Using Flowchart to Help Students Learn Basic Circuit Theories Quickly

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

well, as a quantitative methodologist little bit disappointed due there is no inferential part

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

I really appreciate your recommendations and your precious time to review my work.

The work shows a method I used to teach basic DC/AC theorems. A common problem in this class is there are 20 equations introduced in a short time at the beginning of the class and most students do not know which one should be use first, which makes it difficult for students to study the following material. I summarized basic theorems into a flowchart, as which I did not see a similar one till now. The idea comes from self-tax software. It does not matter whether students understand the material or not, students are guided to use the proper equations to solve the problem after answering the question from the flowchart. The flowchart follows the sequence of the course material. When students use it any time, the previous material will be reviewed continually, which help students memorize and understand these basic theorems. The most repeat steps also emphases the most important conceptions in basic theorems. I think the method can be adopted to most basic theorems in other engineering field.

Because my work tries to solve the problem the other's work missed, e.g. how to enhance basic theorems learning, I only compare my work with other's work in student retention rate which is shown in discussion section, and did not collect other data.

Thanks for your help.

Reviewer 2 Report

The topic can be contributed to the body of knowledge, but the manuscript has been superficially handled; it does not appropriately express an adequate understanding of the relevant literature and its case against the technical language of the field and the expected knowledge of the journal's readership. The paper should be substantially improved:

INTRODUCTION must be improved. Briefly describe the broad research area and then narrow it down to your particular focus, then thoroughly cover/cite the most recent and most relevant literature pertaining to your study. Clearly state either your objectives and/or research questions in accordance with the research gaps that you attempt to solve. It can do a better job at articulating (1) the specific research issues (and gaps) that the study is trying to address, and (2) objectives, and (3) the value added of applied conceptual and empirical approaches.

There is a thin literature without drawing a comparison between the proposed method and other methods/tools/etc. The key features of the proposed method to aid the reader/researcher in assessing the proposed method must be also outlined based on a comprehensive comparison.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION – The section of Discussion is week: it should be presented in which you will discuss: (a) concisely summarizing your major findings; (b) main contributions; and (c) implications for theory and/or practice. The meaning of the results might seem obvious to you, but it’s important to spell out their significance for the reader and show exactly how they met your research objectives. Better connect your research findings to previous works published/the latest knowledge in the field. However, the discussion should show how your findings fit with existing knowledge, what new insights they contribute, and what consequences they have for theory or practice.

CONCLUSION: try to demonstrate to the reader that you accomplished what you set out to do, show how you have proved your study, and provide the reader with a sense of closure on the topic as well as directions for future research.

Figures must appear in the text AFTER the discussion relating to them.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

I really appreciate your recommendations and your precious time to review my work.

The work shows a method I used to teach basic DC/AC theorems. A common problem in this class is there are 20 equations introduced in a short time at the beginning of the class and most students do not know which one should be use first, which makes it difficult for students to study the following material. I summarized basic theorems into a flowchart, as which I did not see a similar one till now. The idea comes from self-tax software. It does not matter whether students understand the material or not, students are guided to use the proper equations to solve the problem after answering the question from the flowchart. The flowchart follows the sequence of the course material. When students use it any time, the previous material will be reviewed continually, which help students memorize and understand these basic theorems. The most repeat steps also emphases the most important conceptions in basic theorems. I think the method can be adopted to most basic theorems in other engineering field.

My answers to your questions and suggestions are in included in the attached file for your review. Thanks for your help.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The study discusses how using flowchart help students learn basic circuit theories quickly. It may be relevant to the aims and scope the journal. However, some concerns should be addressed before it can be considered.

Is the article a literature review? It must be clarified.

Whatever is the research design of the article, e.g. review, essay, etc., there is a need to discuss the methods used to collect, analyze, and present data or evidence.

Are there other strategies that can help students learn basic circuit theories quickly? Why, of all the available strategies, flowchart was chosen?

I presume that flowchart in the context of this article is a learning strategy. What theory of learning underpins it?

Generally, the discussion provides limited insights from wider literature in relation to the results. I suggest that the results be connected more explicitly through critical discussion, for example, the reliability of the current claims put forward in the earlier parts of the article; the knowledge gained and how this can be applied; and the relevance of such research to informing practice.

I suggest that the researchers wrap up the research by pointing out the major outcomes in the conclusion section. The significance of the study, limitations, and concrete recommendations should be included in the conclusion section.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

I really appreciate your recommendations and your precious time to review my work.

The work shows a method I used to teach basic DC/AC theorems. A common problem in this class is there are 20 equations introduced in a short time at the beginning of the class and most students do not know which one should be use first, which makes it difficult for students to study the following material. I summarized basic theorems into a flowchart, as which I did not see a similar one till now. The idea comes from self-tax software. It does not matter whether students understand the material or not, students are guided to use the proper equations to solve the problem after answering the question from the flowchart. The flowchart follows the sequence of the course material. When students use it any time, the previous material will be reviewed continually, which help students memorize and understand these basic theorems. The most repeat steps also emphases the most important conceptions in basic theorems. I think the method can be adopted to most basic theorems in other engineering field.

My answers to your questions and suggestions are included in attached file for your review. Thanks for your help.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

My comments have appropriately been justified and addressed. 

I like the way you justify the comments, thanks. 

Author Response

By the way, some English error is corrected.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Thank you for your responses and revisions based on my review comments. A few more clarifications and suggestions to improve the paper:

1. You stated that you used your own method to conduct and report the research. As I have argued earlier, “Whatever is the research design of the article, e.g., review, essay, etc., there is a need to discuss the methods used to collect, analyze, and present data or evidence.” -This has not been addressed. It is important to create a methods section so readers would be able to follow how the research was designed, the tools used, how the data were collected and analyzed, etc. Thus, the paper would be replicable.
2. In relation to the first comment above, I wonder how the results (e.g., Problems in DC and AC Circuit Analysis) were drawn. There are no supporting data provided, as much as there are no description of data collection and data analysis in a methods section. The results only provide descriptive narrative of the researcher probably based on their experience. Results should be empirically grounded.
3. “Are there other strategies that can help students learn basic circuit theories quickly? Why, of all the available strategies, flowchart was chosen?” -Your answer to this question should be highlighted in the introduction to establish the rationale for choosing flow chart in the first place.
4. “I presume that flowchart in the context of this article is a learning strategy. What theory of learning underpins it?” -The answer to this question (an in-depth background of the flow chart as far as theory of learning that supports it) should be used to support the reason why flow chart was chosen in the study.
5. Additional comments: Please break down very long paragraphs into more concise but sharp paragraphs.

I hope the researcher will take my comments in the spirit of the intention of peer review – to improve the paper. Thank you very much.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,
I really appreciate your recommendations and your precious time to review my work. I am sorry that I misunderstood your questions and waste your precious time.
My answers to your questions is in attachment.

Thanks for your help, and have a nice day.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 3

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Author, 

Thank you for your revision. The following essential aspects/comments might not have been addressed:

-Whatever is the research design of the article, e.g. review, essay, etc., there is a need to discuss the methods used to collect, analyze, and present data or evidence. -To add to this, the research design, sampling, and tools used.

Your responses to these comments must be provided at the Introduction, not in the Discussion as these provide background, rationale, and grounding of your research:

-I presume that flowchart in the context of this article is a learning strategy. What theory of learning underpins it?

-Are there other strategies that can help students learn basic circuit theories quickly? Why, of all the available strategies, flowchart was chosen?

In addition, it seems odd to see a Discussion section that contains the data and analysis. A Results section is recommended and a Discussion section connecting, elaborating, verifying the results to related literature must be provided.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

I really appreciate your help and your suggestions to write a research paper.

I add brief description of methods used to collect and analyze data in Introduction. (Line 73~90).

Detail study evaluation in data collection and data analysis is separated from discussion section and it is in section 4. 

My answers to your questions are included in attachment. Please see the attached file.

I am sorry that I did not provide proper answer to your questions last. If there is anything wrong this time, please let me know. I am still learning how to teaching students in this digital age, and your help are very welcomed.

Thanks for your help and your precious time to review my paper, and have a nice day.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 4

Reviewer 3 Report

Thanks for your revisions.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

I really appreciate your help and your suggestions to revise my paper. 

Thanks for your precious time and have a nice day.