Work in Progress: Transforming Introductory Laboratory Experiences into Learning Communities

An introductory level logic design course with a laboratory experience has been part of the curriculum for over fifteen years. Its objectives have included the recruitment and retention of students in electrical and computer engineering. Laboratory exercises have been done mostly on an individual basis. The purpose of the current work is to bring electrical and computer engineering students together as they enter the curriculum and foster the formation of long-term learning communities. Our implementation of learning communities are centered on the laboratory experiences. Students in laboratory learning communities will be encouraged to develop friendships as well as teamwork, learning, and leadership skills. Each element of this course is being analyzed to determine ways to build learning communities, integrate learning about learning, and include discovery experiences. These changes will help students integrate their knowledge and convert it from surface knowledge to enduring understanding