2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced universities to transition to a fully online format, resulting in a renewed interest into how technology can aid learning while physically apart. While many courses can easily transition to video streaming, others such as STEM laboratory classes, require hands-on training, and as a result, experienced significant hurdles with the remote learning switch. In this paper, the impact of an internally developed smartphone application called KarmaCollab is evaluated alongside the incorporation of socialized teaching and course gamification. We will look at UC Davis Electrical and Computer Engineering laboratory courses and the impact KarmaCollab had on the online course format. The relationships between course grades, KarmaCollab app engagement, student self-reported sentiment via an end-of-quarter survey, and teaching staff interviews are presented to showcase interesting remote learning insights.