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Teaching Computational Thinking Using Open-Source, High-Impact Practice Project-based Approach

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Conference

2024 South East Section Meeting

Location

Marietta, Georgia

Publication Date

March 10, 2024

Start Date

March 10, 2024

End Date

March 12, 2024

Page Count

12

DOI

10.18260/1-2--45565

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/45565

Download Count

17

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Paper Authors

biography

Salman Siddiqui Georgia Southern University

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Dr. Salman Siddiqui joined Georgia Southern in 2013 and is currently working as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. He received his B.S.E.E., M.S.E.E., and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. His research interests include analysis, simulation, and control of human-robot systems; project-based education, STEM outreach, and application of new instructional technology in classroom instruction.

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Rami Jubrail Haddad Georgia Southern University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0001-6530-0715

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Rami J. Haddad is a Professor and Interim Chair in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Georgia Southern University. He received his B.Sc. degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from the Applied Sciences University, Amman, Jordan, in 2004, the M.S. degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, USA, in 2006, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA, in 2011. He is also the Founding Director of the Optical Networks and Smart Applications (ONSmart) Laboratory at GSU. His research interests include distributed power generation, smart grid applications, optical fiber communication/networks, machine learning/artificial intelligence, UAV ad-hoc networks, multimedia communications, multimedia bandwidth forecasting, and engineering education.

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Abstract

This paper explores a novel pedagogical approach incorporating Open Educational Resources (OER) and High Impact Practices (HIPs) for cultivating computational thinking in engineering education. It diverges from the conventional practice of introducing these concepts primarily through programming courses. Instead, this approach advocates for the integration of project-based hardware programming applications into the curriculum. The paper details a successful implementation of this methodology within a first-year computing course, utilizing Arduino and MATLAB as the primary tools. The core of this approach is to immerse students in hands-on hardware programming projects, aiming to foster a deeper engagement and enthusiasm for engineering applications and computational thinking. This method has demonstrated a significant enhancement in student performance within the course. Comprehensive statistical assessment methods were employed to validate the effectiveness of this teaching model. These included quantitative and qualitative analyses, offering a robust evaluation of the pedagogy's impact. Furthermore, the paper presents a comparative analysis between this innovative teaching model and the traditional format of the same course. This comparison is critical in highlighting the advancements and improvements brought about by the project-based approach. The findings from this study offer valuable insights and evidence for the merit of integrating hands-on hardware programming in early engineering education, suggesting a transformative shift in teaching computational thinking to engineering students.

Siddiqui, S., & Haddad, R. J. (2024, March), Teaching Computational Thinking Using Open-Source, High-Impact Practice Project-based Approach Paper presented at 2024 South East Section Meeting, Marietta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--45565

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