Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Open Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences
Advisor 1
Emily Dare
Committee Member 1
Susan Amato-Henderson
Committee Member 2
Adam Feltz
Committee Member 3
Jon Sticklen
Abstract
This work explores the effects of the implementation of a KWL reflective learning exercise on first-year engineering students’ self-efficacy, intelligence beliefs (mindset), and epistemological beliefs. A sample of 428 first-year engineering students were divided into three groups: a) control, b) exposure to KWL, and c) used KWL. Significant differences were found in self-efficacy between the groups with more efficacious students being less likely to utilize the KWL activity. Seventy-seven percent of the students who used the KWL activities reported positive learning outcomes by using the KWL activity to focus their class preparation or to reflect on their learning. No significant effects of KWL implementation were found on student mindset or epistemological beliefs. There were changes in mindset with respect to gender. While 47.8% of students started with a growth mindset, by the end of the semester male students shifted towards a fixed mindset and female students maintained their growth mindset.
Recommended Citation
Kemppainen, Amber J., "Exploring how Reflective Exercises affect First-Year Engineering Epistemological and Intelligence Beliefs", Open Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2018.