Study on the Effect of Tutorial, Email and Office Consultations on Undergraduate Performance in the topic of Finite State Machines

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the effect of adding three consultation types – tutorial, email, office – in the teaching of Finite State Machines to Electrical and Computer Engineering undergraduates at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine campus. These three consultation types were compiled into a new methodology for delivering material for Finite State Machines for the course. At the end of the study it was concluded that students who participate in consultation activities with the course lecturer performed better in Finite State Machine (FSM) related quizzes and projects than students who did not participate in such. It was also concluded that students who did not participate stood a much greater chance of failing these assessment activities.