How Do Students Learn Best? A Case Study of EGR244: Digital Logic Design

Abstract

As an educator, we are always asking ourselves how do students learn best? How can we keep our students engaged and help them comprehend the material? What can we do to increase student success? This preliminary study attempted to answer some of those questions. This learning outcomes assessment study tried to determine the most effective teaching method particularly for students in STEM by using data gathered from the EGR244: Digital Logic Design Class, taught in the Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 semesters at the Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, MD. The methodology incorporated to determine the most effective teaching method was to map exam questions covering different chapters and the methods by which that information was taught with student grade outcomes. The teaching methods explored were of a PowerPoint presentation lectures, whiteboard lectures, or a combinational approach. The hypothesis was that students would learn best from a combinational teaching approach which would yield in higher individual and overall class averages. Results indicated that a combinational teaching method of PowerPoint and whiteboard lectures were most effective in students learning the material and resulted in higher grade outcomes overall. Relevance– This study investigates best practices for teaching effectiveness and increased performance outcome for undergraduate students in STEM programs