Alejandra J. Magana

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Professor (Full) at Purdue University West Lafayette

Promoting computational thinking (CT) integration in curricula requires well-prepared teachers with pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Existing research often uses pretest/posttest instruments or teacher reflections to assess outcomes of professional development programs (PDP). Still, this approach is limited and can be misaligned with other lear...

The potential of AI technology to transform human life, well-being, and daily work is faced with numerous risks and challenges yet to be fully accounted for. However, the complexity of AI ethics makes it hard to pin down what to teach, how to teach it, and how to assess its effectiveness. Drawing on an educational perspective, this paper presents a...

This study explores factors promoting and inhibiting advanced technology adoption in small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms (SMEs). With AI’s rapid advancement impacting productivity and efficiency across industries, understanding the challenges that SMEs face to remain competitive is crucial. Utilizing the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use...

This chapter presents five case studies that explore various affordances for engineering educators in reimagining education through technology. The first case study delves into the integration of teamwork and technology, addressing challenges in online learning and proposing innovative solutions for effective engagement in teamwork within large-siz...

Examining the effectiveness of machine learning techniques in analyzing engineering students’ decision-making processes through topic modeling during simulation-based design tasks is crucial for advancing educational methods and tools. Thus, this study presents a comparative analysis of different supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniq...

Several reports in education have called for transforming physics learning environments by promoting sensemaking of real-world scenarios in light of curricular ideas. Recent advancements in Generative-Artificial Intelligence have garnered increasing traction in educators' community by virtue of its potential to transform STEM learning. In this expl...

The application of extended reality (XR) technology in education has been growing for the last two decades. XR offers immersive and interactive visualization experiences that can enhance learning by making it engaging. Recent technological advances have led to the availability of high-quality and affordable XR headsets. These advancements have spur...

Learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is often challenging due to the abstract and counterintuitive nature of some concepts. Computer-based learning has emerged as an alternative method to help improve students' comprehension of these complex topics, even though technological tools must be supported with pedagogical s...

Background This study posits that scaffolded team-based computational modeling and simulation projects can support model-based learning that can result in evidence of representational competence and regulatory skills. The study involved 116 students from a second-year thermodynamics undergraduate course organized into 24 teams, who worked on three...

The release and widespread use of generative artificial intelligence causes concern for the future of teaching and learning. Since the release of ChatGPT, some institutions released guidance on its use in education, while other institutions waited for the technology to mature. This study is contextually situated during the Fall 2023 semester at a s...

Artificial intelligence’s (AI) widespread societal impact means that students of all disciplines will be working in roles adjacent to this new technology. As a result, they need to understand how to appropriately navigate and behave ethically in practice. The purpose of this paper is to introduce and detail a learning intervention intended to enhan...

Introduction: This study aimed to develop, implement, and test a visuo-haptic simulator designed to explore the buoyancy phenomenon for freshman engineering students enrolled in physics courses. The primary goal was to enhance students’ understanding of physical concepts through an immersive learning tool. Methods: The visuo-haptic simulator was cr...

Developing one's entrepreneurial mindset is important for all students, regardless of discipline. Evidence‐based decision‐making (which has the potential to lower costs and improve quality of life) is one approach for applying entrepreneurially minded learning in the undergraduate classroom. This approach allows students to understand trends relate...

Background: In STEM professions, teamwork is a fundamental aspect of the job. As a result, it becomes imperative for STEM graduates to possess a comprehensive set of professional skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and creative thinking to name a few. In this study, the focus is investigating teamwork dynamics within interdisciplina...

Background: Undergraduate Research Programs (URPs) provide students with opportunities to engage in authentic research experiences under the mentorship of faculty members. URPs are increasingly recognized as an important component of undergraduate education, as they can help students develop critical thinking skills, research skills, and teamwork s...

Background: Undergraduate research experiences hold great potential for students to develop critical thinking skills, engage in hands-on learning, and contribute to academic and professional growth. Central to the success of these research experiences is the accessibility of timely and constructive feedback, which aids in students' development and...

In the context of engineering design of energy-efficient homes, effective decision-making involves integrating energy science and economic considerations. When faced with the complexity of ill-defined problems, engineering students often rely on trial and error rather than leveraging scientific knowledge. This study examines the educational impact...

This study proposes and demonstrates how computer‐aided methods can be used to extend qualitative data analysis by quantifying qualitative data, and then through exploration, categorization, grouping, and validation. Computer‐aided approaches to inquiry have gained important ground in educational research, mostly through data analytics and large da...

This study implements a conflict management training approach guided by principles of transformative learning and conflict management practice simulated via an LLM. Transformative learning is more effective when learners are engaged mentally and behaviorally in learning experiences. Correspondingly, the conflict management training approach involve...

The study provides ML text classification models useful in mixed methods research where quantizing huge qualitative datasets can be made faster, more efficient, and less daunting. The results show that the NLP vectorization processes are possible for students’ reflection textual and are efficient in transforming text to vectors useful in training...

Analyzing the integration of scientific knowledge to guide decision-making processes supporting design challenges in engineering education is critical. However, effectively engaging in informed design decision-making processes is challenging, particularly in the context of online education. Simulation-based learning can bring authentic design pract...

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have driven research and development across multiple industries to meet national economic and technological demands. Consequently, companies are investing in AI, ML, and data analytics workforce development efforts to digitalize operations and enhance global competitivene...

This work in progress paper presents and motivates the design of a novel extended reality (XR) environment for artificial intelligence (AI) education, and presents its first implementation. The learner is seated at a table and wears an XR headset that allows them to see both the real world and a visualization of a neural network. The visualization...

This paper presents a systematic literature review of professional development programs in Computational Thinking. Computational thinking (CT) has emerged as an essential set of skills that everyone should develop to participate in a global society. However, there were no pre-service or in-service teacher programs to integrate CT into the K-12 clas...

Fostering productive engagement within teams has been found to improve student learning outcomes. Consequently, characterizing productive and unproductive time during teamwork sessions is a critical preliminary step to increase engagement in teamwork meetings. However, research from the cognitive sciences has mainly focused on characterizing levels...

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) is widely recognized as an innovative technology that enhances learning experiences. IVR affordances could serve as a learning medium, and instructors and designers should consider using available tools to teach practical STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects, incorporating the latest prac...

The ICAP framework classifies learning into four levels based on students' cognitive engagement with the course materials. These levels are Interactive, Constructive, Active, and Passive. The built-in hypothesis within the framework suggests that Interactive activities may generate better learning and engagement than Constructive activities, which...

Despite an increasing focus on integrating engineering design in K-12 settings, relatively few studies have investigated how to support students to engage in systematic processes to optimize the designs of their solutions. Emerging learning technologies such as computational models and simulations enable rapid feedback to learners about their desig...

This study implemented transformative pedagogy as a reflective approach to promote intercultural self-awareness and its potential consequences in the context of teamwork. The context was a second-year systems analysis and design course with 118 students in the fall 2021 semester and 155 students in the spring 2022 semester. The research question wa...

This research paper investigates the effectiveness of cooperative learning and co-regulation strategies in promoting teamwork and enhancing students' performance in higher education. The study was conducted in an in-person intermediate-level information system design course with 152 students divided into 31 teams. The students utilized the Scrum fr...

Background Effectively facilitating teamwork experiences, particularly in the context of large-size courses, is difficult to implement. This study seeks to address the challenges of implementing effective teamwork experiences in large courses. This study integrated teamwork pedagogy to facilitate a semester-long project in the context of a large-si...

Understanding what motivates students to enroll, persist, and complete an undergraduate research experience is crucial in developing strategies for creating well-rounded and inclusive research programs. This paper showcases an approach for a virtual undergraduate research onboarding program to orient engineering students to the National Science Fou...

Background: There is a growing popularity of undergraduate research programs (URPs) as they benefit students, faculty mentors, and the university. However, maintaining URPs is often difficult. Therefore, it is critical to find ways to reduce the workload of faculty mentors and develop self-regulation in undergraduate research students. To address t...

Fields in the social sciences, such as education research, have started to expand the use of computer-based research methods to supplement traditional research approaches. Natural language processing techniques, such as topic modeling, may support qualitative data analysis by providing early categories that researchers may interpret and refine. Thi...

In this study, we: (a) compared the differences in the learning of friction concepts between a physical manipulative tool (PMT) and a visuohaptic simulation (VHS) in four different configurations (visually enhanced feedback on/off, force feedback on/off), and (b) analyzed the influence of the visual and haptic feedback for learning the concept of f...

Companies and their executives are concluding that to accomplish their complex tasks and all-encompassing missions and goals, they must step outside the traditional realms of teamwork and partnership and engage in cross-cultural and multinational alliances. One of the principal areas affecting teamwork today, especially in diverse workplaces, is th...

italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Contribution: The study characterizes aspects of cognitive and metacognitive dimensions of team cognition of software development teams in educational settings. Background: The software development industry requires software engineers and developers t...

Student attrition is a challenge experienced by higher education institutions. One of the key reasons for student attrition is the inability of students to develop an identity and a sense of belonging. This study aims to understand the role of a data science learning community in helping students to develop identity and a sense of belonging. The st...

This study implements a computational cognitive apprenticeship framework for knowledge integration of Data Science (DS) concepts delivered via computational notebooks. This study also explores students' conceptual understanding of the unsupervised Machine Learning algorithm of K‐means after being exposed to this method. The learning of DS methods a...

Worked examples can help novice learners develop early schemata from an expert’s solution to a problem. Nonetheless, the worked examples themselves are no guarantee that students will explore these experts’ solutions effectively. This study explores two different approaches to supporting engineering technology students’ learning in an undergraduate...

Computational thinking (CT) is a critical skill needed for STEM professionals and educational interventions that emphasize CT are needed. In engineering, one potential pedagogical tool to build CT is modeling, an essential skill for engineering students where they apply their scientific knowledge to real-world problems involving planning, building,...

Fluid Mechanics courses comprise both theoretical and laboratory modules. In developing nations, computer‐assisted techniques are not commonly applied in Fluid Mechanics instruction. Forced by the COVID‐19 pandemic, South American universities are, however, using them for online teaching. This contribution presents an 8‐semester (2016–2019) educati...

In this exploratory study, we investigated students’ design thinking strategies during a challenge involving the design of an energy-efficient house. We used the Informed Design Teaching and Learning Matrix as a framework for characterizing the students’ design thinking, focusing on four specific strategies—generating ideas, conducting experiments,...

Economic decisions are a crucial part of the engineering design process as designers aim to minimize the cost and maximize the system’s benefits. This study focuses on first-year undergraduate students’ economic decision-making process when they trade off costs and benefits during a design challenge. In addition, we characterized students’ patterns...

Background Previous work has identified that the benefits of learning with videogames and learning from simulations. However, recent meta‐analytic work has also identified that little research directly compares learning with videogames and learning with simulations. Objectives This study examines two learning technologies and their corresponding p...

This document presents a systematic review of Multimodal Human–Computer Interaction. It shows how different types of interaction technologies (virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality, force and vibration feedback devices (haptics), and tracking) are used in different domains (concepts, medicine, physics, human factors/user experience design, tra...

Background We evaluated the effect of three teaching strategies to facilitate teamwork in a systems analysis and design course during the COVID‐19 pandemic: (1) offering a HyFlex version of the course, (2) facilitating scheduled online teamwork sessions for all students, and (3) providing conflict resolution training to help teams overcome collabor...

Computer-aided design (CAD) programs are essential to engineering as they allow for better designs through low-cost iterations. While CAD programs are typically taught to undergraduate students as a job skill, such software can also help students learn engineering concepts. A current limitation of CAD programs (even those that are specifically desi...

The discipline of data science is gaining attention due to a significant increase in the amount of data generated on a real-time basis. Despite the efforts from the institutions and national agencies, it has been witnessed that there have been substantial challenges in retaining and attracting students in the discipline of data science. Learning co...

Avatar identification is one of the most promising research areas in games user research. Greater identification with one's avatar has been associated with improved outcomes in the domains of health, entertainment, and education. However, existing studies have focused almost exclusively on the visual appearance of avatars. Yet audio is known to inf...

Virtual reality (VR) has disrupted the gaming market and is rapidly becoming ubiquitous. Yet differences between VR and traditional mediums, such as controllers that are visible in the virtual world, enable entirely new approaches to instruction. In this paper, we present four studies, each using a different VR game. Within each study, we compared...

Engineering learning, a three-dimensional construct that includes Engineering Habits of Mind, Engineering Practices, and Engineering Knowledge, has been well established and defined at the post-secondary level (Reed, 2018). Meanwhile, engineering within pre-kindergarten through 12th grade (P-12) classrooms continues to grow steadily. Changes introd...

Information technology professionals are required to possess both technical and professional skills while functioning in teams. Higher education institutions are promoting teamwork by engaging students in cooperative and project-based learning environments. We characterized teams based on their collective orientations and evaluated their team perfo...

Computer-aided design (CAD) programs are essential to engineering as they allow for better designs through low-cost iterations. While CAD programs are typically taught to undergraduate students as a job skill, such software can also help students learn engineering concepts. A current limitation of CAD programs (even those that are specifically desi...

A residential learning community (RLC) is an integration of academic and social settings that assists learners to create meaningful learning experiences. An RLC allows students with similar interests to live and learn together. Living in an RLC improves retention by helping students develop a sense of belonging and disciplinary identity. As such, R...

Teamwork is an important skill valued by corporate employers across the globe. As such, it is crucial for students to learn teamwork for the purpose of securing a job and performing well in corporate environments. In addition to certain technical skills, essential 21st-century skills include communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and crea...

This study implements a design-based research approach to design and evaluate different scaffolding strategies for supporting student learning as well as promoting student agency within a computational science course. The course introduces computational methods and tools in the context of disciplinary problems for materials science and engineering...

Software modeling is an integral practice for software engineers, especially as the complexity of software solutions increases. Unified Modeling Language (UML) is the industry standard for software modeling. however, it is often used incorrectly and misunderstood by novice software designers. This study is centered around understanding patterns of...

Reflective practice is becoming a more necessary skill across all disciplines and industry sectors. This study describes the reflective processes capstone engineering students engaged with as part of modelling-based learning assignments over the entire course of a semester. Students answered multiple reflection questions asking them about planning,...

This multiple case study focused on the implementation of a computer-aided design (CAD) simulation to help students engage in engineering design to learn science concepts. Our findings describe three case studies that adopted the same learning design and adapted it to three different populations, settings, and classroom contexts: at the middle-scho...

The purpose of this study was to explore the process of designing a visuohaptic simulation for learning structural analysis following a learner‐centered approach (LCD). Our implementation of an LCD approach followed a three‐part iterative process: (1) requirements analysis and specification, (2) multimedia application design, and (3) prototype insp...