Making abstract engineering course content computer generated graphics and video tutorials: The development process

A description is given of the process involved in developing course materials to improve a course, nuclear engineering 405 (NE-405), in nuclear science and radiochemistry at Pennsylvania State University, College of Engineering. The five-stage course development process, including the required time and financial support, and the rationale for each stage of the process are discussed. The five stages considered are: identification of problems in the original NE-405; front-end analysis and problem specification in which a detailed analysis of the course content, an analysis of previous teaching evaluation data, classroom observations of the instructor, and the development of a customized evaluation measure are conducted, leading to the specification of three problems that were causing the teaching and learning difficulties in NE-405: solutions and developed instructional materials; implementation of the solutions into the course; and a summative evaluation leading to conclusions regarding the process.