Modeling Student Satisfaction and Implementation of the I-C-D Method to Improve the Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Course Experience
Open Access
- Author:
- Bober, Cynthia A
- Area of Honors:
- Industrial Engineering
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Paul Carl Lynch, Thesis Supervisor
M Jeya Chandra, Faculty Reader
Harriet Black Nembhard, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Engineering Education
Industrial Engineering
Student Satisfaction
I-C-D Method
Statistical Modeling - Abstract:
- Improving engineering education is a widely researched topic in academia. However, little research exists that analyzes solely the Industrial Engineering classroom. The goal of this research is to identify and implement the significant factors of student satisfaction and motivation within the undergraduate industrial engineering classroom. A random sample of 107 junior Industrial Engineering students at Penn State was asked to complete a student satisfaction and motivation. Student satisfaction was found to be influenced by three main factors: Instructor interaction and Feedback, Classroom Environment, and Modes of Instruction. The three overarching factors were further described by individual models with multiple factors. After creating ordinal logistic regression models, the statistically significant factors were identified by analyzing p-values against a chosen significance level. For the Instructor Interaction and Feedback model, the following factors should be implemented into the classroom: provide detailed feedback on assignments and exams, be an approachable instructor, stress the importance of course material, and relate course material to student interest to increase student motivation and satisfaction. Within the classroom environment model, the use of real-world applications should be used, as well as applying skills to future career paths, relating all course activities, and encourage active participation in the classroom. Lastly, for the modes of instruction model, interactive PowerPoint lectures, problem-solving sessions, and group-work all significantly influence satisfaction. An approach to implementing the eleven significant factors was deemed the “Interact, Cultivate, and Deliver” method, also known as I-C-D. If the I-C-D method is implemented into the Industrial Engineering classroom, overall student satisfaction is predicted to significantly increase, leading to increased student satisfaction and motivation levels. A pilot study within this work showed that student satisfaction and motivation levels were significantly better for a course where the I-C-D method was implemented when compared to the overall predicted satisfaction levels of students across three courses captured within the student survey.