2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

The Use of MATLAB Live as a Technology-enabled Learning Environment for Computational Modeling Activities within a Capstone Engineering Course

Presented at Computers in Education Division Technical Session 1: Topics Related to Engineering - Part 1

This full paper presents an implementation of a technology-enabled learning environment such as MATLAB Live, used to enhance student experience when engaging with computational modeling activities within a capstone engineering course. Computational modeling and simulation are key aspects within engineering education. As such, continued progress towards understanding and improving student experiences within computational modeling activities is a paramount for engineering educators. MATLAB Live, along with other similar technologies such as Jupyter Notebooks, allow for users to mix together data visualizations, working code, explanations, and other forms of media. This form of discipline-based technology-enabled learning environment allows for maximizing scaffolding and potentially lessening the cognitive load experienced during the learning activity.

The paper describes how a computational modeling intervention based on educational theories and frameworks such as the model-eliciting activity and productive failure, were scaffolded and delivered through MATLAB Live. The paper quantitatively and qualitatively identified different ways in which students engaged with MATLAB Live and how those differed between student programmers comfort levels. Additionally, quantitative analysis was used to understand the effects the intervention had on student self-efficacy. The guiding research questions were: (1) How did such technology-enabled scaffolded (MATLAB Live) modeling activity experiences impact student self-efficacy regarding programming and computational modeling? (2) Based on student comfort level with programming (self-efficacy), how did students vary in their reported experiences of MATLAB Live? The results of this analysis show that the MATLAB Live scaffolding proved beneficial to both novice and experienced programmers, yet student-reported benefits differed in key areas. The paper concludes with recommendations for using MATLAB Live and similar programs derived from the results of the study.

Authors

Mr. Joseph A. Lyon http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1993-4191 Purdue University, West Lafayette [biography]

Joseph A. Lyon is a Ph.D. student in the School of Engineering Education and a M.S. student in the School of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University. He earned a B.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Purdue University. His research interests include models and modeling, computational thinking, and computation in engineering education.
Ms. Aparajita Jaiswal Purdue University, West Lafayette [biography]

Aparajita Jaiswal is a Ph.D. student at Purdue Polytechnic at Purdue University, West Lafayette. Her research interests are in educational technology, embodied learning, student engagement and motivation in active learning environments.
Dr. Alejandra J. Magana http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6117-7502 Purdue University, West Lafayette [biography]

Alejandra Magana is a Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Technology and an affiliated faculty at the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University. She holds a B.E. in Information Systems, a M.S. in Technology, both from Tec de Monterrey; and a M.S. in Educational Technology and a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Purdue University. Her research is focused on identifying how model-based cognition in STEM can be better supported by means of expert technological and computing tools such as cyber-physical systems, visualizations, and modeling and simulation tools.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2020, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 26, 2021

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