Use of Collaborative Learning Exercises to Increase Student Motivation and Learning in an Introduction to Materials Engineering Course

Authors

Stacy Gleixner, San Jose State UniversityFollow
Hilary Lackritz, San Jose State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

June 2004

Publication Title

ASEE Annual Conference

First Page

9.1351.1

Last Page

9.1351.10

Disciplines

Engineering Education | Materials Science and Engineering

Abstract

A collection of collaborative, in-class exercises have been designed for use in a freshmen/sophomore level Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering class. The activities are team based problems that include open ended design problems, calculation questions, and thought problems on unanswered research questions. The activities have been designed with the goal of having one or two a week embedded in a more traditional lecture setting. The exercises relate to the topics covered in most standard Introduction to Materials classes (crystal structure, mechanical properties, polymers, phase diagrams…). Each activity is designed specifically to engage the students in the lecture and excite them about the material. This is accomplished by relating the lecture material to a modern application. For example, students learn about the mechanical properties of different polymer structures by comparing plastic bags and milk bottles. The author has found that one major tool needed for the success of the collaborative learning exercises has been the implementation of reading quizzes. The reading quizzes are quick, five minute quizzes on the assigned reading done at the beginning of class. The students are then ready (and excited) to work on higher level problems in-class. Survey results of student’s opinion show that the reading quizzes and collaborative learning exercises increase the student’s learning (in their opinion) and increase their motivation to read prior to class and attend class.

Comments

© 2004 American Society for Engineering Education. This article originally appeared in the proceedings of the 2004 ASEE Annual Conference, and can also be found online at this link.
Conference SessionCreative Ways to Present Basic MaterialsPresented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Recommended Citation

Stacy Gleixner and Hilary Lackritz. "Use of Collaborative Learning Exercises to Increase Student Motivation and Learning in an Introduction to Materials Engineering Course" ASEE Annual Conference (2004): 9.1351.1-9.1351.10.