e-Learning: Teaching Computer Programming Online to First-Year Engineering Students

Abstract

Abstract e-Learning: Teaching Computer Programming Online to First Year Engineering StudentsComputer Programming is an important component of a curriculum in engineering. A largenumber of engineering programs require students to learn computer programming during the firstyear in the program. For students, computer programming can be challenging to learn, and thelearning experience could be even more difficult if done in an online course.This paper introduces the audience to the format of an online computer programming coursedeveloped to teach first year engineering students how to solve engineering problems usingMatlab. The course involves the use of online videos, the implementation of group projects, andthe continuous assessment of learning through homeworks and reading comprehension activities.The course also promoted student-instructor interactions through the implementation of a blogand the participation of students in the online chat room.This paper discusses the format of the course, student participation, satisfaction, and completionrate, as well as strategies to promote student-student, student-instructor, student-materialinteractions. The results from a student survey administered at the end of the course arepresented, and the challenges faced by students learning computer programming online arediscussed.