Phased-Array Homework: Used to Shape and Steer Student Understanding

Students demonstrate different levels of understanding of material which often coincide with how diligent the students are with their daily preparation prior to class. Having them attempt homework problems prior to class enables them to be better prepared to ask specific questions about concepts and also better prepared to perform on exams. This paper will introduce “phased-array homework” which is a flexible system of assigning homework which also incorporates specific timing of publication to students of “partial solutions” for their reference. As the name of the homework system implies, phased-array homework (PAH) allows an instructor to shape and steer student understanding in much the same way that a phased-array antenna allows for the shaping and steering of a transmitted electromagnetic signal to yield its subsequent effective radiation pattern. Implementation method and results will be presented as well as student perspective on the system.