In response to campus closures due to COVID-19, the learning environment in a foundational engineering course unexpectedly shifted from hands-on, collaborative work to remote delivery, accomplished within a short period of time. Through end-of-semester course surveys, students were asked open-ended questions to get feedback about their experience with the goal of using student feedback for curriculum planning and improvement should there be continued need to facilitate the course remotely in subsequent semesters. However, with 1,170 responses, the volume of data made it challenging to analyze, interpret and use the feedback for decision-making for following semesters. To address this challenge, we utilized Natural Language Processing (NLP) based techniques - algorithmic ways to analyze, interpret, and present words and sentiments from student responses visually, to inform a novice-led analysis to ultimately help with course planning for future semesters.
Keywords: COVID-19, First-Year Engineering, Machine Learning, Sentiment Analysis, Assessment
Dr. Sreyoshi Bhaduri is an Engineering Educator and People Researcher. She currently heads Global People Research and Analytics at McGraw Hill, where she leads research leveraging employee data to generate data-driven insights for decisions impacting organizational Culture and Talent. Her research interests include assessing the impact and effectiveness of inclusion initiatives as well as employing innovative, ethical and inclusive mixed-methods research approaches using AI to uncover insights about the 21st century workforce. Sreyoshi is passionate about improving belonging among women in STEM and Engineering. She was recently elected as Senator at the Society of Women Engineers - a not for profit organization with over 42,000 global members and the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. She is also a member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Learn more about her work and get in touch at www.ThatStatsGirl.com.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2491-6684
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
[biography]
Michelle Soledad, Ph.D. is a Collegiate Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. Her research and service interests include teaching and learning experiences in fundamental engineering courses, faculty development and support initiatives – including programs for the future engineering professoriate, and leveraging institutional data to support reflective teaching practices. She has degrees in Electrical Engineering (B.S., M.Eng.) from the Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City, Philippines, where she previously held appointments as Assistant Professor and Department Chair for Electrical Engineering. She also previously served as Director for Communications and International Engagement at the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech, Lecturer at the Department of Engineering Education at The Ohio State University, and Assistant Professor at the Department of Integrated Engineering at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Virginia Tech.
Tamoghna Roy works as a Principal Engineer at DeepSig where he is responsible for creating novel machine learning solutions to classical wireless communication problems, thus enabling the next generation of wireless systems. Tamoghna received his PhD and MS in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 2017 and 2014 respectively.
http://orcid.org/https://0000-0003-3849-2947
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
[biography]
Dr. Homero Murzi is the Director of Engineering Education and Associate Professor in the OPUS College of Engineering at Marquette University and honorary Professor at the University of Los Andes (Venezuela). Homero is the leader of the Engineering Competencies, Learning, and Interdisciplinary Practices for Success (ECLIPS) Lab. His research focuses on developing engineering education practices that prepare graduate students and faculty members with the tools to promote effective and inclusive learning environments. Homero has been recognized as a Diggs Teaching Scholar, a Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence Fellow, a Global Perspectives Fellow, a Diversity Scholar, a Fulbright Scholar, a recipient of the NSF CAREER award, and was inducted into the Bouchet Honor Society. Homero serves as the Chair for the Research in Engineering Education Network (REEN). He holds degrees in Industrial Engineering (BS, MS) from the National Experimental University of Táchira, Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Temple University, and Engineering Education (PhD) from Virginia Tech.
Tamara Knott is the Academic Programs Manager for the Engineering Education
Department at Virginia Tech. She is involved with recruiting and supporting the
department's PhD students and supporting the departments first-year program
interdiscipliary undergraduate courses. She previously taught the Engineering
Foundations course to first year engineering students. Within ASEE, she is a member
of the ERM, FPD, and WIED divisions.
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