An Engineering Emphasis for Preparing Students for First-year Engineering Curricula

Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, College Station TX

Investigators

Abstract

Engineering - Mechanical (56) This project focuses on significantly enhancing the retention of first-year engineering majors through development of an engineering mathematics course specifically designed for students who are not calculus-ready. The targeted goals of the curriculum development initiative include: 1) syntheses of the research on mathematics preparation and engineering retention in constructing a course to enhance the performance of pre-calculus engineering students; and 2) analysis of the impact of successful performance in pre-calculus courses on upper level calculus and physics courses by engineering students. Blinn College is working collaboratively with Texas A&M University on this curriculum development initiative which will benefit both populations of students. Evaluation and assessment strategies are implemented to track student performance throughout their first year of the engineering curricula.