Development of an automated grading and data manipulation program for the Teaching Laboratory Data Management (TLDM) System

TitleDevelopment of an automated grading and data manipulation program for the Teaching Laboratory Data Management (TLDM) System
Faculty/College/UnitApplied Science
StatusCompleted
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2015
Completion03/31/2019
Funding Details
Year 1: Project TitleTeaching Laboratory Data Management (TLDM) System
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2015/2016
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorPeter Englezos
Year 1: Funded Amount31,274
Year 1: Team Members

Peter Englezos, Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Dhanesh Kannangara, Senior Instructor, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Jim Sibley, Director, Centre for Instructional Support, Faculty of Applied Science
Derek Choy, TLDM System Project Manager, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science

Year 1: Summary

The TLDM system is an online Excel-based coaching tool that provides guidance, feedback, and instructional scaffolding for students as they grapple with long complex laboratory analysis and calculations. The TLDM system also provides, grading assistance to TAs and student performance statistics to instructors. This proposal focuses on generating simple Excel-based modules that flexibly scaffold student learning as they master the use of ExcelTM for accurate and detailed laboratory data analyses without the need of constant TA support. The TLDM system will also reduce the time required for grading by automatically generating marking keys unique to each student’s raw data.

Year 1: TLEF ShowcaseYear 1: TLEF Showcase
Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2017/2018
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorPeter Englezos
Year 2: Funded Amount18,726
Year 2: Team Members

Peter Englezos, Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Dhanesh Kannangara, Senior Instructor, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Jim Sibley, Director, Centre for Instructional Support, Faculty of Applied Science
Derek Choy, (former) TLDM System Project Manager, Faculty of Applied Science

Year 2: Summary

During CHBE laboratory experiments, large amounts of data are generated and collected by students. Managing this data is problematic and time consuming; the existing Teaching Laboratory Data Management (TLDM) system solves this problem for students, teaching assistants, and instructors. With previous financial support from the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF), TLDM modules have now been created and implemented for all CHBE labs; feedback from students and teaching assistants has been very positive. This project will focus on streamlining the TAs’ and instructors’ process of handling TLDM data files that contain students’ raw data and answers. We propose the creation of a custom computer program that automates the operation of TLDM files within the various experimental modules. This will save many hours of marking time and will let TAs and instructors spend more time helping students and less time marking.

Year 2: TLEF ShowcaseYear 2: TLEF Showcase
Project Report2017-TLEF-Final-Englezos-WEB.pdf