The Efficacy Of Ongoing Course Assessment For Enhancing Student Learning In Structural Design Courses

A technique was recently developed for the continuous assessment of student learning that involves measuring students’ perception of learning of course topics. The assessment instrument is divided into several modules with each module consisting of a detailed listing of course topics. This instrument has been used in the author’s on-campus and online structural analysis courses. The results of the data collected from a structural analysis course pointed to enhancement in student learning, with the additional benefit of forcing the students to reflect on and take charge of their own learning. This assessment technique has been further implemented in structural steel design and reinforced concrete design courses. The data collected is analyzed and compared to students’ experiences from the structural analysis course to determine the impact of using this assessment instrument on student learning in structural design courses. The impact of students’ perception of learning as measured by the assessment instrument on the final grades obtained in the course, and the influence, if any, of using this ongoing course assessment technique on the end-of-term student course evaluations are also investigated.