Design and implementation of an online digital design course

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The popularity of online education increases, many face-to-face electrical engineering courses are converted to be taught online. ABET outcomes must be considered to maintain equivalency between the online and face-to-face versions. The challenge exists on how to offer online students, who are physically dispersed, the same educational experience as the on-site students in terms of course content, hands-on lab experience, student support and assessment. This paper will discuss the conversion of a face-to-face 15-week lecture-lab Digital Design Fundamentals course to a 7.5-week equivalent online format. The creation, implementation and evaluation of the course will be discussed, focusing on how equivalency was maintained for the on-site and online versions. Specifically, the equivalency will be described in terms of course materials, hands-on labs, student support and assessment. The same course materials were used in both on-site and online versions. To have the same hands-on lab experience, students purchased an affordable lab kit to set up a home lab and perform the same lab exercises as in an on-campus lab. Piazza, an online Q&A discussion forum, was used to provide students with prompt answers to their questions, equivalent to but more convenient than on-campus office hours. Finally, to give the same assessment to online students as to on-site students, ProctorU, an online proctor service, was used in the final exam. The online course was first piloted in summer 2014 with 128 students enrolled. Since then, an additional 382 students took the course, which brought the total enrollment to 510 by the end of 2015. Student learning outcomes will be evaluated using an ABET assessment that was given to both on-site and online students. Student retention will be compared using DEW rate. Student perceptions of the course will be addressed based on anonymous teaching evaluations. Recommendations for future improvement will also be discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2016 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition
PublisherAmerican Society for Engineering Education
Volume2016-June
StatePublished - Jun 26 2016
Event123rd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition - New Orleans, United States
Duration: Jun 26 2016Jun 29 2016

Other

Other123rd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans
Period6/26/166/29/16

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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