Entries by Dr. Nikitha Sambamurthy

Adapting AI Policies in Engineering Courses: Beyond One-Size-Fits-All – zyBooks Guide

By Dr. Nikitha Sambamurthy Introduction Engineering instructors face a persistent challenge right now: how do you write AI policies that actually support learning? Most policies are static, treating students working on their first problem the same as students who’ve built competence across the semester. Blanket bans prove unenforceable because students use AI anyway, just without […]

Pedagogy Pit Stop: Five Faculty Solutions for Engineering’s Toughest Teaching Challenges

by Dr. Nikitha Sambamurthy Why I Designed This Session As Editorial Director for zyBooks, I work with engineering faculty daily. In conversations, I kept hearing familiar refrains: “Students don’t read,” “grading takes forever,” “I want to give better feedback but…” But when I asked what they’d tried, I discovered sophisticated solutions I’d never heard about—strategies […]

2025 zyBooks Guide to Improving Engineering Student Retention

By Nikitha Sambamurthy, PhD, Purdue University, Engineering Education Table of Contents Overview I. IntroductionA. The Engineering Retention ChallengeB. Evolution of Retention StrategiesC. Framework for Success II. Core Strategies A. Math SupportB. Community SupportC. Dynamic Learning III. Role-Specific Implementation Guide A. Provost LevelB. Dean LevelC. Department Head LevelD. Faculty Level IV. References Overview Engineering education in […]