Teaching freshman design using a flipped classroom model
Faculty at Rice University are creating instructional resources to support a flipped classroom model for first-year multidisciplinary engineering design. By delivering the lecture content of the design process using videos and other media, class time is freed up for concrete progress on a team's specific project with support of faculty. The first goal of this project is to create educational materials to transfer the delivery of content regarding the design process to an out-of-class environment and to develop in-class active learning modules that clarify, elaborate, and expand on critical design process topics. These materials will be widely available for others to use. Currently, limited research exists on the impact of the flipped classroom model in engineering, mathematics, or science courses at the university level. Thus, the second goal of this project is to answer the engineering education research question: Are there differences in student performance in executing the engineering design process when comparing delivery of engineering design process knowledge using a lecture format versus a flipped classroom model? The change in format and the engineering education research question will be assessed by evaluating student performance. In addition, the quality and usability of the developed materials will be assessed by students and faculty at Rice University and partner institutions. To date, the team has described and planned the work for 2014 and has started making videos. The team is seeking feedback on developing materials that will be helpful for the community teaching engineering design. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2014.
