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Design and Evaluation of Problem Solving Courseware Modules for Mechanics of Materials
Author(s) -
Streif Paul S.,
Naples Larisa M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of engineering education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.896
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 2168-9830
pISSN - 1069-4730
DOI - 10.1002/j.2168-9830.2003.tb00764.x
Subject(s) - grasp , meaning (existential) , fluency , mathematics education , field (mathematics) , computer science , key (lock) , self study , multimedia , psychology , mathematics , software engineering , pure mathematics , psychotherapist , computer security
Problem solving courseware modules have been developed for students of mechanics of materials. The modules offer students: a better grasp of fundamental principles, an intuitive sense of the meaning of key quantities, and fluency in using relations to solve problems. Students use modules independently and submit electronic log files to instructors who can monitor their progress. Field‐testing of the modules was conducted over a two‐year period at three distinct educational institutions, with 318 students. Courseware users scored as well as or outperformed their non‐using peers on nearly all objective measures of learning, with differences being statistically significant in some cases. Eighty‐eight percent of users found the courseware helpful for learning. After completing one required module, 48 percent of students continued using the courseware, voluntarily, as a reference guide to theory, as a coach for mastering and reviewing basic skills, and as a self‐diagnostic tool, to help with regular homework assignments.