Modeling Undergraduate Student Satisfaction in Industrial Engineering Education
Open Access
- Author:
- Mines, Jennifer Louise
- Graduate Program:
- Industrial Engineering
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- None
- Committee Members:
- Paul Carl Lynch, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
- Keywords:
- Industrial Engineering Education
Engineering Education
Satisfaction
Learning Styles - Abstract:
- A great deal of research exists that examines collegiate engineering education. However, little research exists that examines only Industrial Engineering students. This thesis examines the learning styles, learning preferences, satisfaction, and motivation of undergraduate junior and senior level Industrial Engineering students at The Pennsylvania State University. Fifty-one students were assessed using the NC State University Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire previously developed by Dr. Richard Felder, and forty-one students participated in a self-created questionnaire. These assessments were used to understand the learning preferences of undergraduate Industrial Engineering students and the course practices that bring them the most satisfaction with their educational experience. Student satisfaction was shown to be influenced by several key factors- student motivation, student learning styles, and course design. Student motivation is a critical component of student satisfaction. Instructors can increase student motivation by stimulating student interest in class topics, displaying passion for the course material, offering to help students, and by creating a supportive classroom environment. Targeting student learning styles allows students to learn more effectively, and therefore, become the most satisfied with their education. Classroom design is also a crucial component to student satisfaction. Instructors should strive to make grading procedures clear, assessments fair, return assignments to students in a timely manner with productive feedback, and use “real-world” examples in class to best connect to students and bring them the most satisfying educational experience.