ERIC Number: EJ1168666
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Feb
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0018-9359
EISSN: N/A
Characterizing Engineering Learners' Preferences for Active and Passive Learning Methods
Magana, Alejandra J.; Vieira, Camilo; Boutin, Mireille
IEEE Transactions on Education, v61 1 p46-54 Feb 2018
This paper studies electrical engineering learners' preferences for learning methods with various degrees of activity. Less active learning methods such as homework and peer reviews are investigated, as well as a newly introduced very active (constructive) learning method called "slectures," and some others. The results suggest that graduate students' perception of the usefulness of the activity increases with its level of activity. For undergraduate students, an increased perception of the usefulness of the activity was observed for lightly active but structured learning methods. Group-based analysis focusing on two types of learners, defined as "instructor-dependent" and "instructor-independent" according to their perception of the usefulness of the classroom lectures, was also performed. The results suggest that instructor-independent learners may benefit more from active learning methods than instructor-dependent learners. For example, instructor-independent undergraduate learners were found to perceive the homework assignment as being more useful than the lectures. Such a preference was not seen in the average group data. In fact, no learning method was found to be perceived as more useful than the lectures, on average. Thus this paper illustrates the pertinence of group-based data analysis.
Descriptors: Preferences, Engineering Education, Student Attitudes, Teaching Methods, Homework, Peer Evaluation, Graduate Students, Lecture Method, Active Learning, Undergraduate Students, College Faculty, Teacher Student Relationship, Student Surveys
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854. Tel: 732-981-0060; Web site: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=13
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: EEC1544244