Work in progress - A hands-on ability intervention
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
12-1-2010
Abstract
Hands-on ability is considered an important skill for success in engineering. It also plays a role in attitude toward engineering. Despite its importance, engineering curricula do not necessarily provide all students with experiences that help develop hands-on ability. With the goal of developing educational experiences that better meet students' needs and increase hands-on self-efficacy, this research investigates the effect of solitary practice as an intervention for improving hands-on ability. A reverse engineering lab activity in a low stress environment served as the intervention. The activity was individual to allow students to complete the activity at their own pace. Students in a treatment group and control group completed an engineering attitude survey, a mechanical aptitude test, and a prior experience survey. Comparison of the results for the control and treatment groups did not provide evidence that the intervention had an effect on hands-on ability or self-efficacy. Future work will include pre and post testing of the treatment group as well as an intervention of longer duration. © 2010 IEEE.
Publication Title
Proceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE
Recommended Citation
Pereira, A.,
&
Miller, M.
(2010).
Work in progress - A hands-on ability intervention.
Proceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE.
http://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2010.5673307
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/10445