Abstract
While many universities offered some online courses in computer engineering prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, few offered project-based courses in a fully virtual mode. This has changed with pandemic-related restrictions. When converting to an online-only mode, active-learning projects and lab components of computer engineering courses pose additional challenges because they require face-to-face interaction and specialized equipment. In this paper, we present how we adapted a year-long capstone course to be fully online at a public university in California, U.S., and report our findings based on students’ perceptions. Our major findings are: 1) students’ satisfaction rates of online courses improved over the one year of online-only learning, and 2) students tended to prefer synchronous lectures, but the difference in preference between synchronous vs. asynchronous teaching was not significant.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
McManus, J.W., Costello, P.J.: Project based learning in computer science: a student and research advisor’s perspective. J. Comput. Sci. Coll. 34(3), 38–46 (2019)
Kojmane, J., Aboutajeddine, A.: Engineering junior: a hands-on activity to enhance technological learning in an engineering dynamics course. In: 2016 International Conference on Information Technology for Organizations Development (2016)
Lee, S.J., Jung, A., Park J., Yun, M.: Cost-efficient hands-on learning design for computer organization course. In: 15th International Conference on Computer Science & Education on Proceedings (2020)
Cassens, M., Reimer,Y.: Engaging CS1 students with project based learning. In: 2018 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (2018)
ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission. https://www.abet.org/accreditation/accreditation-criteria/. Accessed 29 May 2021
Hou, Y., Muheidat, F., Usher, T., Prado, W., Guo, X., Van Wart, M.: Evaluation of the COVID-19 shock on STEM laboratory courses. In: IEEE EDUCON 2021 (2021)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Hou, Y. et al. (2022). The Adaptation of Online Project-Based Learning in Computer Engineering Education Settings. In: Auer, M.E., Hortsch, H., Michler, O., Köhler, T. (eds) Mobility for Smart Cities and Regional Development - Challenges for Higher Education. ICL 2021. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 390. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93907-6_101
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93907-6_101
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-93906-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-93907-6
eBook Packages: Intelligent Technologies and RoboticsIntelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)