IntroEngineering.org ASEE 2009 Presentation

IntroEngineering.org: A Structured Wiki Community for Instructors of First-Year Engineering Courses
Jay Brockman, University of Notre Dame
Michael McDonald, John Wiley & Sons
Lynnwood Brown, WikiRing Partners
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IntroEngineering Wiki

Outline
Introduction—what is the problem?
Wiki technology, structured wiki
Wiki walkthrough
The publisher’s perspective
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Introduction
Goals of an introductory engineering course
attract students to engineering
prepare them for success in the major
Successful approach depends on environment
Your students’ backgrounds and needs
Your institution’s unique characteristics
Textbooks are important but limited
Provide basic framework, guiding principles, some examples
But you need a lot more to engineer a successful local course
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www.introengineering.org
Instructor community portal for sharing ideas and materials for introductory engineering courses
Organized according to a central philosophy and learning objectives
Initially developed as companion site for textbook
Brockman’s textbook with Wiley
Author and publisher are decoupling wiki from book and opening to community
Support broader range of ideas and materials
Book materials available through wiki, even if you don’t adopt the book
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Wiki Technology
Basic wiki
a web site where users can create and edit pages via a web browser
e.g. Wikipedia (implemented on Mediawiki platform)
facilitates content sharing
Structured wiki
adds database features
facilitates construction of knowledge applications
IntroEngineering.org uses TWiki/Foswiki platform
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Discussion
Discussion
Chapter
Book
Module
Discussion
Module
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
ABET Program Outcome
Learning Objective
Learning Objective
Learning Objective
Solution
Solution
Problem
Problem
Problem
Project
Project
Rubric
Project
Module
Course
Module
Module
Module
Module
MATLAB
Model
MATLAB
Model
MATLAB
Model
Objects
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Instructor Web Home Page
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Learning Objectives
Discussion
Discussion
Chapter 1
Book
Module
Discussion
Module
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Learning Objective
Learning Objective
Learning Objective
Solution
Solution
Problem
Problem
Problem
Project
Project
Rubric
Project
MATLAB
Model
MATLAB
Model
MATLAB
Model
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Problems Associate with Objective
Discussion
Discussion
Chapter 1
Book
Module
Discussion
Module
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Learning Objective
(Discipline)
Learning Objective
Learning Objective
Solution
Solution
Problem
Problem
Problem
Project
Project
Rubric
Project
MATLAB
Model
MATLAB
Model
MATLAB
Model
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Problem and Solutions
Discussion
Discussion
Chapter 5
Book
Module
Discussion
Module
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Learning Objective
Learning Objective
Learning Objective
Solution
Solution
Problem
Problem
Problem
Project
Project
Rubric
Project
Problems can have multiple solutions
MATLAB
Model
MATLAB
Model
MATLAB
Model
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17

Adding Metadata
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Lectures
Discussion
Discussion
Chapter
4
Book
Module
Discussion
Module
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Learning Objective
Learning Objective
Learning Objective
Solution
Solution
Problem
Problem
Problem
Project
Project
Rubric
Project
MATLAB
Model
MATLAB
Model
MATLAB
Model
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Creating an Assignment
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Changes in Textbook Publishing
Conventional mass-published textbook
What are they?
Pros and cons (for teachers, students, bookstores)?
Custom published textbooks
What are they?
Pros and cons (for teachers, students, bookstores)?
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Why would Wiley want a Wiki?
Instructors want access to more than just text and pictures
Sharing is happening (Engineering Pathway, Merlot, Curriki, etc.)
Publishers excel at acquiring, vetting, and aggregating content
Collaboration is key to book development—wikis facilitate this
Provide access to entire catalog in context
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Next Steps
Encourage community to explore and provide feedback online
Continue to acquire content and provide resources based on user feedback
Continue to explore new business models
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http://www.nd.edu/~engineer/ReformingFirstYear
Purpose of the workshop: To equip attendees with both a development process and access to resources needed to design and implement a successful project-based, introductory engineering program, tailored to their institutions.
Locations:
    University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN (Lead Site)
    California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
    California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA
    University of California, Merced CA
    University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia