An interactive teaching experiment in materials science

Abstract In the light of current staffing problems in Universities there is a need to examine to what extent the principles of computer aided learning can be applied objectively in small group activities where repetitive tuition is necessary. In the Engineering curricula this approach is particularly relevant to laboratory classes where much of the information to be communicated often relates to the use of complex testing equipment and where it is desirable that a full understanding of the instrumentation is obtained before testing commences. Such stringent requirements lead to the concept of an un-manned supervising computer, with which the students interact, and which can monitor learning rates and reiterate instructions if wrong responses are obtained. This paper examines current teaching psychology and concludes that there are certain vital elements in CAL. Firstly a need to recognise that students are individuals and learn at different rates, and, in particular, need to be motivated to learn. Secondly that the design of instructions should take into proper account the level of entry from previous knowledge. The laboratory experiment chosen was the uniaxial tensile testing of different engineering materials to obtain comparative data on strengths, ductility and modes of failure. A comprehensive software package was developed to run on a BBC micro-computer. The program contains all the information previously included in laboratory handouts together with question and answer routines which test understanding and control the rate of progress. Extensive use is made of graphics to represent the instrumentation in symbolic form and the computer monitors the behaviour of the apparatus and warns of improper use. Plotting of data is performed automatically. The effectiveness of the new teaching technique was examined quantitatively by obtaining critical reactions from individual students. It is concluded that student understanding and report quality is greatly improved within the original time slot for the experiment by the use of CAL techniques and that considerable savings in staff time could be obtained if such techniques were applied across the board.