Title

Assessing students' ability to develop a systematic approach to learning

Publication Date

1-1-2021

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

International Journal of Engineering Education

Volume

37

Issue

1

First Page

244

Last Page

269

Abstract

This study presents an evaluation of aerospace engineering students' ability to develop a systematic approach to acquiring new engineering knowledge. The study involves 480 first-year, junior, senior and graduate students. Students reflected on their learning process and evaluated its effectiveness using their performance on tests as a measure. Their perceptions were then contrasted with their actual performance in each course. This comparison allowed for an evaluation of students' ability to reflect accurately and helped identify specific learning activities, which produced desirable learning outcomes. These activities form the basis for proposed course design elements, aimed at improving students' lifelong learning skills. The results of the current study can be easily adapted in any engineering or science discipline, and could possibly be generalized for non-technical disciplines as well.

Keywords

Aerospace engineering, Course design, Lifelong learning, Self-directed learning

Department

Aerospace Engineering

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