A new on-line testing and remediation strategy for engineering mathematics

It is well documented that there is currently an unsatisfied need in industry for more qualified engineers, and a disturbing decline in college students opting for technical degrees. Part of the problem is the high attrition rate among engineering majors, which can be attributed in large part to problems with mathematics. In addition, the Accreditation Board on Engineering and Technology (ABET) has adopted a new set of criteria for evaluating engineering programs, which is outcome-based rather than course-based. The ABET 2000 criteria require that the institution formulate educational objectives, then assess their educational strategies. We are currently developing a strategy using Web-based mathematics examinations, tutoring and advising to help improve retention of engineering students and to address ABET's outcomes-based assessment. This paper describes the software used in our on-line testing and the exam questions we designed based on electrical engineering applications.