Projects

Exploring the role of reflective prompts in productive uncertainty management in engineering design (M. Tech. Project)

This work aims to explore the use of reflective prompts to foster productive uncertainty management among novice engineers. A design-based research approach is adapted to use reflective prompts in the context of a nationwide robotics competition in which undergraduate engineering students solve an engineering design task. The figure below provides an overview of the studies and adaptation of DBR research methodology.

Reflective prompts and information on actions taken by students facilitate the information on the engineering design approach adopted by them. A mixed-method analysis is used to understand the interplay between the experience of uncertainty, actions taken by the teams and their final performance. The research explores the differentiating factors in this interplay among teams that successfully complete the engineering design task as compared to teams that could not complete the task.

Guide: Prof. Chandan Dasgupta

Co-Guide: Prof. Kavi Arya

eYLAD: e-Yantra Learning Analytics Dashboard

A dashboard developed for e-Yantra mentors to monitor team activities in the competition. Activities such as performance, feedback and if the teams have viewed tasks/announcements on discourse can be monitored. See some of the snippets below (self explanatory).

Other contributors: Sachin Patil, Parth Parikh and Deepa Avudiappan. 

Web development interns: Saketh Kodumuru, Brendan Lucas, Manik Singhal and Pranav Shinde.

e-akhada

Final task in the Soil Monitoring theme of eYRC 2021-22 had 4^16 (4294967296) possible arena configurations for teams to try. To ensure teams practice with various types of valid configurations and also the corner cases, a web-based tool based on a probabilistic model was developed. It also aimed to foster reflective thinking among students and to capture their thought processes as they practice the task with the robot.

Other contributors: Parth Parikh and Sachin Patil.

Designing affordances for collaborative learning in MOOC

Through this project, we designed tools to foster collaboration in MOOCs. Tools such as e-diaries and e-notes shared across MOOC participants were developed. These aimed to leverage collaboration among learners through affordances to share their thoughts in focus diaries through notes. Apart from these, mechanisms for peer review and evaluations were also developed.

Other contributors: Deepa Avudiappan.

Web development interns: Aditi Gautam, Swarangi Satpute and Firoz Khan.

Learning about learners: Understanding learner behaviours in software conceptual design TELE

In this study, we analyse learner log actions of high and low performing learners in a software conceptual design TELE based on Function, Behavior and Structure framework. Differences and similarities in log of actions were identified to create process models of learner engagement with the TELE elements. We find that not only the quantity of clicks but also the nature of interactions were different among these learner categories. These insights were then used to identify potential scaffolds for low performing learners.

Other contributors: Indrayani Nishane, Dr. T. G. Lakshmi, Daevesh Singh and Prof. Ramkumar Rajendran.

Scaffolding structured reflective practices while collaboratively solving ill-structured engineering problems using MOOCs (Seminar)

This research involves a review of literature on use of reflection and ways to scaffold reflective processes. Through this work, five broad categories of scaffolds were identified and a framework based on Learning by Design pedagogy (by Dr. Janet Kolodner) and Learner Centric MOOC model (by Dr. Sahana Murthy) was developed to scaffold the reflective processes among learners participating in MOOCs.

Guide: Prof. Chandan Dasgupta

Other Projects