Through a five-year collaborative project, Purdue University and the Concord Consortium are applying a data-intensive approach to study one of the most fundamental research topics in learning sciences and engineering education: “How do secondary students learn and apply science concepts in engineering design processes?” We have collected data from over 1,000 middle and high school students in Indiana and Massachusetts through automatic, unobtrusive logging of student design processes enabled by a unique CAD tool that supports the design of energy-efficient buildings using earth science, physical science, and engineering science concepts and principles of design. Data collected includes fine-grained information of student design actions, experimentation behaviors, electronic student reflection notes, and virtual design artifacts. These process data are used to reconstruct the entire learning trajectory of each individual student. Our research evaluates how these learning analytics applied to these process data can be the computational counterparts of traditional performance assessment methods. Combining these process data with pre/post-tests and demographic data, we have investigated the common patterns of student design behavior and associated learning outcomes. We have focused on how students deepen their understanding of science concepts involved in engineering design projects and how often and deeply students use scientific experimentation to make a design choice.
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0784-6079
Purdue University, West Lafayette (College of Engineering)
[biography]
Senay Purzer is a Professor in the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University. Her research is on engineering design reasoning.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7721-9188
Purdue University at West Lafayette (PWL) (COE)
[biography]
Robin S. Adams is Professor in the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University and holds a PhD in Education, an MS in Materials Science and Engineering, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering. She researches cross-disciplinarity ways of thinking, ac
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2382-4745
Purdue University, West Lafayette (College of Engineering)
[biography]
Molly Goldstein is a Ph.D. Candidate in the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University, West Lafayette with a research focus on characterizing behaviors in student designers. She previously worked as an environmental engineer specializing in air quality influencing her focus in engineering design with environmental concerns. She earned her B.S. in General Engineering (Systems Engineering & Design) and M.S. in Systems and Entrepreneurial Engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
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