A Comparative Analysis of the Students’ Performance in Two Statics Courses Due to the Inclusion of an Adaptive Learning Module (ALM) to Review the Mathematics Prerequisite Knowledge

Abstract

Dr. Zaurin obtained his Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering from 'Universidad de Oriente' in Venezuela in 1985. In 1990 he earned a MSc in Information Technology. He has been civil engineering professor with teaching experience at his Alma Mater (Universidad de Oriente) from 1986 until 2002. Dr. Zaurin moves to USA and completes another MSc, this time Structural and Geotechnical Engineering. Upon completing multidisciplinary PhD on Structural Health Monitoring Using Computer Vision, he joined UCF in 2010 as a Lecturer at the Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering (CECE) Department. He has published computer vision related research work in prominent journals and still mentors graduate students in this particular area. Dr. Zaurin has been very active in the STEM area as he is one of the selected faculty members for the NSF funded EXCEL and NSF funded COMPASS programs at UCF. Dr. Zaurin received College Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2015 and 2019, TIP Award in 2016, and also received 4 Golden Apple Awards for Undergraduate Teaching for a record four years in a row. During Fall 2013 he created IDEAS (Interdisciplinary Display for Engineering Analysis Statics)which is a project based learning activity designed specifically for promoting creativity, team-work, and presentation skills for undergraduate sophomore and junior students, as well as by exposing the students to the fascinating world of scientific/technological research based engineering. IDEAS is becoming the cornerstone event for the sophomore engineering students at UCF: from fall 2013 to fall 2018 approximately 3000 students have created, designed, presented, and defended around 900 projects and papers.

A Mentorship and Module-Based System to Ensure the Adequacy of Required Prerequisite Knowledge for Enhancing Student Success in Engineering

“…Module in Statics to review the mathematical prerequisite knowledge the students need [20]. Two multivariate models were estimated: (a) pass/fail outcome and (b) grade outcome (classified in 5 levels) using a multivariate ordered logit model.…”