Development of an intelligent remedial tutorial learning system for non-traditional and advanced placement students

Abstract

Many four-year degree engineering technology schools have experienced problems in upper level student achievement and retention related to critical skills gaps legacies of non-traditional, advanced placement students such as two-year community college transfer students, formerly active military personnel, and other students matriculating from lower level courses with below average grades. While qualified to enroll in upper level courses by criteria such as individual course grade minimums met and minimum grade point averages achieved, many advanced placement students might not have been introduced to, or perhaps not mastered, specific critical skills necessary for success in upper level courses. The consequences are several and can be severe: 1) faculty spend an inordinate amount of classroom and mentoring time in upper level courses on remedial rather than advanced skills development; 2) student achievement suffers as the cumulative effects of skills not mastered compounds; 3) retention rates of upper level students are negatively impacted. This paper describes initial activities and results toward development of an innovative on-line, critical skills, intelligent remedial tutorial learning system intended to serve those students requiring extra-curricular learning support to enable their successful matriculation and retention in upper level courses. This founding work project was internally funded through a university Faculty Innovation Grant award. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2010.