Instruction design of a mechatronics course based on closed-loop 7E model refined with DBR method

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Abstract

In this paper, a closed-loop novel model of the 7E plan is proposed and implemented for instructing a mechatronics course to mechanical engineering students. The effectiveness of the 7E plan is augmented through associating the DBR (design-based research) with the 7E plan. To do so, a selected topic of the mechatronics course is divided into several (3) lessons. For each lesson, the required activities pertaining to each stage of the 7E plan are carefully determined, and the lesson is instructed to the students following the 7E stages in sequence. Under the DBR method, the classroom environment and intermediate outcomes of the lesson are observed and analyzed, the limitations are identified, and actions are planned to implement in the next lesson (iteration) with an aim of continual refinement of the 7E plan. A comprehensive assessment rubric is developed to evaluate the overall outcomes of the lessons. The evaluation results at the end of the topic (at the end of the 3rd lesson) are then compared with that of instructing a similar topic in mechatronics instructed by the same instructor to the same student population without following the 7E plan and the DBR method. The results show that instruction design of the mechatronics course can be successfully fitted within the framework of the 7E model augmented with the DBR method. The comparison results show that the combination of the 7E and the DBR, which makes the 7E a closed-loop model, significantly improves the teaching and learning outcomes and effectiveness, and the instructor's instructing quality. The proposed closed-loop 7E model via DBR addition can be a very successful instructional model to instruct mechatronics as well as other similar STEM courses to college-level science and engineering students.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings
StatePublished - Jun 15 2019
Event126th ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: Charged Up for the Next 125 Years, ASEE 2019 - Tampa, United States
Duration: Jun 15 2019Jun 19 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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