Automated Outcomes-Based Assessment Process for Traditional and Project-Based Engineering Instruction

Abstract

An outcomes-based assessment process called QQI, an acronym for Quantity-Quality-Improvement, has been developed and pilot-tested in several courses, both traditional and project-based, in mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. An online version of the QQI survey instrument has been created which automates collection of data and rapid generation of reports to faculty. The QQI process, including the instrument and report generator, research and design basis, and results of pilot testing, are described and department-wide implementation plans are discussed.

Flipping The Classroom to Increase Students’ Engagement and Interaction in a Mechanical Engineering Course on Machine Design

“…Based on these studies that point out how well a given project may lead to the achievement of the required learning outcomes [16], hands-on projects have been introduced within a traditional classroom format of lectures, tests, and homework [17]. Coming to the flipped classroom model that we applied to flip part of an undergraduate course on machine design, a specific problem typology for designing in-class activities was adopted whilst the main platform for delivering content for pre-class activities was a wiki.…”

Incorporating Open Ended Projects Into A Machine Elements Course

“…In order to prepare for ABET2000, the mechanical engineering department at the University of Texas at Austin has recently implemented on online tool to gather feedback from students about how well a given project achieves the stated mechanical engineering outcomes. This survey was recently administered at the end of the fall 2004 semester and details can be found in Schmidt and Jones 11 . The survey asks students to self-report the quantity, quality, and improvement (QQI) of their learning on 5-point Likert scale.…”