Introduction

1. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Context • Photonics in 3rd year EE program • Not main stream electronics • No feed-in to research • Make photonics more interesting • Make students more engaged • More hands-on learning • Semi-PBL projects for labs Increasing student engagement & attention through pre-reading(in Photonics) Sensory Homunculus Man • Thinh Nguyen • School of Engineering & Science

2. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Issues • Increased practical time, decreased lecture time • No change in lecture content • Need for change of mode of lecture delivery • Introduce Just-In-Time Teaching for lectures

3. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Course Structure NEW UNIT OLD UNIT EFT load : 6 credit points EFT load : 6 credit points Contact Hours : 2.5 hr/wk Contact Hours : 2.5 hr/wk Lectures/Tutes : 1.5 hr/wk (Just-in-Time Teaching) Lecture/Tutes : 2 hr/wk (Traditional lectures) Practicals : 0.5 hr/wk (recipe-based labs) Practicals : 1 hr/wk (PBL-based)

4. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) • Learning material delivered via WebCT • Students required to read learning material prior to class • Students learn at their own pace • Familiarity of learning material before lectures • Students assessed prior to class using online tests

5. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Online Assessment • 4-5 questions: • 2 - 3 short-answer conceptual questions • 1 understanding question • 1 learning time question • Assessment closes 1 day before class • No time limit • Plagiarism is checked using Turnitin

6. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Online Assessment

7. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Online Assessment • Benefits: • Formative assessment • Near immediate feedback • Early identification of at-risk students

8. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Assessment Results

9. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Using Results to Guide Teaching • Results used to identify discussion topics • No traditional lectures • Better assimilation of learning material • More relevant learning experience • More efficient use of class time • Students more engaged and more active in discussions • Attendance not required if topic is understood

10. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Attendance Rate 2009 Ave: 72% 2010 Ave: 84%

11. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Learning Time 2009 Ave: 2.4 hr 2010 Ave: 2.5 hr

12. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Student Grades 2008 2009

13. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Student Performance In Other Units

14. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Student Evaluation • Online anonymous survey of students • 30 Questions • 10 related to the unit • 10 related to the teachers • 10 related to practicals • 24 close ended questions • 6 open ended questions

15. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Responses to Closed Ended Questions

16. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Responses to Open Ended Question

17. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Conclusion • Increased engagement of the learning material • Increased understanding of the learning material • Better way for students to manage their learning • Increased attendance of classes • Better pass rate

18. Introduction Course Structure Assessment Teaching Student Evaluation Conclusion Questions?