Best Faculty Paper
May 14, 2012
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler Electrical Engineering Professor Recognized for Online Education Development
May 14, 2012
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
May 14, 2012
Dr. Hector A. Ochoa, assistant professor of electrical engineering at The University of Texas at Tyler, received the “Best Faculty Paper Award” at the 2012 American Society of Engineering Education Gulf South West Annual Conference, Dr. James Nelson, College of Engineering and Computer Science dean, announced.
The award recognizes outstanding professional development in “Bridging Theory and Practice in Engineering and Technology Education” for his work with linear circuits instruction.
In the peer-reviewed paper, “An Online Course in Linear Circuits Analysis for Electrical Engineers,” Ochoa discusses his development and implementation of an online course in linear circuit analysis. The course was launched at UT Tyler last summer.
“This course takes advantage of tools like Camtasia Studio, Collaborate (Elluminate), PowerPoint and Bamboo Pen Tablet to provide effective lessons and online office hours to sophomore students taking the class remotely,” Ochoa said. “We expect the model will be adopted by other professors here at UT Tyler and other campuses trying to develop similar lessons, while making them more effective. Currently there are different techniques used to develop similar courses. However, most of them are not adequate to develop courses in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics area, especially when the course involves a significant number of mathematical operations and proofs.”
A UT Tyler faculty member since 2008, Ochoa holds a master of science in physical sciences and a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering, both from UT El Paso.
One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 7,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.