9354379 Felder An evaluation is being conducted of a number of instructional methods that have been shown by educational research to promote effective learning, including cooperative (team-based) learning and frequent assignment of open-ended problems and problem creation exercises in class and homework. Two groups are being studied and compared---an experimental group consisting of students who experience the proposed approach for several semesters, and a comparison group containing students who proceed through the curriculum as normally taught. The objective of the research is to demonstrate that the systematic and repeated use of the specified methods can have a significant beneficial effect on academic performance, retention, problem-solving ability and creativity, and attitude toward chemical engineering as a curriculum and career choice. The products of the research will include a body of data on over 300 entering engineering sophomores relating to their backgrounds, reasons for choosing engineering, academic strengths and weaknesses, levels of confidence and anxiety, academic performance, retention in engineering, and responsiveness to different instructional methods. ***y
