Title :
Student retention in a mechatronics programme in first and second years: Motivating engineers to learn through music and creativity
Author :
Carnegie, D.A. ; Kapur, A. ; Gouws, G. ; Watterson, C.
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Eng. & Comput. Sci., Victoria Univ. of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract :
It can be difficult to retain modern students in an engineering programme given their demand for instant gratification. To engage students and improve our retention, we exploit a `trickle-down´ approach from our post-graduate research, using topics from sonic engineering as the new focus in a second year data acquisition course. Results have been extremely encouraging - a 99% assessment completion rate and a 100% course pass rate.
Keywords :
educational courses; engineering education; further education; mechatronics; assessment completion rate; course pass rate; creativity; engineering program; mechatronics program; music; second year data acquisition course; sonic engineering; student engagement; student retention; trickle-down approach; Data acquisition; Educational institutions; Government; Instruments; Mathematics; Mechatronics; Physics; mechatronics education; mechatronics retention; musical mechatronics;
Conference_Titel :
Research and Education in Mechatronics (REM), 2014 15th International Workshop on
Conference_Location :
El Gouna
DOI :
10.1109/REM.2014.6920223
