New teaching and learning techniques facilitated by information technology

A wide variety of classroom techniques are being advocated to increase learning: active learning, collaboration, integration of assessment and feedback, and the use of concrete physical manipulatives. These techniques must be transformed into practical tools and be infused with content from the subject area. At the same time, the information technology revolution has provided tools for developing these techniques and sharing them with community of educators. With this as background, the authors have modified their classroom activities in fundamental engineering science subjects so that students are actively involved in constructing their knowledge. This is done allowing students to contemplate real systems through the prism of the basic concepts of the subject, as we integrate conceptual assessment into the class activities which empower students to monitor their intellectual progress. These ideas are encapsulated in learning modules which often include relevant physical examples (classroom desktop experiments or demonstrations), PowerPoint presentations and, often, concept questions. Students study the physical artifacts, with the instructor guiding the class through the PowerPoint presentations so as to deliberately focus student attention on relevant aspects of these artifacts.