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指导方面的时间。作业实验室是一种新的工程教育方法，它：(1)对学生作业的变量进行随机化，使每个学生的作业都是不同的；(2)对每个作业问题进行评分；(3)根据需要对学生进行指导；(4)在学期结束时为教授计算平均分数。该软件还能够评分和协助未分配的课本问题进行练习，或创建随机和定时的练习测试。作业实验室被用于TTU的工程力学课程，似乎可以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 Publishing， Inc.建立了合作伙伴关系：(1)通过CD-ROM和校园网络在该大学和德州大学的24门工程力学课程中实施该软件；(2)评估该概念在提高学生理解和记忆方面的有效性；(3)根据评价结果修改作业实验室方法；(4)在互联网上实现软件。此外，家庭作业实验室有潜力改善K-12年级的教学。一群在TTU就读的K-12职前教师正在对其进行修改。他们正在将其与田纳西州八年级和九年级采用的物理科学教科书结合使用。这些材料正在接受TTU职前教师的实地测试，他们正在努力获得执照。

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.