An Application Study of the Discussion Class in a Flipped Classroom Model for Engineering Courses

There are usually many abstract and difficult concepts in Engineering courses which are difficult for students to learn. In this regard, a discussion-based class would enable students to increase their interest, deepen their understanding of the curriculum, and broaden their horizons. However, the traditional classroom discussion usually cannot fully reach the expected outcomes as a result of an insufficient time to discuss a single topic. In order to make the Discussion Class more effective for the engineering course, we used the “Signal Analysis and Processing” course to explore the specific format and content of the discussion class in an engineering course. Students were divided into groups and given time to prepare a classroom presentation, during which time they were given classroom dominance in a model we have termed the Flipped Classroom. The content of the discussion combines multi-angle topics such as principle of theory, problem solving methods, and practical applications. Student feedback has indicated that the Discussion Class in a Flipped Classroom model can deepen the students' understanding of the curriculum and improve their comprehensive ability.