Sangam: A Confluence of Knowledge Streams

Teamwork Exercises and Technological Problem Solving with First-Year Engineering Students: An Experimental Study

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dc.contributor Teaching and Learning
dc.contributor Sanders, Mark E.
dc.contributor Magliaro, Susan G.
dc.contributor Cachaper, Cecile D.
dc.contributor Goff, Richard M.
dc.contributor Sherman, Thomas M.
dc.creator Springston, Mark R.
dc.date 2014-03-14T20:15:35Z
dc.date 2014-03-14T20:15:35Z
dc.date 2005-07-28
dc.date 2005-08-23
dc.date 2010-10-07
dc.date 2005-09-08
dc.date.accessioned 2023-02-28T16:56:45Z
dc.date.available 2023-02-28T16:56:45Z
dc.identifier etd-08232005-173425
dc.identifier http://hdl.handle.net/10919/28767
dc.identifier http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08232005-173425/
dc.identifier.uri http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/264458
dc.description An experiment was conducted investigating the utility of teamwork exercises and problem structure for promoting technological problem solving in a student team context. The teamwork exercises were designed for participants to experience a high level of psychomotor coordination and cooperation with their teammates. The problem structure treatment was designed based on small group research findings on brainstorming, information processing, and problem formulation. First-year college engineering students (N = 294) were randomly assigned to three levels of team size (2, 3, or 4 members) and two treatment conditions: teamwork exercises and problem structure (N = 99 teams). In addition, the study included three non-manipulated, independent variables: team gender, team temperament, and team teamwork orientation. Teams were measured on technological problem solving through two conceptually related technological tasks or engineering design activities: a computer bridge task and a truss model task. The computer bridge score and the number of computer bridge design iterations, both within subjects factors (time), were recorded in pairs over four 30-minute intervals. For the last two intervals with the computer bridge, teams started construction of the truss model task, which created low and high task load conditions for the computer bridge: another within subjects factor. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze time (computer bridge) by factor interactions. No significant time by teamwork exercises or time by problem structure interactions on computer bridge scores were found [F(2.31, 198.46) = 0.10, p = .928; F(2.31, 198.46) = 0.03, p = .984]. There was a significant interaction between the factors of time and team size [F(4.62, 198.46) = 2.75, p = .023]. An ANOVA was conducted with the between subject factors on the truss model task. A significant main effect was found for teamwork exercises [F(1, 86) = 2.84, p = .048, one-tailed], but not for problem structure or team size. Post hoc analyses were conducted for team size on computer bridge and iteration scores over time, as well as teamwork exercises effects for each team size. Findings and their implications were reported, along with suggestions for future research on technological problem solving in a team context.
dc.description Ph. D.
dc.format application/pdf
dc.format application/octet-stream
dc.format application/pdf
dc.format application/pdf
dc.format video/quicktime
dc.format video/quicktime
dc.format video/quicktime
dc.format video/quicktime
dc.publisher Virginia Tech
dc.relation 08TeamworkExercise3.mov
dc.relation 07TeamworkExercise2.mov
dc.relation 06TeamworkExercise1.mov
dc.relation 02RegistrationWebSite.zip
dc.relation 04EngineeringWorkSpace.pdf
dc.relation 05WPBDv4GUI.mov
dc.relation 03AlternativeActivity.pdf
dc.relation 01MspringstonDissertation.pdf
dc.rights In Copyright
dc.rights http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
dc.subject task load and iterations
dc.subject team mental models
dc.subject small group research
dc.subject engineering design activity
dc.subject problem structure and problem formulation
dc.subject educational software
dc.subject brainstorming and ideation
dc.subject team temperament and gender
dc.subject technology education
dc.title Teamwork Exercises and Technological Problem Solving with First-Year Engineering Students: An Experimental Study
dc.type Dissertation


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01MspringstonDissertation.pdf 11.67Mb application/pdf View/Open
02RegistrationWebSite.zip 1.555Mb application/octet-stream View/Open
03AlternativeActivity.pdf 2.609Mb application/pdf View/Open
04EngineeringWorkSpace.pdf 971.2Kb application/pdf View/Open
05WPBDv4GUI.mov 16.84Mb video/quicktime View/Open
06TeamworkExercise1.mov 4.383Mb video/quicktime View/Open
07TeamworkExercise2.mov 5.040Mb video/quicktime View/Open
08TeamworkExercise3.mov 6.636Mb video/quicktime View/Open

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