2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

There are many methods to integrate engaging, actively learning material into a typical lecture slide, such as live polls or clicker activities that show a histogram of the results from a multiple-choice question. These are simple to understand and implement and can be effective in many situations, but some concepts may benefit from more complex submissions and additional post-processing. For example, in undergraduate engineering design courses, concept evaluation and selection methods generally include instruction on using a weighted decision matrix. Their form and calculations are relatively straightforward, but the nuances of their proper use for reducing bias can be more difficult for design learners to appreciate. This paper describes an active learning method that uses interactive and dynamic lecture slides created with a combination of Google Forms, Sheets, Slides, and the linked objects feature, and provides an example of how this method was used to create a module on concept evaluation and selection for an engineering design course.

The method provided a unique way to engage the learners using customizable and immediate post-processing of information they submit and could be useful for a wide variety of topics. However, the learning curve for both the instructor and the learners may not always justify the investment, learner responses may vary enough that they don’t provide the evidence expected to support the learning objective, and no formal assessment has been completed yet on its effectiveness.