Engineering Freshman Retention Andrew Kruzic Associate Professor Civil Engineering

Factors in Retention – Student Academic aptitude Academic aptitude Academic preparation Academic preparation Motivation Motivation Maturity Maturity Environmental factors – economics, friends, family, drugs, extracurricular activities Environmental factors – economics, friends, family, drugs, extracurricular activities

Factors in Retention – Institutional/ Governmental Overall program rigor and requirements Overall program rigor and requirements Minimum course load for full time student status – scholarships, financial aid, insurance, tuition rates Minimum course load for full time student status – scholarships, financial aid, insurance, tuition rates Graduation within 4 years Graduation within 4 years University “do-overs” - drops and GPA help via grade exclusion University “do-overs” - drops and GPA help via grade exclusion In-state tuition for a degree + 30 hours In-state tuition for a degree + 30 hours

Typical Engineering Freshman Mathematically Unprepared Mathematically Unprepared – <20 % calculus ready (UTA freshman) – Calculator dependent – Double blocking in high school Enabled and Entitled Enabled and Entitled – Social passing/grade inflation – Do-overs/No finals for seniors – Soccer syndrome/AP courses

Typical Engineering Freshman Poor Study Habits Poor Study Habits – 65% - Zero hours per week – 20% - Less than 5 hours per week – 10% - 5 to 10 hours per week – 5% - Greater than 10 hours per week Entertainment/social activities Entertainment/social activities – Instant gratification via gaming – Social networking

Traditional Engineering Education Math/science freshman year Math/science freshman year Not highly integrated curriculum – e.g. math and science is not taught on an as-needed basis Not highly integrated curriculum – e.g. math and science is not taught on an as-needed basis Largely homework-based learning Largely homework-based learning Study groups allowed and even encouraged but not directed Study groups allowed and even encouraged but not directed Traditional lecture Traditional lecture Heavy emphasis on example problems, maybe not enough on “higher ordered thinking” Heavy emphasis on example problems, maybe not enough on “higher ordered thinking”

Is the Typical Teenage Brain Ready for Engineering? Amen’s Magnificent Mind at Any Age Amen’s Magnificent Mind at Any Age Pre-frontal cortex does not fully develop until age 25 Pre-frontal cortex does not fully develop until age 25 PFC responsible for: focus, forethought, impulse control, organization, planning, goal setting, judgment, empathy, emotional control, insight, and learning from mistakes. PFC responsible for: focus, forethought, impulse control, organization, planning, goal setting, judgment, empathy, emotional control, insight, and learning from mistakes.

Is the Typical Teenage Brain Ready for Engineering? Bad Brain Habits of Teenagers Bad Brain Habits of Teenagers –Too much TV, video games, computer/cell communication –Engage in high risk sports, activities, drugs –Often sleep deprived –Have terrible diets “Parents need to be teen’s PFC until they can properly monitor themselves.” Amen “Parents need to be teen’s PFC until they can properly monitor themselves.” Amen

Is the Typical Teenage Brain Ready for Engineering? No direct source but I believe the analytical capacity of the brain for math, logic and problem solving is not fully developed until a similar age. No direct source but I believe the analytical capacity of the brain for math, logic and problem solving is not fully developed until a similar age. Good sleep, exercise, and diet habits greatly aid learning and test performance. Good sleep, exercise, and diet habits greatly aid learning and test performance.

Can We Change the Student? Improve study habits? Improve study habits? –Guaranteed 4.0 –Study groups Increase student motivation? Increase student motivation? –Excite them about engineering –Scare them with stories of failure –Make sure goals are achievable Increase brain health? Increase brain health? –Diet, sleep, and exercise –Limit gaming and social networking –Is it possible to speed up PFC development

How Do We Best Help Students Catch Up? Jump start math Jump start math Remedial math for engineering students with no grade consequences Remedial math for engineering students with no grade consequences Self study on the computer Self study on the computer Full “boot camp” Full “boot camp” Light loads freshman year, allow them to mature Light loads freshman year, allow them to mature

Should We Change the Classroom Experience? Active learning/entertain and engage Active learning/entertain and engage Generate a cohort Generate a cohort Supplemental instruction Supplemental instruction Require and grade more homework Require and grade more homework Ask students to think in homework or get them interested in a topic through hw Ask students to think in homework or get them interested in a topic through hw Early, frequent, and reasonable tests tied to hw Early, frequent, and reasonable tests tied to hw

Questions and Discussion