First-Year Innovation & Design in Engineering for Academic Success (IDEAS) Modules and Center

工程-其他(59)该项目正在为一年级的工程专业学生开发三个模块，并创建一个中心，学生可以在这里晚上接触导师，提供工具来构建他们的设计想法，以及一个他们可以在课外测量和记录数据的区域。这些模块涉及生物力学、风力发电和水净化，重点是培养一年级工程学学生的批判性和创造性思维能力。这些模块包括建模、仿真、原型制作、数据收集和数据分析任务。评估工作正在使用两个既定的工具来衡量批判性思维和创造力的变化：加州批判性思维技能测试和创造性思维绘图生产测试。调查人员正在通过在国家会议上的发言、在存档期刊上发表的出版物以及在其网站和梅洛网站上张贴的帖子来传播他们的模块和结果。更广泛的影响包括分发教学材料和选择代表人数不足的群体感兴趣的课程主题，以努力增加他们的参与。

Engineering - Other (59)The project is developing three modules for first-year engineering students and creating a center where students have evening access to tutors, tools to construct their design ideas, and an area where they can take measurements and record data outside of class. The modules, which deal with biomechanics, wind power, and water purification, are focusing on the development of critical and creative thinking skills in first-year engineering students. The modules include modeling, simulation, prototyping, data collection, and data analysis tasks. The evaluation effort is measuring changes in critical thinking and creativity using two established instruments: the California Critical Thinking Skills Test and the Test for Creative Thinking-Drawing Production. The investigators are disseminating their modules and results through presentations at national conferences, through publications in archived journals , and through postings on their website and on the Merlot site. Broader impacts include the dissemination of the instructional materials and the selection of course topics of interest to underrepresented groups in an effort to increase their participation.