2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Scaling Active Group Office Hours: Developing TA Training Guidelines for Equitable and Replicable Student Support in Large Engineering Courses

Presented at Electrical and Computer Engineering Division (ECE) Technical Session 12

Active Group Office Hours (AGOH) enhance engagement and success in high-enrollment engineering courses, yet scaling these benefits remains a challenge when transitioning from instructor-led to Teaching Assistant (TA)-led sessions. This mixed-methods study evaluates the scalability of AGOH in large-enrollment environments (N300) by comparing student responses across instructor-led and trained undergraduate TA-led sessions. Utilizing Office Hours (OH) Exit Slip Survey and End-of-Term Evaluation Survey, this research analyzes the efficacy of a training and shadowing model for TAs. Data collection focuses on student self-reporting and feedback from the teaching team to identify key active learning elements. The study culminates in empirically informed guiding principles for early-term TA training. This research provides an evidence-based framework for AGOH and offers a scalable structure for TA-led recitations, ensuring that active learning remains a replicable and equitable mechanism for student support across diverse large-class environments.

Authors

Kevin Zhongyang Shao University of Washington [biography]

Zhongyang (Kevin) Shao is currently a second-year Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Washington (UW), Seattle. His research focuses on human-computer interaction and STEM education, particularly in developing user-centered, responsible AI technologies to personalize learning for post-secondary STEM students. He holds a bachelor's degree in ECE from The Ohio State University and a master's degree in ECE from UW.
Leonard Syrus Paya University of Washington [biography]

Leonard Paya is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Washington, Seattle, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering. His interests include engineering education, particularly the impact of classroom communities on student learning, engagement, and retention, as well as the effective use of artificial intelligence to enhance student outcomes.
Arjun Manu University of Washington [biography]

Arjun Manu is an undergraduate student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle and a research assistant with the Terahertz Integrated Micro Electronics Lab, where he is currently working on data converter design for high-frequency antenna applications. His research also focuses on printed circuit board design and fabrication, as well as the development of measurement setups for characterizing antennas and related high-frequency systems. He also pursues independent work in analog circuit design, with a particular focus on the development of guitar amplifier architectures. He is the recipient of the Emerging Leader in Engineering scholarship in recognition of his contributions to improving the quality of pre-engineering courses and fostering inclusive and engaging learning environments.
Kevin Ho University of Washington [biography]

Kevin Ho is a Ph.D. student in the department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Washington (UW), Seattle. His research interests include ultra-low power wireless communication, microwave imaging, and engineering education. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. Prior to receiving his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the UW, Seattle, Kevin spent a few years in industry, working for optoelectronics and mmWave imaging companies.
Jason Kaiyue Liu University of Washington [biography]

Jason Liu is a third-year undergraduate student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. He has served as a teaching assistant for four quarters and is interested in engineering education, mentorship, lectures, and public presentation. He emphasizes clear, efficient explanations supported by diagrams and visual learning tools that make technical concepts more accessible.
Dr. Mahmood Hameed University of Washington [biography]

Dr. Mahmood Hameed earned a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kansas in 2016. He is currently an Associate Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Program Coordinator of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle. His previous academic positions include Lecturer of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 2017 to 2022, and Lecturer of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Kansas from 2015 to 2016.

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