DUPLEX is funded by the National Science Foundation (DUE #0089009)
and the PEW Center for Academic Transformation. The dedicated
computer laboratory is supported by a gift from the Ramsey McCluskey
Family Foundation, Margaret Ramsey '84.
The project is making fundamental changes in how computer programming
courses are taught at Drexel, with the goal of enhancing and individualizing
the students' experience while providing more efficient course
management for faculty [Herr02,Cera02a]. The ultimate goal is
to develop a methodology that can be exported to other courses,
other departments, and other universities.
Some of the project's accomplishments to date are:
- increasing the amount of hands-on, active learning in the
classroom through the use of a specially-equipped labs
- exploiting the strengths of Web-based course management systems
(CMS) both to deliver content and to handle administrative aspects
of course management [Popy02a]. Drexel supports WebCT institutionally,
and its useful features include capability for online exercises
and in-class quizzes, electronic submission of assignments,
and online gradebooks.
- enhancing CMS support of online assignment grading through
creation of a software package, Labrador [Cera02b], which is
slated for further deployment at Drexel, with interest expressed
by other campuses.
