Graduation and attrition of engineering students in Greece

Greek engineering Schools have a high status and attract good students. However, we show that in the leading institution, the National Technical University of Athens, only 27% of the students admitted in 1992–2003 graduated after the nominal five years study: the median graduation time was 73 months (reaching 93 months in one School) and 12% are predicted never to graduate at all, most without withdrawing officially. Results differ between Schools, between routes of admission and by gender (females being better than males). Systematic study of reasons for not completing or delay in completing studies is urgently needed. Overall, 4% of the students withdraw officially during their first year. The percentage of withdrawals by School is negatively correlated with the percentage that gave that School as first choice in the entrance procedure, indicating problems in the admission system.     

Motivation in gifted students

This study investigated the factors which had influenced the role of motivation in the high levels of achievement of a sample of fifteen gifted students, aged 14/15 years, in five secondary schools in England. The students were interviewed individually, and their parents and teachers were also interviewed for validation of the students' comments. The results indicated the influences of teaching and learning provision, of support and of social and emotional factors on the students' motivation. The role of motivation in the realisation of the students' high ability, in achievement of personal goals and in maintaining the progress and achievements of those who had problems was also clear. Evidence of the importance of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in the students' achievement was also shown.     

College attrition and the financial support systems of students

Five groups of undergraduate students, dropouts (academic dismissals), low (GPA) stopouts, high (GPA) stopouts, low (GPA) persisters, and high (GPA) persisters were compared in terms of their responses to a checklist of financial sources of support. Clear sex differences were observed in the reliance on financial sources, either singly or in terms of total sources utilized. Differences related to year in school were also observed. The most significant finding related to attrition was that persisters relied on more sources of support than did withdrawers. This outcome was interpreted in terms of differences between persisters and withdrawers in motivational and personality characteristics that promote the seeking and securing of sources of support.     

浅析大学生传销的动因

近年来,相继有很多大学生陷入传销组织,给个人、家庭、社会造成严重影响。那么当务之急就是弄清楚为什么大学生会陷入传销组织。     

浅析激励理论在高校学生管理工作中的运用

以人为本是最根本的管理,也是世界上最难的管理。而世界上,最有效的管理就是对人的激励,笔者围绕激励这一高校学生管理工作过程中的"金手杖",分析了激励理论的基本原则以及对当前高校学生管理工作的借鉴作用。     

Evaluating engineering thinking in undergraduate engineering and liberal arts students

ABSTRACT

This study explored if it is possible for liberal arts students to develop engineering professional competencies without detailed engagement with the engineering sciences. Students on a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences programme were compared with their undergraduate peers in Civil Engineering. A new method for evaluating such competencies was developed. Two one-hour individual problem-solving exercises were devised to assess capabilities against 14 criteria, based on the Institution of Civil Engineers’ Competency framework for professional development (2011 The BASc cohort’s scores for each criterion improved notably from the start of term to the end. This cohort rated their capabilities more highly at the end of term and was more satisfied with the answers they gave. Engineering students showed a slight decline in performance against the criteria. Self-evaluation in this group revealed a smaller increase in perceived capability but increased dissatisfaction. Both cohorts felt more anxious about the assignment at the end of the term. PBL environments can improve student competence in attributes associated with professional engineering. The scope of the study is constrained by the small cohort but the findings and evaluation method provide the basis for further development, including detailed statistical evaluation and validation of the evaluation instrument.     

Comparison between bridging students and traditional first-year students in engineering technology

To stimulate a flexible lifelong learning system students can enter university via lateral entry. Unlike traditional first-year students, lateral entrance students are not well-studied. Therefore this study focuses on comparing first-year students with a specific group of lateral entrants, namely bridging students at the Faculty of Engineering Technology, KU Leuven. Using Astin’s Input-Environment-Outcome model resulted in (1) Input variables, namely prior education and initial learning and study strategies, (2) Environmental influence, measured with a questionnaire focussing on perceived transition to university, and (3) Outcome variables, namely dropout and academic achievement. Analyses resulted in similarities for the outcome variables, but differences in terms of secondary education. Regarding the input (LASSI) and environmental questionnaires, for only two of the 13 scales a moderate effect was found (perceived preparedness and test strategies). Consequently, research findings of first-year engineering students can be compared, taking into account their specific differences, to the context of bridging students.     

Empathy among students in engineering programmes

Engineers face challenges when they are to manage project groups and be leaders for organisations because such positions demand skills in social competence and empathy. Previous studies have shown that engineers have low degrees of social competence skills. In this study, the level of empathy as measured by the four subscales of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, perspective taking, fantasy, empathic distress and empathic concern, among engineering students was compared to students in health care profession programmes. Participants were undergraduate students at Linköping University, 365 students from four different health care profession programmes and 115 students from two different engineering programmes. When the empathy measures were corrected for effects of sex, engineering students from one of the programmes had lower empathy than psychology and social worker students on the fantasy and perspective-taking subscales. These results raise questions regarding opportunities for engineering students to develop their empathic abilities. It is important that engineering students acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills regarding empathy.     

大学生学习动机的实证研究

根据学习动机相关理论,借鉴国内外已有成果,设计学习动机调查问卷,采用分层抽样的方式随机抽取800个样本进行统计分析。结果发现,不同年级学生的学习兴趣存在差异,外部刺激对提升学生的学习动机有一定帮助,目前学生的学习态度不够端正,学习目标不够明确。最后,针对发现的问题提出了相应建议。     

Motivation and gifted students: Implications of theory and research

An analysis of contemporary motivation theories reveals implications for gifted and talented students. The expectancy‐value framework, intrinsic‐extrinsic motivation theories, goal orientations, self‐efficacy and other self‐perceptions, and attribution theory are described and discussed with respect to implications for the psychology and education of gifted and talented students. Illustrative empirical research on motivation and gifted students is presented, and a model of classroom motivation factors is provided as a practical structure within which to consider instructional practices with this population. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

关于大学生专业学习动力的问卷调查及思考

大学生专业学习动力不足是我国高校普遍面临的严峻的问题。本文通过问卷调查试图找出导致大学生学习动力不足的主要原因,并探讨解决大学生专业学习动力不足问题的对策。     

Retention of men and women engineering students

After 1.5 years of college, men and women engineering students in a population of 42 schools had different retention rates in engineering at their original schools. Based on a sample of students at 16 schools, the estimated population retention rates were 73.3% for men and 67.8% for women. This report discusses student characteristics that were related to retention for men or women, as well as the destinations of students who left engineering at their original schools.     

Formative assessment in mathematics for engineering students

In this paper, we present a range of formative assessment types for engineering mathematics, including in-class exercises, homework, mock examination questions, table quizzes, presentations, critical analyses of statistical papers, peer-to-peer teaching, online assessments and electronic voting systems. We provide practical tips for the implementation of such assessments, with a particular focus on time or resource constraints and large class sizes, as well as effective methods of feedback. In addition, we consider the benefits of such formative assessments for students and staff.     

Retrospective perceptions and views of engineering students about physics and engineering practicals

Hands-on practical work in physics and engineering has a long and well-established tradition in Australian universities. Recently, however, the question of whether hands-on physics and engineering practicals are useful for engineering students and whether they could be deleted or whether these could be replaced with computer simulations has been raised, mainly due to cost-cutting exercises. In order to ascertain the usefulness of hands-on engineering practicals and first year practical physics classes to their engineering degree, a retrospective survey was carried out with third year engineering students. The general picture that emerges from the survey indicates that the majority of the students found hands-on physics and engineering practicals preferable to simulations on a computer and that practical work is useful not only for linking theory to practicals but also for gaining technical skills.     

工程造价专业人才培养与教学改革探索

借鉴RICS、PAQS对于工料测量师知识结构和能力标准要求,提出了工程造价专业人才能力培养体系的研究思路,进而对工程造价专业人才培养、能力标准、课程设置与教学改革进行了深入探讨,最后得出本研究成果和工程造价专业人才培养主要课程设置新方案。     

Bicultural Work Motivation Scale for Asian American college students

The bicultural work motivations of Asian Americans have not yet been comprehensively captured by contemporary vocational constructs and scales. For this study, we conducted two studies on the initial reliability and validity of the Bicultural Work Motivation Scale (BWMS) by combining qualitative and quantitative methods. First, a pilot study was conducted with 14 Asian American college students to assess their motivation to work, and items were generated from the themes developed in the qualitative analysis. Results from the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a stable four-factor structure of the BWMS: Honoring Parents, Family Financial Obligation, Fulfilling Personal Interest, and Being Independent. Adequate reliability and evidence for concurrent and discriminant validity are presented. Implications of the scale for further vocational assessment and research are discussed.     

Preparing foreign students for engineering studies in France

This article puts forward a project approach and a set of solutions to better prepare foreign students wishing to enter engineering schools in France. It focuses on how we train students to understand scientific presentations through intensive listening comprehension. Within this framework, it proposes a new educational ICT model that is original from both a pedagogical and a technical point of view. This model was achieved as a result of close collaboration between experts in the fields of science, linguistics, intercultural relations and educational ICT.     

Developing formative assessments for postgraduate students in engineering

This paper outlines an approach taken to produce computer-based formative assessments for two modules in a one-year taught MSc programme in Road Management and Engineering. It presents the aims of the assessments, the taxonomy adopted to ensure that the formulation of the questions addressed learning outcomes related to the development of higher order skills and the choice of software used. Further, the students’ qualitative perception of the assessments is presented together with a discussion on key elements that affected the implementation procedure. This included an understanding of the higher order skills assessed, knowledge of the facilities offered by the software to be used, and the commitment needed to designing, delivering and improving flexible learning materials.