http://www.ece.utexas.edu/seminars/ Seminars from UT ECE en-us Copyright 2011 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin Tue, 08 May 2012 15:56:15 EST http://www.ece.utexas.edu/images/header/header_2_new_r4_c1.png http://www.ece.utexas.edu/seminars/ <p>Demystifying Motivation: Examining Undergraduate Students’ Situational Motivational Responses in Engineering Classrooms<br>General Seminars</p><p>Dr. Jonathan D. Stolk<br>Associate Professor<br>Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering</p><p>Thursday, May 10, 2012 <br> 12:30 PM <br> CPE 2.220</p> Abstract - <p> We set extremely high goals for our engineering students. We expect today’s graduates to master a broad spectrum of knowledge; demonstrate skills in multidisciplinary teamwork, analysis, communication, economics, and systems thinking; and be innovative and contextually aware global citizens and lifelong learners. Students will not develop these high level capacities without a strong motivation to learn. Since motivations are related to educational outcomes ranging from critical thinking to creativity to self-regulated learning, helping students develop positive motivational orientations is critical for the engagement and success of tomorrow’s engineers. Unfortunately, relatively little is known about the type of motivations that engineering students adopt in classroom settings, and how these motivations change over time in response to different learning activities and contexts. As a result, instructors face an enormous challenge in designing curricula that support the autonomous motivations known to be associated with intrinsic interest, enjoyment, persistence, and learning performance. </p> <p> This seminar is aimed at demystifying student motivation in the engineering classroom by providing a more nuanced view of motivation that extends beyond the labeling of students as “motivated” or “unmotivated.” Leveraging self-determination and self-regulated learning theory, we examine engineering students’ motivational responses in technical courses that employ both traditional and non-traditional pedagogies. Using variable-based and group- based clustering analyses, we characterize the dynamic situational motivational responses of students in project-based courses, and provide insights into the temporal stability of student motivations in these open-ended learning environments. Using qualitative student interview data, we explain how cognitive, social, and environmental factors may influence students’ motivational orientations and motivational shifts. Finally, we highlight specific course activities and contexts that serve to promote the adoption of intrinsic motivation, and that may help instructors make strategic curriculum design choices to better address the motivational needs of their students. </p> http://www.ece.utexas.edu/seminars/seminar_detail.cfm?id=359 http://www.ece.utexas.edu/seminars/seminar_detail.cfm?id=359 Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 EST <p>Future of Software Engineering on Mobile Devices<br>Center for ARiSE</p><p>Nikolai Tillmann<br>Principal RSDE<br>Microsoft Research</p><p>Wednesday, May 9, 2012 <br> 1:00 PM <br> ACE 6.336</p> Abstract - <p> The world is experiencing a technology shift. In 2012, more touchscreen-based mobile devices like smartphones and tablets will be sold than desktops, laptops, and netbooks combined. In fact, in many cases powerful and easy-to-use smart phones are going to be the first and, especially in developing countries, possibly the only computing devices which virtually all people will own and carry with them at all times. Mobile devices do not only have touchscreens, but they are also equipped with a multitude of sensors, such as GPS, cameras, accelerometer, and they are often connected to the cloud. Is it possible to develop new software directly on mobile devices, without using a PC? How could a user interface for such a new development model look like? We will present a new tool from Microsoft Research, TouchDevelop, that tries to address these questions. TouchDevelop is an application creation environment that runs on the smartphone itself, no separate PC required. Its programming language and code editor have been built from scratch around the idea that all code is entered via a touchscreen, without a keyboard. We will report on how TouchDevelop is being used in practice by thousands of people. </p> http://www.ece.utexas.edu/seminars/seminar_detail.cfm?id=357 http://www.ece.utexas.edu/seminars/seminar_detail.cfm?id=357 Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 EST