The iCollaborate MSE Project: Progress Update 2014

The iCollaborate Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) project is a comprehensive research program that has an overarching goal of improving student outcomes in introductory materials engineering courses. The project is multifaceted and includes several interwoven components, all of which are founded upon literature based best practices in STEM education. The project components include: a detailed study of precourse knowledge and misperceptions, an investigation of student preparation influencing course outcomes, an analysis of Index of Learning Styles (ILS) data, a switch to inductive teaching practices which include collaborative, active learning modules and concept/peer learning opportunities, collaborative writing of research papers, low stakes quizzing, the development of targeted iPod applications that promote enhanced student understanding of known conceptual difficulties, MSE vocabulary terms, visual and conceptually contained presentations of material properties, material calculators and conversion tools, and the development of a web site based upon concept maps. The project includes formative and summative assessment elements. This paper focuses on previously unreported components of the iCollaborate project that were researched, analyzed or developed during the 2011-2012 academic year. A detailed analysis of student preparation coupled with the comprehensive study of pre-course conceptual knowledge and misperceptions provided particularly rich and extremely informative data sets that are outlined in this paper. Additionally, students perceive that low stakes quizzing improve personal outcomes more than the targeted, collaborative and active modules and iPod applications, but traditional test scores indicate all three enhance certain student learning outcomes when at least two are present. The entire suite of MSE iPod applications developed for this project (Concept Questions, Vocabulary, Basic Knowledge, Tune-Up, Material Properties, Composite Calculator, MSE Convert, MSE Knowledge Tools and Review) is described in detail. The supporting web site for the project is currently under development, is concept mapped based, built upon student input/assessments, and targeted to address known conceptual difficulties in MSE. The concept map base for the project is reported in this paper. The paper concludes with a description of the remaining objectives for the iCollaborate project for the next academic year and further dissemination plans. At the conclusion of the project, all materials will be placed on the NSF sponsored National Science Digital Library (NSDL). The National Science Foundation is supporting the project (NSF CCLI/TUES #0941012).