Abstract:

Team-Based Learning (TBL) is an evidence-based collaborative learning teaching strategy designed around units of instruction, known as “modules,” that are taught in a multiple-step cycle: preparation (before class), in-class quizzes/tests, mini-lecture, and application exercises. The in-class Readiness Assurance Test, known as RAT, includes two sub-tests; individual RAT (iRAT) and team RAT (tRAT). In first-year engineering programming classes, the instructors rely on the mini-lecture to deliver advanced concepts or present a programming exercise to the students. Meanwhile, most of the class time is consumed by the iRAT, tRAT, and application exercise. This paper sheds light on an attempt to modify the conventional TBL approach by taking the iRAT outside the classroom and exploit its time to extend the mini-lecture time. However, the iRAT is the only way to ensure that the students individually read the assigned readings before the class. Our proposed solution is to use an interactive online book instead of a regular textbook which will allow us to take the iRAT outside the classroom. The interactive online book is designed to give the students grades based on their readings. Each sub-section in the book is followed by an easy to answer multiple-choice questions that can be attempt an infinite number of times. This grading method allows the student to get the reading grades even if s/he did not get the right answer from the first attempt.

Taking the iRAT outside the classroom saved around 15% (ten minutes) of the class time which allowed the instructor to utilize the saved time in other TBL components. The proposed approach was implemented in a class of 165 students in Fall 2019 and currently, it is implemented in a class of 47 students. The preliminary results show that the students complete each class assignment with an average percentage of 87%. Useful results were observed when we correlated the students' readings and their performance in the tRAT. Also, the results of using the interactive book with TBL are compared to the results of using the same interactive book with an active learning class taught in Fall 2018.

Keywords:

iRAT, Team-based Learning (TBL), Interactive online book.