TY - JOUR
T1 - A Networked Demonstrator Help Request System for Laboratory Work
AU - Pearce, David Andrew James
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - The paper reports on the design, development, introduction and reception of an on-line system for requesting help from demonstrators in laboratory sessions. The system has proven very popular with students, with over 80% expressing a positive preference for the new system over the previous method of raising hands. Side-effects of the new system include a greater number of requests, and consequently busier demonstrators, although there is no evidence for a corresponding increase in waiting time. There was considerable variation between the number of help requests made by different students, however no significant correlation was found between the rate of asking for help and the performance of students in the lab assessments. Characteristic patterns for the rate of student requests during a lab session were observed; and there was clear evidence of a significant peer effect in the priority which students assign to their own help requests. The system was straightforward to develop, and adapting the system for other laboratories would be simple.
AB - The paper reports on the design, development, introduction and reception of an on-line system for requesting help from demonstrators in laboratory sessions. The system has proven very popular with students, with over 80% expressing a positive preference for the new system over the previous method of raising hands. Side-effects of the new system include a greater number of requests, and consequently busier demonstrators, although there is no evidence for a corresponding increase in waiting time. There was considerable variation between the number of help requests made by different students, however no significant correlation was found between the rate of asking for help and the performance of students in the lab assessments. Characteristic patterns for the rate of student requests during a lab session were observed; and there was clear evidence of a significant peer effect in the priority which students assign to their own help requests. The system was straightforward to develop, and adapting the system for other laboratories would be simple.
KW - Laboratory Education Engineering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84872157866&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.11120/ened.2012.07020029
DO - 10.11120/ened.2012.07020029
M3 - Article
SN - 1750-0044
VL - 7
SP - 29
EP - 37
JO - Engineering Education
JF - Engineering Education
IS - 2
ER -