Research in Engineering Education Symposium 2011 - rees2009

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) Página 925 de 957
Student behavior trends in an engineering program
Pedro Ramos
pramos@unizar.es
Universidad de Zaragoza
Spain
Guillermo Palacios
guillermo.palacios@unizar.es
Universidad de Zaragoza
Spain
Raquel Lacuesta
lacuesta@unizar.es
Universidad de Zaragoza
Spain
Abstract: This paper reports outcomes results on an investigation into the
behavior trends shown by the students enrolled in the telecommunications
engineering degree of the University of Zaragoza. We examine the correlation
between data about the students’ behavior and the process of implementation of
an innovative learning system carried out in the faculty. On the one hand, the
contribution is founded on the results of the self-assessment process fulfilled by
students throughout the current and the last four academic years. On the other
hand, a project of design and implementation of active learning techniques has
been developed in the telecommunications engineering degree at the faculty.
The progressive introduction of the active learning strategies was scheduled
between the academic years 2005/06 and 2008/09. By comparing both sources
of information, students’ behavior patterns can be explained and corrective
measures can be taken.
Introduction
In this paper we analyze the results of a research into the students’ behavior trends in the
context of the 3-year degree in telecommunications engineering offered at the Engineering
Polytechnic School (hereafter referred to as E.U.P.T.) of the University of Zaragoza at
Teruel, Spain.
The investigation looks into the correlation between data about the students’ behavior
and the progressive process of implementation of an innovative educative system, based
on active learning initiatives, carried out at the E.U.P.T. By comparing both sources of
information, certain students’ behavior patterns can be explained and corrective measures
can be taken as future actions.
The contribution is based on the results of the self-assessment process carried out by
students since the academic year 2006/07. Data were collected in the context of a
questionnaire handed out at the end of every semester among the students enrolled in
Proceedings of Research in Engineering Education Symposium 2011
Madrid, 4 th - 7 th October 2011