I’m part of a research team (with Mike
Pavelich and Barbara
Olds) developing computer software to measure student intellectual
development based on the Perry and Reflective Judgment models. Neural
nets are used to evaluate patterns in student responses to open-ended scenarios.
We have completed the first phase of software testing and preliminary results
suggest the nets can find subtle and complex patterns in subject response
data. More...
As part of a highly visible project funded by the NSF action agenda
program, I am working with faculty from the University
of Pittsburgh, Columbia University,
Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology, and the University
of Washington to develop and pilot new methods and instruments for
student outcomes assessment. My specific role in the project is to adapt
metacognitive assessment tools such as concept maps and intellectual development
measures to assessing engineering students learning outcomes as required
by ABET EC-2000.
I've worked with Barbara Olds
to continue developing an assessment matrix for evaluating curricular programs
and educational research projects. The matrix has been used in workshops
to help various faculty groups around the country successfully prepare
their own evaluation plans. More...
I am working with several colleagues (Ruth
Streveler and Barbara
Moskal at CSM and Cindy
Atman at the University of Washington) to develop methods for identifying
incorrect mental models (also known at misconceptions or alternate conceptions)
of fundamental chemical principles held by chemical engineering students
and to design interventions to facilitate conceptual change. We are using
a technique known as multidimensional scaling to identify misconceptions in
engineering and science students. We are also using the recent theories of
Dr. Micki Chi at the University of Pittsburgh to help identify
fundamental ways in which student misapply macroscopic causal
explanations of microscopic or molecular scale thermodynamic, transport,
and kinetic processes. |
