Work in progress: Enhancing Learning Skills of Freshman Engineering Students

Freshman students entering engineering education engage an unfamiliar, challenging learning environment, to which they must adapt rather quickly. However, some find this process too difficult to handle, without assistance. The reason for this is that they are not well-prepared for the rigorous academic life. During the last three years, a unique course has been delivered at our department to impart learning and management skills to students starting Electrical and Electronic Engineering. In recent year, we initiated an on-going study on the course's impact, which has three purposes: 1. Measure and analyze student learning practices; 2. Evaluate the effect of this course on some of these practices; 3. Assess the impact on the dropout rate. So far, thirty-five students participated in the study. Assessment parameters include performance ratings for tasks and questionnaires. This paper presents preliminary results of the study. These results show an improving rating trend as the course progresses.