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Sufficiently serving computer science students at minority-serving institutions entails systematic communication of the "hidden curriculum"- the unwritten rules and tacit norms of traversing a disciplinary academic space- knowledge that students might learn from those with college-going backgrounds. At Kean University, department-run new student orientation has become a mechanism for integrating new students into the institution and the computer science department's community. The course addressed what Kezar and Holcombe call "Elements of STEM student success," or the needs of students at the intersection of first-generation familial experiences and STEM student college newcomers. In this work-in-progress experience report, we use data from retrospective pre-post surveys to show that student participants in the orientation indicate greater intent to engage in high-impact practices, greater confidence in their major choice, and strong identification with their STEM discipline. The authors discuss how systemic, department-level orientation processes at institutions that serve underrepresented student populations can impart academic and career path blueprints that move beyond institutional retention and improve equitable advancements in computing.
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Teaching Series and Parallel Connections
Contribution: A new operational definition of series connections is given based on elements belonging to the same two meshes, which is properly dual to the usual definition of parallel elements being connected to the same two nodes. Furthermore, computer-based exercises have been developed and tested to teach students about such connections in gateway linear circuits courses, using color coding of nodes and meshes as a pedagogical device. Background: Series and parallel connections are a crucial but difficult concept. Existing textbooks give them limited attention, resulting in later difficulties learning circuit analysis. Research Questions: RQ1: Can an improved definition of series elements aid student understanding and student satisfaction? RQ2: Can a computer-based ``game'' lead to effective mastery and student satisfaction at a wide range of institutions, including minority-serving ones? Methodology: Standard and new definitions were elaborated in a multiple-choice tutorial. A game was developed focusing on identifying series and parallel connections, with color coding of both nodes and meshes. Student learning was assessed over eight years using pretest and posttest in 14 varied institutions. Student opinions were assessed using several types of surveys. Findings: Strong learning gains were observed every semester from built-in pretest and posttest, with average scores of 28% and 87%, respectively. Large improvements were observed at every institution including five minority-serving ones. The posttest score is increased by a statistically significant amount after introducing the new definition of series elements. Students preferred the new definition of series and recommended its use, and very strongly endorsed color coding.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1821628
- PAR ID:
- 10342712
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- IEEE Transactions on Education
- ISSN:
- 0018-9359
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 10
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1109/TE.2021.3129505
