Outcome 2: An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems

Level 5 performance characterized by:

• Demonstrates creative synthesis of solution and creates new alternatives by combining knowledge and information
• Can relate theoretical concepts to practical problem solving
• Can predict and defend problem outcomes
• Uses appropriate resources to locate information needed to solve problems
• Takes new information and effectively integrates it with previous knowledge
• Demonstrates understanding of how various pieces of the problem relate to each other and the whole
• Formulates strategies for solving problems
• The answer is correct and properly labeled
• The solution is correct and checked in other ways when it can be; the interpretation is appropriate and makes sense
  

Level 3 performance characterized by:

• Demonstrates solution with integration of diverse concepts or derivation of useful relationships involving ideas covered in course concepts; however, no alternative solutions are generated
• Connects theoretical concepts to practical problem-solving when prompted
• Occasionally predicts and defends problem outcomes
• Uses limited resources to solve problems
• Must be assisted in integrating previous knowledge and new information
• Is missing some of the pieces of the whole problem
• Has some strategies for problem-solving, but does not apply them consistently
• The answer is nearly correct, but properly labeled (within reasonable and logical range of the correct answer-it's in the "ballpark")
• The solution is correct, but not checked in other ways

Level 1 performance characterized by:

• Demonstrates solutions implementing simple applications of one formula or equation with close analogies to class/lecture problems
• Does not see the connection between theory and practical problem solving
• Is unable to predict or defend problem outcomes
• Uses no resources to solve problems
• Has no concept of how previous knowledge and new information relate
• Does not realize when major components of the problem are missing
• Has no coherent strategies for problem solving
• The answer is incorrect and not checked for its reasonableness
• No attempt at checking the obviously incorrect solution--no commentary
  
  

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Delaware | Newark, DE 19716-3120
phone: 302-831-2442 | e-mail CEE | fax: 302-831-3640