The One-Hour Design of Experiments Course

Abstract

As teachers, the authors are eager to confirm that what they teach is correct and that their topics are both fun and worth studying further. How they make their propositions attractive is, of course, context dependent. This article describes how a one-hour introductory course in design of experiments (DOE) can be used to attract high school students to study science and engineering in general and quality management in particular. The course is based on a 2² factorial design inspired by the Pepsi Challenge and is evaluated in the light of the “Seven Good Principles to Achieve Good Learning.” Results of the course show that it is possible to teach DOE to students in high school and at the same time provide a fun experience. Many of the statistical concepts appear to have been grasped up to the level of comprehension of effects and statistical significant effects compared to random error effects.

• experimental design
• introduction to statistics
• short course
• statistics education
• student retention

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bjarne Bergquist

Bjarne Bergquist is assistant professor at the Division of Quality & Environmental Management at Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, where he teaches quality management to engineering students. He holds a doctorate in engineering materials from Linköping University and has authored or coauthored more than 10 papers on different aspects of experimental design. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

Thomas Olsson

Thomas Olsson is a lecturer at the Division of Quality & Environmental Management at Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, where he teaches environmental and sustainable management to engineering students. He holds a master's degree in environmental management from Luleå University of Technology and has been part of the organizational committee for The Second Annual Conference about University Pedagogy and Knowledge Building at Luleå University of Technology, 2005.

Erik Lovén

Erik Lovén is lecturer at the Division of Quality & Environmental Management at Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, where he teaches quality management to engineering students. He holds a licentiate in quality technology from Luleå University of Technology and has been teaching quality courses, including experimental design, for some years.