Improving Learning in Undergraduate Engineering: The Homework Laboratory

田纳西理工大学（TTU）开发并实施了一个多媒体软件包，名为家庭作业实验室，旨在提高学生的理解和保留，同时节省教师在评分和辅导方面的时间。家庭作业实验室是一种新的工程教育方法，它：（1）随机化学生家庭作业的变量，使每个学生的每个问题都不同;（2）为每个家庭作业问题打分;（3）在必要时指导学生;（4）在学期结束时为教授平均分数。该软件还能够评分和帮助未分配的教科书问题进行练习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，似乎可以提高学生的理解和考试准备。TTU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。用于：（1）透过唯读光碟及校园网络，在大学及德州大学的24个工程力学课程中应用该软件;（2）评估该概念在提高学生理解力及记忆力方面的成效;（3）根据评估结果，修改家庭作业实验室方法;以及（4）在互联网上实施该软件。此外，家庭作业实验室具有改善K-12年级教学的潜力。 它正在修改一组职前K-12教师谁是学生在TTU。 他们正在调整它，以与田纳西州8年级和9年级采用的物理科学教科书一起使用。 这些材料正在由TTU职前教师进行实地测试，他们正在努力获得许可证。

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.