How People Learn: Effect on Student Achievement and Retention in Engineering

这个探索性项目将重构辛辛那提大学工程学院的新生工程课程（FEP），包括新的教学方法，强调微积分和物理等课程中同时教授的材料的工程应用，并通过与当地行业的领先工程师的互动，为学生提供有关各个工程领域的就业机会的信息。预计这将提高FEP学生的毕业率。重组FEP的效果将通过比较参加重组计划的学生在微积分和物理方面的表现与重组前参加FEP的学生的表现来评估。该项目是一项改革学院本科教育的长期计划的一部分，该计划将包括成立工程教育系（DEE），以领导和协调学院的本科教育，特别是在关键的头两年。该项目的结果将有助于确定教学方法、建议和指导对加州大学学生毕业后的留任率和工作表现的影响。开发的知识和方法将有助于解决俄亥俄州和全国对工程师日益增长的需求。

This exploratory project will restructure the Freshman Engineering Program (FEP) in the College of Engineering at the University of Cincinnati (UC) to include new approaches to teaching, emphasize engineering applications of material being taught concurrently in courses such as Calculus and Physics, and provide students with information regarding career opportunities in various fields of engineering through interaction with leading engineers from local industries. This is expected to increase the graduation rate of students in FEP. The effect of restructuring FEP will be evaluated by comparing the performance in Calculus and Physics of students who have participated in the restructured program with that of students who participated in FEP before the restructuring. This project is part of a long-term program to transform undergraduate education in the College which will include formation of a Department of Engineering Education (DEE) to lead and coordinate undergraduate education in the College, especially during the critical first two years. The results of this project will help determine the effect that teaching methods, advising, and mentoring have on retention to graduation and on performance in the workplace for students at UC. The knowledge and methods developed will help address the growing need for engineers in Ohio and in the nation.