Online Learning Forums for Improved Engineering Student Outcomes in Calculus

该项目通过开发和评估一门面向工科学生的在线微积分课程，满足了越来越多的工程师毕业的迫切需求。微积分是工科学生成功的关键课程，这门课程的成功率有待提高。该项目还产生了关于在线学习论坛作为工程教育教学干预措施的有效性的新知识。它正在创建和传播使用指南，以促进在线学习论坛在整个STEM教育中的广泛使用，包括K-12和本科生设置。该项目支持国家需要迅速增加代表人数不足的学生群体(分散在各地的农村居民、在职专业人员和妇女)通过远程教育获得工程学学位的机会。现在参加远程工程项目的非传统学生的数量需要创新的教学干预，以支持他们在这些具有挑战性的新学习环境中。总而言之，该项目旨在1)提高工科学生在微积分方面的学业成绩，2)提高工科学生学习微积分的兴趣，并改善学生追求工程职业的态度，3)在STEM教育中扩大在线学习论坛的使用。

This project is responding to urgent needs to graduate increased numbers of engineers by developing and evaluating an online calculus course for engineering students. Calculus is a critical course in the success of engineering students, and success rates need to be improved for this course. This project is also producing new knowledge concerning the effectiveness of online learning forums as instructional interventions in engineering education. It is creating and disseminating usage guidelines to promote widespread use of online learning forums throughout STEM education, including K-12 and undergraduate settings. This project is supporting a national need to rapidly increase opportunities for underrepresented student groups (geographically dispersed rural residents, working professionals, and women) to pursue engineering degrees via distance education. The numbers of nontraditional students now participating in distance engineering programs necessitates innovative instructional interventions to support them within these challenging new learning environments. In sum, this project is seeking to 1) improve engineering student academic achievement in calculus, 2) increase engineering student interest in learning calculus and improving students' attitudes toward pursuing an engineering career, and 3) broaden the use of online learning forums throughout STEM education.