Engaging students as partners in developing online learning and feedback activities for first-year fluid mechanics

ABSTRACT

Much learning takes place outside of formal class settings, yet students starting in higher education are not always well equipped with independent learning skills, appropriate self-knowledge or the required levels of intrinsic motivation This project used students as partners to develop resources that could be used by first-year undergraduates in fluid mechanics, using activities and receiving feedback through the virtual learning environment (VLE), in order to build these three attributes of independent learners. While there were significant benefits to the students who developed the resources, the target students saw much lower benefits as a result of poorer than expected engagement. The challenge this research presents is to develop activities that maximise engagement in large classes, as well as develop appropriate independent learning skills.

KEYWORDS:

• Engineering education research
• fluid dynamics
• active learning
• student involvement

Acknowledgements

Some of this work was made possible by a Santander 100 scholarship, awarded in 2013 by Santander Bank, administered by the Centre for Higher Education Research and Practice at Ulster University. The author would also like to acknowledge the contributions of the eight partner students, Patrick Conway, Mark Cosby, Anthony Harkin, Catherine Kearney, Ryan McCormick, Pearse McGrath, Shauna Mullin and Andrew Russell.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Alan Brown is a lecturer in Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics at Ulster University, and a chartered engineer and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He graduated in Chemical Engineering at Imperial College, London, in 1993 and completed his Ph.D. in Biomedical engineering at Ulster University in 2012. Prior to lecturing he enjoyed a career as an engineer in industry, including both Manufacturing and Research and Development roles, before starting an academic research career. His research interests include Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling in diverse fields such as tissue engineering and renewable energies. He also has a passion for engineering education, including working with schools as a STEM ambassador, and leading projects in engineering education research at Ulster University. He is particularly interested in evidence-based approaches to improving the quality of engineering learning and teaching.

ORCiD

Alan Brown http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0322-5902