INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
Renee M. Clark, PhD
B-12 Benedum Hall | 3700 O’Hara Street | Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Research Assistant Professor Engineering Education Research Center (EERC)
P: 412-648-5359 rmclark@pitt.edu
Dr. Renee Clark is research assistant professor of industrial engineering and director of assessment for the Engineering Education Research Center (EERC). She conducts research on both externally and internally-funded education-related projects with faculty interested in enhancing and assessing instructional practices within their classrooms and programs. Dr. Clark collaboratively works with instructors to implement and assess their instructional practices and ultimately publish the outcomes in conference proceedings and education journals. She specifically conducts research on techniques that focus on active learning and engineering professional development, including flipped classrooms, adaptive learning, reflection and metacognition, design thinking practice, and simple active learning to drive interactivity and practice. Another current research area for Dr. Clark is ensuring the propagation of active learning throughout the Swanson School of Engineering (SSoE) based on a 2018 Innovation in Education Award from the Provost’s Office. This award involves leading and coaching a pilot group of faculty, from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Industrial Engineering, who are implementing or enhancing active learning in their classrooms, with a future project goal of propagation of active learning across the Swanson School.
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
Reflection and Metacognition Using Simulation Along with colleague Dr. Samuel Dickerson, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Dr. Clark received a 2018 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to assess the impact of the frequent and systematic use of reflective and metacognitive thought in the ECE classroom. Student reflection will primarily occur through the use of SPICE circuit simulation software to drive deeper thought by students regarding their analytical calculations, including reflection on opportunities for improvement and application of lessons learned to future careers or coursework.
Assessment and Evaluation Dr. Clark focuses on assessment and evaluation of educational outcomes in her research and administrative responsibilities in the Swanson School. She conducts quantitative, statistical, and qualitative analysis and evaluation. Her career background in data analysis and IT supports her data management and analysis for educational projects. Dr. Clark also serves as an external evaluator on NSF-funded projects. She received her PhD in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and her MS in mechanical engineering from Case Western. Dr. Clark has 25 years of experience as an engineer and analyst in industry and academia. She completed her postdoctoral studies in engineering education at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Clark has recently published her research in IEEE Transactions on Education, Computer Applications in Engineering Education, International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and Advances in Engineering Education.
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