Title page for ETD etd-12214-155616

Document Type dissertation

Author Name Weir, Jennifer Anne

URN etd-12214-155616

Title Active Learning in Transportation Engineering Education

Degree PhD

Department Civil & Environmental Engineering

Advisors
Malcolm H. Ray, Advisor
Leonard D. Albano, Committee Member
Judith E. Miller, Committee Member
Frederick L. Hart, Department Head

Keywords
engineering education
traffic engineering
active learning
transportation engineering

Date of Presentation/Defense 2004-12-16

Availability unrestricted

Abstract
The objectives of this research were (1) to develop experimental active-based-learning curricula for undergraduate courses in transportation engineering and (2) to assess the effectiveness of an active-learning-based traffic engineering curriculum through an educational experiment. The researcher developed a new highway design course as a pilot study to test selected active-learning techniques before employing them in the traffic engineering curriculum. Active-learning techniques, including multiple-choice questions, short problems completed by individual students or small groups, and group discussions, were used as active interludes within lectures. The researcher also collected and analyzed student performance and attitude data from control and experimental classes to evaluate the relative effectiveness of the traditional lecture (control) approach and the active-learning (experimental) approach.

The results indicate that the active-learning approach adopted for the experimental class did have a positive impact on student performance as measured by exam scores. The students in the experimental class also indicated slightly more positive attitudes at the end of the course than the control class, although the difference was not significant. The author recommends that active interludes similar to those in the experimental curricula be used in other courses in civil engineering.

Files
1jweir-final.pdf
2jweir.pdf

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Document Type	dissertation
Author Name	Weir, Jennifer Anne
URN	etd-12214-155616
Title	Active Learning in Transportation Engineering Education
Degree	PhD
Department	Civil & Environmental Engineering
Advisors	Malcolm H. Ray, Advisor Leonard D. Albano, Committee Member Judith E. Miller, Committee Member Frederick L. Hart, Department Head
Keywords	engineering education traffic engineering active learning transportation engineering
Date of Presentation/Defense	2004-12-16
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract The objectives of this research were (1) to develop experimental active-based-learning curricula for undergraduate courses in transportation engineering and (2) to assess the effectiveness of an active-learning-based traffic engineering curriculum through an educational experiment. The researcher developed a new highway design course as a pilot study to test selected active-learning techniques before employing them in the traffic engineering curriculum. Active-learning techniques, including multiple-choice questions, short problems completed by individual students or small groups, and group discussions, were used as active interludes within lectures. The researcher also collected and analyzed student performance and attitude data from control and experimental classes to evaluate the relative effectiveness of the traditional lecture (control) approach and the active-learning (experimental) approach. The results indicate that the active-learning approach adopted for the experimental class did have a positive impact on student performance as measured by exam scores. The students in the experimental class also indicated slightly more positive attitudes at the end of the course than the control class, although the difference was not significant. The author recommends that active interludes similar to those in the experimental curricula be used in other courses in civil engineering.
Files	1jweir-final.pdf 2jweir.pdf