Improving Learning in Undergraduate Engineering: The Homework Laboratory

田纳西理工大学(TTU)开发并实施了一个名为家庭作业实验室的多媒体软件包，旨在提高学生的理解和记忆，同时节省教师在评分和辅导方面的时间。家庭作业实验室是工程教育的一种新方法：(1)将学生家庭作业的变量随机化，使每个学生的每个问题都不同；(2)为每个家庭作业问题评分；(3)根据需要指导学生；(4)在学期结束时计算教授的平均分数。该软件还能够为练习中未分配的课本问题评分和协助，或创建随机和定时的练习测试。家庭作业实验室正在TTU的工程力学课程中使用，似乎有助于提高学生的理解和考试准备。TTU已经与德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校(UT)和Addison Wesley Longman出版公司建立了合作伙伴关系：(1)通过CD-ROM和校园网络在德克萨斯大学和德克萨斯大学的24节工程力学课上实施该软件；(2)评估这一概念在提高学生理解力和记忆力方面的有效性；(3)根据评估结果修改家庭作业实验室的方法；以及(4)在互联网上实施该软件。此外，家庭作业实验室有可能改善K-12年级的教学。它正在由一群任职前的K-12教师修改，他们是TTU的学生。他们正在对其进行修改，以用于田纳西州8年级和9年级的一本物理教科书。这些材料正在由TTU的职前教师进行实地测试，他们正在努力争取获得许可证。

Tennessee Technological University (TTU) has developed and implemented a multimedia software package, entitled The Homework Laboratory, which is designed to increase student understanding and retention while saving the instructor time in terms of grading and coaching. The Homework Laboratory is a new approach to engineering education which: (1) randomizes the variables for a student's homework so that each problem is different for every student; (2) scores each homework problem; (3) coaches the student as necessary; and (4) averages the scores for the professor at the end of the semester. The software is also capable of scoring and assisting with unassigned textbook problems for practice or creating randomized and timed practice tests.The Homework Laboratory is being used in engineering mechanics classes at TTU and appears to enhance student understanding and exam preparedness. TTU has formed a partnership with the University of Texas at Austin (UT) and Addison Wesley Longman Publishing, Inc. for: (1) implementing the software in 24 engineering mechanics classes at the University and UT via CD-ROM and campus network; (2) evaluating the effectiveness of the concept at improving student comprehension and retention; (3) modifying The Homework Laboratory approach based on the evaluation findings; and (4) implementing the software over the internet.In addition, The Homework Laboratory has potential for improving instruction in grades K-12. It is being modified by a group of pre-service K-12 teachers who are students at TTU. They are adapting it for use with a physical science textbook that has been adopted in grades 8 and 9 in Tennessee. The materials are being field tested by the TTU pre-service teachers, who are working towards licensure.