The alteration in learning attitude of Engineering students due to instruction modality change caused by COVID-19 social environmental restrictions

Yang Zhang, Nelson A. Granda-Marulanda, Andrew Ritenour, A. M.M.Nazmul Ahsan, Hayri Sezer, Chip W. Ferguson

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

Given the ongoing and unprecedented situation that COVID-19 has brought to higher education, and like many other Engineering Schools and Colleges across the U.S., during the Fall term of 2020, the College of Engineering and Technology (CET) at Western Carolina University (WCU) modified their traditional method of instruction, from a face-to-face method to a broadly defined hybrid and online instruction (both synchronous and asynchronous) methods. The engineering students at WCU, a regional comprehensive institution with a high first generation population, have chosen this institution because of the high level of interaction and individualized attention offered in the small-size classes during traditional face-to-face instruction. This change in instructional methodology brought challenges that affected both students and faculty. The modality change, along with combined social and environmental factors caused by the pandemic restrictions, has limited the activities among students such as social interaction, facilities availabilities, etc. An observational questionnaire was conducted to better the understanding of the aforementioned influence. This effect is studied by observing the students' attitude towards learning in the different modalities of instruction during the Fall 2020 term. The survey of 26 questions with some open-ended opportunities was distributed to 775 students in the CET. In this paper, the survey analysis was conducted based on how the students responded to those questions. The results present the difference in the attitude of students among different class standings. Additionally, this paper provides some suggestions to help to motivate the students in the circumstance of the pandemic restrictions.

Original languageEnglish
JournalASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings
StatePublished - Jul 26 2021
Event2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference, ASEE 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: Jul 26 2021Jul 29 2021

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