Open AccessImpact of Informed Course Design and Data-Driven Course Improvement on Student Learning
Author(s) -
Suzanne M. Kresta
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
proceedings of the ... ceea conference
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2371-5243
DOI - 10.24908/pceea.v0i0.4874
Subject(s) - workload , cognition , course (navigation) , mathematics education , psychology , domain (mathematical analysis) , test (biology) , medical education , computer science , engineering , medicine , mathematical analysis , paleontology , mathematics , neuroscience , biology , aerospace engineering , operating system
Can the impact of improved teaching practice (pedagogical change) be measured? The author presents results from a 17 year study of a second mass and energy balances course where the impact of teaching on cognitive change is dramatic – and at the same time insufficient. The effects of teaching and examination design on student test performance are contrasted with observations of cognitive domain behaviors, long term affective domain impact, student admission averages, and instructor workload and satisfaction in teaching large classes. The use of industrial best practice standards as a teaching and learning tool is discussed. The main conclusion is that cognitive domain changes may not be measurable in the short term, but they can be very significant over a long period of continuous improvement. A case is made for identifying courses which require advanced teaching skills (mastery courses), and mentoring those courses through various generations of instructor growth and development.