Peter Ostafichuk
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View article: Correlations between Motives to Enter Engineering Studies and Engineering Self-Identity from a Pan-Canadian Undergraduate
Correlations between Motives to Enter Engineering Studies and Engineering Self-Identity from a Pan-Canadian Undergraduate Open
Understanding why students enter engineering has the potential to help formulate retention strategies and refine our understanding of engineering self-identity. This study explores the self-reported motives for entering engineering and eng…
View article: The Costs of Not Paying Attention: An Exploration of the Academic Impacts of Student Participation and Engagement During Large Engineering Classes
The Costs of Not Paying Attention: An Exploration of the Academic Impacts of Student Participation and Engagement During Large Engineering Classes Open
This quantitative exploratory study uses a post-course survey to examine the influence distracting in-class behaviours (working on other courses or engaging with digital devices) has on student learning. It is set in a pair of team-based i…
View article: A Multi-Year Study of First-Year Engineering Student Well-being at a Large Canadian University
A Multi-Year Study of First-Year Engineering Student Well-being at a Large Canadian University Open
A five-year study into student well-being at a large Canadian university is presented. Through weekly surveys tracking student well-being with the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEBMWS), a gradual but persistent drop in st…
View article: Relationships between grades and gender in student program preferences in engineering
Relationships between grades and gender in student program preferences in engineering Open
Engineering programs overall have underrepresentation of women, but variations exist between programs. We were interested in how grades influence students’ decisions related to program selection and if there were differences by gender. Usi…
View article: Engineering Student Engagement in Large First-Year Lectures: A Joint Student-Faculty Study at a Large Canadian University
Engineering Student Engagement in Large First-Year Lectures: A Joint Student-Faculty Study at a Large Canadian University Open
In-person lectures are a common mode of course delivery at many schools. This study examines factors related to lecture attendance and student engagement within core first-year math, science, and engineering courses in engineering at a lar…
View article: Preliminary Employment Trajectory Findings from a Pan-Canadian Survey on Career Motivations and Aspirations of Undergraduate Engineering Students
Preliminary Employment Trajectory Findings from a Pan-Canadian Survey on Career Motivations and Aspirations of Undergraduate Engineering Students Open
Engineering students have varied vocational motivations and aspirations. Clarity regarding these factors, how they can be nurtured, and how they can impact attrition from the profession can help foster retention and diversification. A surv…
View article: Student Demand by Engineering Discipline: Trends and Observations at One Institution
Student Demand by Engineering Discipline: Trends and Observations at One Institution Open
Engineering students most commonly select their discipline (i.e., program) before or during their first year of studies. Knowing what the student demand is for different engineering disciplines is important for program planning and the cur…
View article: Gender Parity and Program Choice: Which Engineering Programs Women Students Prefer to Enter
Gender Parity and Program Choice: Which Engineering Programs Women Students Prefer to Enter Open
Many engineering programs have historically struggled to attract and retain women students. At UBC, two new engineering programs—Biomedical Engineering (BME) and Environmental Engineering (ENV)—have a high percentage of women students comp…
View article: First-Year Engineering Students’ Experiences and Perceptions Viewed Through the Lens of Transdisciplinary Knowledge and Threshold Concepts
First-Year Engineering Students’ Experiences and Perceptions Viewed Through the Lens of Transdisciplinary Knowledge and Threshold Concepts Open
Motivation: This complete research paper involves an in-depth qualitative analysis on how learning interventions in two consecutive first-year Introduction to Engineering courses supported first-year engineering students' development of th…
View article: Developing transdisciplinarity in first‐year engineering
Developing transdisciplinarity in first‐year engineering Open
Background For engineers who aim to address sustainability challenges, participating in transdisciplinary teams is key. Yet developing transdisciplinary knowledge, including systems thinking, metacognition, and empathic thinking, is not we…
View article: A PILOT PROJECT TO MEASURE TEACHING FACULTY EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS
A PILOT PROJECT TO MEASURE TEACHING FACULTY EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS Open
Educational leadership (EL) is a term sometimes used to capture facets of teaching that extend outside of direct teaching activities within the classroom. At some institutions, engaging in EL is encouraged and, at some others it is a requi…
View article: REMOTE LEARNING IMPACTS ON STUDENT WELLBEING
REMOTE LEARNING IMPACTS ON STUDENT WELLBEING Open
This study tracks wellbeing of a large cohort of first-year engineering students at a large Canadian university over a remotely-delivered academic year. This continues a similar tracking study completed with inperson instruction the previo…
View article: Developing Metacognition in First-Year Students through Interactive Online Videos
Developing Metacognition in First-Year Students through Interactive Online Videos Open
This complete research paper examines the use and impact of a series of optional interactive online videos (“screencasts”) to develop metacognition and learning perspectives in first-year engineering students. In 2018, eight screencasts we…
View article: ASSESSING AND TRACKING THE FACTORS INFLUENCING STUDENT WELLBEING IN FIRST-YEAR ENGINEERING
ASSESSING AND TRACKING THE FACTORS INFLUENCING STUDENT WELLBEING IN FIRST-YEAR ENGINEERING Open
In recent years, there has been increasing awareness surrounding student wellbeing. The first year of university can be difficult due to the change in expectations and responsibilities associated with this transition. As many of the resour…
View article: EXAMINING GENDER AND NATIONALITY BIAS IN DECISION-MAKING BY ENGINEERING STUDENT TEAMS
EXAMINING GENDER AND NATIONALITY BIAS IN DECISION-MAKING BY ENGINEERING STUDENT TEAMS Open
This study uses two-stage team quizzes to assess differences in team decision-making based on the factors gender and nationality. Over 200 teams in two different engineering design courses delivered using Team-Based Learning across five ye…
View article: ONLINE INTERACTION TOOLS: IMPACTS ON STUDENTS’ PARTICIPATION AND LEARNING
ONLINE INTERACTION TOOLS: IMPACTS ON STUDENTS’ PARTICIPATION AND LEARNING Open
Shyness, low self-esteem, and fear of peer/instructor’s judgment are among the common factors hindering students’ participation (e.g., asking/answering questions) in classrooms. In this regard, anonymous response systems such as iClickers …
View article: Measurement and Visualization of Airflow through Sports Textiles
Measurement and Visualization of Airflow through Sports Textiles Open
In marathon running, maintenance of body temperature is critical for peak performance. Race apparel should maximize ventilation yet current fabric permeability standards are based on airflow rates that are not generated during running. A n…
View article: DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE ETHICS SCENARIO ACTIVITY FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS
DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE ETHICS SCENARIO ACTIVITY FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS Open
This paper describes development and deployment of an online interactive ethical decision-making simulation. This tool was piloted in a first-year introduction to engineering course at the University of British Columbia. It used a “choose …
View article: SELF-BIAS AND GENDER-BIAS IN STUDENT PEER EVALUATION: AN EXPANDED STUDY
SELF-BIAS AND GENDER-BIAS IN STUDENT PEER EVALUATION: AN EXPANDED STUDY Open
This paper expands on two studies first presented in 2015 in which gender-based differences in peer evaluation and the self-bias of students in engineering design courses were considered. In the current study, 50 evaluation events across 1…
View article: PILOT OF A SERIES OF ONLINE RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS TRANSITION TO FIRST YEAR ENGINEERING
PILOT OF A SERIES OF ONLINE RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS TRANSITION TO FIRST YEAR ENGINEERING Open
Transitioning from high school to university can be a difficult time for students. A significant element in this transition is related to heightened selfresponsibility and self-regulation for one’s own learning. A series of eight online sc…
View article: Crossing Boundaries: Developing Transdisciplinary Skills in Engineering Education
Crossing Boundaries: Developing Transdisciplinary Skills in Engineering Education Open
Transdisciplinary engineering curricula prepare future engineers with a holistic understanding of complex real-world problems, and the ability to tackle these problems with knowledge and skills in both engineering and non-engineering areas…
View article: A Cornerstone Design Module in First Year Engineering
A Cornerstone Design Module in First Year Engineering Open
This paper describes a new five-week cornerstone design module at the conclusion of first year engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC).The objective of this cornerstone module is to bringtogether the multiple course themes—…
View article: Improving Class Participation by Using an Online Interactive Platform
Improving Class Participation by Using an Online Interactive Platform Open
Class engagement and participation has a direct impact on students’ learning. Improving participation has been one of the main focuses of education. It has been shown that classroom participation through asking questions can reinforce stud…
View article: USING A PROJECT ON ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TO TEACH CAD AND RAPID PROTOTYPING
USING A PROJECT ON ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TO TEACH CAD AND RAPID PROTOTYPING Open
- This paper describes a novel approach used in a first year engineering at UBC to teach computer-aided design (CAD) and rapid prototyping as part of a real-world design project. It is centred on the design of an assistive technology devic…
View article: A MODEL TO DEVELOP PEER FEEDBACK SKILLS IN FIRST-YEAR ENGINEERING STUDENTS
A MODEL TO DEVELOP PEER FEEDBACK SKILLS IN FIRST-YEAR ENGINEERING STUDENTS Open
– Giving and receiving feedback is a necessary, but often difficult skill for young engineers to acquire. We developed and piloted the delivery of a feedback model as part of the first-year engineering experience at the University of Briti…
View article: POWER OF PEERS: EXPERIENCES USING AN ONLINE PEER ASSESSMENT TOOL TO GRADE STUDENT WORK
POWER OF PEERS: EXPERIENCES USING AN ONLINE PEER ASSESSMENT TOOL TO GRADE STUDENT WORK Open
This paper explores the implementation, outcomes, and student perceptions of the use of an online tool for anonymous peer assessment of student work. Peer assessment, where one student assesses the work of another, provides an opportunity …
View article: HOW FIRST YEAR ENGINEERING STUDENTS SELECT THEIR SPECIALIZATION AND HOW WE CAN BETTER SUPPORT THEM
HOW FIRST YEAR ENGINEERING STUDENTS SELECT THEIR SPECIALIZATION AND HOW WE CAN BETTER SUPPORT THEM Open
This paper explores the student experience of discipline selection, through the perspective of students in a common first year engineering program at the University of British Columbia. It also presents and examines a number of new innovat…
View article: A FRAMEWORK FOR EXPLORING ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN A FIRST YEAR ENGINEERING COURSE
A FRAMEWORK FOR EXPLORING ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN A FIRST YEAR ENGINEERING COURSE Open
A module on professionalism and ethics was developed and introduced in a recent redesign of the first year engineering curriculum at The University of British Columbia (UBC). Motivating factors for including this content in first year incl…
View article: REDESIGNING THE UBC FIRST YEAR INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING: SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
REDESIGNING THE UBC FIRST YEAR INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING: SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES Open
A new first year introduction to engineering experience was developed at the University of British Columbia. This paper provides an overview of the two new courses and the lessons learned both in developing and delivering the courses. Seve…
View article: USING AN ONLINE MARKING SYSTEM FOR A LARGE CLASS ENVIRONMENT
USING AN ONLINE MARKING SYSTEM FOR A LARGE CLASS ENVIRONMENT Open
The use of online team marking has the potential to both simplify and expedite the process of marking exams, papers, and other artifacts. An online team marking tool (Crowdmark) has been piloted at UBC in Mechanical Engineering (125 studen…