Hierarchical Bayesian Knowledge Tracing in Undergraduate Engineering Education

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Sun, Yiwei
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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_version_ 1866916770274607104
author Sun, Yiwei
author_facet Sun, Yiwei
contents Educators teaching entry-level university engineering modules face the challenge of identifying which topics students find most difficult and how to support diverse student needs effectively. This study demonstrates a rigorous yet interpretable statistical approach -- hierarchical Bayesian modeling -- that leverages detailed student response data to quantify both skill difficulty and individual student abilities. Using a large-scale dataset from an undergraduate Statics course, we identified clear patterns of skill mastery and uncovered distinct student subgroups based on their learning trajectories. Our analysis reveals that certain concepts consistently present challenges, requiring targeted instructional support, while others are readily mastered and may benefit from enrichment activities. Importantly, the hierarchical Bayesian method provides educators with intuitive, reliable metrics without sacrificing predictive accuracy. This approach allows for data-informed decisions, enabling personalized teaching strategies to improve student engagement and success. By combining robust statistical methods with clear interpretability, this study equips educators with actionable insights to better support diverse learner populations.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_00057
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Hierarchical Bayesian Knowledge Tracing in Undergraduate Engineering Education
Sun, Yiwei
Computers and Society
Machine Learning
Applications
62P25, 68T05, 62M99
K.3.1; I.2.6
Educators teaching entry-level university engineering modules face the challenge of identifying which topics students find most difficult and how to support diverse student needs effectively. This study demonstrates a rigorous yet interpretable statistical approach -- hierarchical Bayesian modeling -- that leverages detailed student response data to quantify both skill difficulty and individual student abilities. Using a large-scale dataset from an undergraduate Statics course, we identified clear patterns of skill mastery and uncovered distinct student subgroups based on their learning trajectories. Our analysis reveals that certain concepts consistently present challenges, requiring targeted instructional support, while others are readily mastered and may benefit from enrichment activities. Importantly, the hierarchical Bayesian method provides educators with intuitive, reliable metrics without sacrificing predictive accuracy. This approach allows for data-informed decisions, enabling personalized teaching strategies to improve student engagement and success. By combining robust statistical methods with clear interpretability, this study equips educators with actionable insights to better support diverse learner populations.
title Hierarchical Bayesian Knowledge Tracing in Undergraduate Engineering Education
topic Computers and Society
Machine Learning
Applications
62P25, 68T05, 62M99
K.3.1; I.2.6
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.00057