Impact of COVID-19 on Engineering and Technology Course Outcomes

ABSTRACT

Student learning experience can be disrupted significantly if the plan of study changes suddenly like it did due to the COVID-19 global pandemic in March 2020. The purpose of this paper is to compare the outcomes of two courses at Indiana State University such as student grades, number of students dropping the course, available resources, etc. before (pre-) and during (post-) the pandemic. The compared two courses are from two separate departments where one course is Engineering Economics and the other course is DC Circuits and Design. The course DC Circuits and Design has both theory and laboratory components. The null hypothesis is that there exists no difference between the course grade outcomes of pre- and post- pandemic. The hypothesis has been tested using Chi-square goodness of fit test at p=0.1. Engineering Economics on-campus post-unplanned pandemic section in Spring 2020 is found to be significantly different from the pre-pandemic in Spring 2019. However, in the online section, there is no difference between the post- and pre- because the online section is planned for virtual mode. Similar finding is reached for DC Circuits and Design that the post-unplanned pandemic section in Spring 2020 is found to be significantly different from the pre-pandemic in Fall 2019;but the post-planned in Fall 2020 is found to be statistically same as the pre-pandemic. Practical implication of this study will be helpful in planning to teach courses for pandemics or other situations outside of our control. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2021