2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

WIP: Computation and Student Engagement in First-Year Engineering

Presented at First-Year Programs Division (FPD) Work-in-Progress 3: Integration of Math, Computing, and AI in First-Year Courses

Our WIP describes an exploratory quasi-experimental study to determine if first-year engineering students' academic motivation and engagement could be improved using WebTA. WebTA is a "code critiquer" to assist novice programmers in identifying issues in coding when first exposed to MATLAB. Utilizing Deci and Ryan’s Self Determination Theory, we hypothesized that WebTA would contribute to students’ needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence, resulting in students who are more motivated and engaged, experience greater well-being and satisfaction, and develop stronger intrinsic motivation. Utilizing both the MUSIC Model of Motivation and Inventory, and a domain-specific motivation inventory, factor scores from both inventories were the dependent variables in a 2 X 2 design examining intervention (exposure to WebTA) and gender as independent variables. Significant interactions existed between intervention and gender on the MUSIC factor scores of empowerment, success, and caring. Women exposed to WebTA had significantly higher success, empowerment, and caring motivation than females in the control condition. In contrast, exposure to WebTA did not affect males’ perceptions of motivation. Additionally, there was no significant difference between male and female factor scores in the Web TA condition, whereas females in the control condition had significantly lower factor scores than men. These findings suggest that WebTA can be a powerful tool in improving women's academic motivation and engagement, thus diminishing the gender gap in educational engagement.

Authors

Dr. Susan L. Amato-Henderson http://orcid.org/https://0009-0000-3890-2171 Michigan Technological University [biography]

Susan Amato-Henderson is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology and Human Factors at Michigan Technological University. She received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of North Dakota. Her research i
Dr. Jon Sticklen http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1778-4027 Michigan Technological University [biography]

Dr. Jon Sticklen is an Associate Professor in the Engineering Fundamentals Department (EF) at Michigan Technological University (MTU), where he is also affiliated with the Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences (CLS). Prior to his tenure at MTU, Dr. Sticklen held the positions of Director of the Applied Engineering Sciences BSc major at Michigan State University and Director of the Center for Educational Research in the College of Engineering. During his tenure at MTU, Dr. Sticklen served as the Chair of the EF Department from 2014 to 2020, during which time he spearheaded a successful initiative to revamp the first-year engineering curriculum. Since 2020, Dr. Sticklen has dedicated his research efforts to student engagement from a Discipline-Based Educational Research (DBER) perspective. He has been an AI researcher and educator since 1983, transitioning to a DBER role in 2005. Dr. Sticklen has garnered research support from various organizations, including NASA, NSF, DARPA, GE Aircraft Engines, Boeing (MD) Aircraft, and The MathWorks.
Dr. Leo C. Ureel II http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2214-5468 Michigan Technological University [biography]

Leo C. Ureel II is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science and in Cognitive and Learning Sciences at Michigan Technological University. He has worked extensively in the field of educational software development. His research interests include intelligent learning environments, computer science education, and Artificial Intelligence
Dr. James Bittner http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-0916-1658 Michigan Technological University [biography]

James Bittner is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Engineering Fundamentals Department at Michigan Technological University. His recent courses focus on foundational engineering subjects, including statics, project design, and computational problem-solving. Prior to his academic career, he worked as a engineer in the maritime construction industry, specializing in hydraulic sediment transport modeling and geotechnical analysis.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025

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