth into third year laboratory courses, and the fifth into senior design courses. This paper describes the learning outcomes and the reinforcement activities conducted in the courses into which they were integrated for two of these modules. The findings of the module specific surveys and the assessment results are also presented

Assessing the Growth in Entrepreneurial Mind-set Acquired through Curricular and Extra-curricular Components

In an effort to develop an entrepreneurial mindset in our engineering students, the University of New Haven has adopted both curricular and extra-curricular approaches. The curricular components include: 1. Several e-Learning modules covering specific entrepreneurial concepts integrated into the regular engineering and computer science curricula. Available online, each module contains readings, short videos, and self-assessment exercises. Students complete these self-paced modules outside of the classroom over a two-week period. Instructors normally engage students on the content of the module through online or in-class discussions and in-class contextual activities. 2. An elective course on business principles and entrepreneurship that incorporates four e-learning modules. The elective extra-curricular components include: 1. A 24-Hour Imagination Quest event held twice a year. 2. A Startup Weekend event held once a year. 3. A 10-day immersive design experience held once a year. 4. Events at other universities that some students participate in. In order to measure the growth in students’ entrepreneurial mindset as a result of these curricular and extra-curricular components, a measurement instrument containing 37 items was developed. The survey was first administered to first-year students during the new student orientation in August 2014. An exploratory factor analysis was performed based on the data collected and a revised instrument with 50 items was developed subsequently. 25 items from the first version of the instrument were retained in the revised survey. Many of the first-year students who enrolled in fall 2014 graduated in May 2018 and the revised instrument was administered to them just before they left the university. We analyzed the responses of 25 students who took the surveys in 2014 and 2018 to the 25 items that were identical on both surveys. The results of the analysis indicate that the students generally achieved significant growth in their entrepreneurial mindset. The growth is more obvious in the areas addressed by the e-learning modules integrated into the curricula. This result is very encouraging and indicates that the curricular and extra-curricular components are effective in developing an entrepreneurial mindset in engineering and computer science students