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Enhanced Learning in Undergraduate Engineering

Enhanced Learning in Undergraduate Engineering. The Research Communications Studio University of South Carolina NSF EEC 0212244. Vision: Research Communications Studio.

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Enhanced Learning in Undergraduate Engineering

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  1. Enhanced Learning in Undergraduate Engineering The Research Communications Studio University of South Carolina NSF EEC 0212244 *South Carolina Research Communications Studio

  2. Vision: Research Communications Studio • By 2012, all USC engineering undergraduates will have three semesters of experience in authentic research and communications. • Through their RCS* experience, our graduates will be well-prepared to -- • Design and conduct research • Achieve excellence in engineering practice • Communicate effectively to teams, colleagues, managers, clients, and sponsors *South Carolina Research Communications Studio

  3. RCS* Mission and Objectives Mission: • Integrate communications into undergraduate research • Conduct research to determine effects of RCS activities on • Quality of research-based learning • Students’ cognitive development • Students’ communications competencies • Enrollment and diversity in undergraduate engineering *South Carolina Research Communications Studio

  4. RCS* – A New Approach • Integrates language into learning how to – • conduct research • communicate in a research context • Incorporates research on cognitive development and academic performance • Adapts to different engineering disciplines and departments *South Carolina Research Communications Studio

  5. The Studio Concept A Studio group comprises • undergraduate engineering researchers • their peers • near peers • engineering and English graduate students • communications faculty *South Carolina Research Communications Studio

  6. Theoretical Approach • Thesis: With the aid of the group, novice researchers are able to accomplish what they could not do alone. “What the learner can do in cooperation today he or she can do alone tomorrow” (Vygotsky, 1978). *South Carolina Research Communications Studio

  7. The Studio Group The studio group discusses all aspects of undergraduate research: • procedures • theories • analyses • graphic representations • written and oral presentations *South Carolina Research Communications Studio

  8. The RCS Approach • The engineering faculty advisor makes the student’s research assignment. • The RCS facilitates the advisor’s objectives for the student. • The Studio makes frequent short written and oral communications assignments that are shared with the Studio group and the research advisor. *South Carolina Research Communications Studio

  9. RCS Staff • RCS staff: • 3 engineering graduate student mentors • 2 English and Linguistic graduate research assistants • 2 communications faculty *South Carolina Research Communications Studio

  10. RCS* – The first 45 days and beyond RCS established 8/15/ 2002 • 9 undergraduates now • Goal = 15 per semester • Assessment includes videotaping, content and discourse analysis, demographic and retention data *South Carolina Research Communications Studio

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