The Effects of a Collaborative Problem-Based Learning Experience on Students' Motivation in Engineering Capstone Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Brett D.; Epler, Cory M.; Mokri, Parastou; Bryant, Lauren H.; Paretti, Marie C.

2013-01-01

We identified and examined how the instructional elements of problem-based learning capstone engineering courses affected students' motivation to engage in the courses. We employed a two-phase, sequential, explanatory, mixed methods research design. For the quantitative phase, 47 undergraduate students at a large public university completed a…

Building Efficiency Technologies by Tomorrow’s Engineers and Researchers (BETTER) Capstone. Final Technical Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yee, Shannon

BETTER Capstone supported 29 student project teams consisting of 155 students over two years in developing transformative building energy efficiency technologies through a capstone design experience. Capstone is the culmination of an undergraduate student’s engineering education. Interdisciplinary teams of students spent a semester designing and prototyping a technological solution for a variety building energy efficiency problems. During this experience students utilized the full design process, including the manufacturing and testing of a prototype solution, as well as publically demonstrating the solution at the Capstone Design Expo. As part of this project, students explored modern manufacturing techniques and gained hands-on experiencemore » with these techniques to produce their prototype technologies. This research added to the understanding of the challenges within building technology education and engagement with industry. One goal of the project was to help break the chicken-and-egg problem with getting students to engage more deeply with the building technology industry. It was learned however that this industry is less interested in trying innovative new concept but rather interested in hiring graduates for existing conventional building efforts. While none of the projects yielded commercial success, much individual student growth and learning was accomplished, which is a long-term benefit to the public at large.« less

Incorporating a Product Archaeology Paradigm across the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore-Russo, Deborah; Cormier, Phillip; Lewis, Kemper; Devendorf, Erich

2013-01-01

Historically, the teaching of design theory in an engineering curriculum has been relegated to a senior capstone design experience. Presently, however, engineering design concepts and courses can be found through the entirety of most engineering programs. Educators have recognized that engineering design provides a foundational platform that can…

Use of Engineering Design Competitions for Undergraduate and Capstone Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kundu, Sumit; Fowler, Michael W.

2009-01-01

There are many professional benefits to pursuing undergraduate design opportunities and capstone projects to both students and faculty advisors. Using a case study on a group of graduates and undergraduates who took part in the Hydrogen Ambassador Competition in 2005 this study will examine the benefits and challenges from the point of view of all…

Multifaceted Learning Objective Assessment in a Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baker, Nicholas S.

This thesis details multi method research approaches that have been used to study student learning objective instruction and assessment in the mechanical engineering (ME) capstone course at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). A primary focus of the research is to evaluate the pilot implementation of a Writing Fellows (WF) program in the ME capstone course, which has been assessed using a variety of techniques. The assessment generally indicates positive results. In particular, students favor the continuation of the program and find it more helpful than group consultations within the University Writing Center (UWC) alone. Self-assessment by the students indicates higher confidence in their communication skills, while preliminary analysis suggests that the writing fellow improved the scores of graded assignments by approximately one-third of a letter grade overall. Assessment efforts also highlight the need for deeper interaction between the WF and engineering faculty. A secondary focus of this research presents a methodology that has been developed and used to analyze how the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology's (ABET's) current Criterion 3 Student Outcomes (SOs) have been assessed in UNR's ME capstone class over several academic years. The methodology generally finds levels of ABET SO assessment in agreement with departmental and industry-held expectations for capstone courses at large. Finally, an analysis of student grades in the capstone course finds significant differences across semesters and identifies several potential causes.

SE Capstone Project: Building Systems Engineering Education and Workforce Capacity

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-04-01

This project developed a system to improve fuel efficiency by means of regenerative braking . The team designed a simple system that allows "bolt-on...air traffic control, social networking, credit/debit cards, and anti-lock brakes are only a few functions enabled by complex systems of systems . We...Building Systems Engineering Education and Workforce Capacity SE Capstone Project APRIL 2012 Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704

Pediatric medical device development by surgeons via capstone engineering design programs.

PubMed

Sack, Bryan S; Elizondo, Rodolfo A; Huang, Gene O; Janzen, Nicolette; Espinoza, Jimmy; Sanz-Cortes, Magdalena; Dietrich, Jennifer E; Hakim, Julie; Richardson, Eric S; Oden, Maria; Hanks, John; Haridas, Balakrishna; Hury, James F; Koh, Chester J

2018-03-01

There is a need for pediatric medical devices that accommodate the unique physiology and anatomy of pediatric patients that is increasingly receiving more attention. However, there is limited literature on the programs within children's hospitals and academia that can support pediatric device development. We describe our experience with pediatric device design utilizing collaborations between a children's hospital and two engineering schools. Utilizing the academic year as a timeline, unmet pediatric device needs were identified by surgical faculty and matched with an engineering mentor and a team of students within the Capstone Engineering Design programs at two universities. The final prototypes were showcased at the end of the academic year and if appropriate, provisional patent applications were filed. All twelve teams successfully developed device prototypes, and five teams obtained provisional patents. The prototypes that obtained provisional patents included a non-operative ureteral stent removal system, an evacuation device for small kidney stone fragments, a mechanical leech, an anchoring system of the chorio-amniotic membranes during fetal surgery, and a fetal oxygenation monitor during fetoscopic procedures. Capstone Engineering Design programs in partnership with surgical faculty at children's hospitals can play an effective role in the prototype development of novel pediatric medical devices. N/A - No clinical subjects or human testing was performed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Principles and Practices Fostering Inclusive Excellence: Lessons from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Capstone Institutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DiBartolo, Patricia Marten; Gregg-Jolly, Leslie; Gross, Deborah; Manduca, Cathryn A.; Iverson, Ellen; Cooke, David B., III; Davis, Gregory K.; Davidson, Cameron; Hertz, Paul E.; Hibbard, Lisa; Ireland, Shubha K.; Mader, Catherine; Pai, Aditi; Raps, Shirley; Siwicki, Kathleen; Swartz, Jim E.

2016-01-01

Best-practices pedagogy in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) aims for inclusive excellence that fosters student persistence. This paper describes principles of inclusivity across 11 primarily undergraduate institutions designated as Capstone Awardees in Howard Hughes Medical Institute's (HHMI) 2012 competition. The Capstones…

High School Student Modeling in the Engineering Design Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mentzer, Nathan; Huffman, Tanner; Thayer, Hilde

2014-01-01

A diverse group of 20 high school students from four states in the US were individually provided with an engineering design challenge. Students chosen were in capstone engineering courses and had taken multiple engineering courses. As students considered the problem and developed a solution, observational data were recorded and artifacts…

The association between tolerance for ambiguity and fear of negative evaluation: A study of engineering technology capstone courses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubikovsky, Sergey I.

For many students in engineering and engineering technology programs in the US, senior capstone design courses require students to form a team, define a problem, and find a feasible technical solution to address this problem. Students must integrate the knowledge and skills acquired during their studies at the college or university level. These truly integrative design activities do not have a single "correct" solution. Instead, there is an array of solutions, many of which could be used to achieve the final result. This ambiguity can cause students to experience anxiety during the projects. This study examined the main topics: • To what extent is a social anxiety (measured as fear of negative evaluation) related to tolerance for ambiguity in senior engineering capstone courses? • How does exposure to ambiguity prior to and during capstone courses affect tolerance for ambiguity? The study looked at the standard educational practices to see if they have unintended consequences, such a social anxiety in dealing with ambiguity. Those consequences are highly undesirable because they reduce students' learning. It was hypothesized that the lecture-based approaches that are more common in the first three years of study would not prepare students for self-directed capstone courses because the students would rarely have experienced problem-based learning before. The study used a quantitative approach and examined students' perceptions of their tolerance for ambiguity, and social anxiety before and after their senior capstone design experience. A survey instrument was adapted to measure exposure to ambiguity, which was studied as a potential moderator of the relationship between social anxiety and tolerance for ambiguity. The study indicated that social anxiety, as measured by fear of negative evaluation, does not play a major role in capstone courses. The second finding is that a single course, even if it was administered as a problem-based senior class, failed to increase students' tolerance for ambiguity. Students with low tolerance have more problems with ambiguity, whereas students with high tolerance can more easily endure changes and find it easier to act in the absence of complete information. The third important finding was that exposure to ambiguity prior to capstone courses does affect tolerance for ambiguity while controlling for instructor and if exposure to ambiguity is included as a moderator. It was not in the scope of this study to explore the effect of instructor more deeply, but this provides a direction for future research, especially in this time of expanding implementation of project- and problem-based learning methods in technical curricula.

Design Projects of the Future

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shaeiwitz, Joseph A.; Turton, Richard

2006-01-01

The chemical engineering profession is in the midst of a significant evolution, perhaps a revolution. As the profession moves toward product development and design and away from petroleum and chemical process development and design, a new paradigm for chemical engineering education is evolving. Therefore, a new generation of capstone design…

The MUSES Satellite Team and Multidisciplinary System Engineering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, John C.; Paiz, Alfred R.; Young, Donald L.

1997-01-01

In a unique partnership between three minority-serving institutions and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a new course sequence, including a multidisciplinary capstone design experience, is to be developed and implemented at each of the schools with the ambitious goal of designing, constructing and launching a low-orbit Earth-resources satellite. The three universities involved are North Carolina A&T State University (NCA&T), University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP), and California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). The schools form a consortium collectively known as MUSES - Minority Universities System Engineering and Satellite. Four aspects of this project make it unique: (1) Including all engineering disciplines in the capstone design course, (2) designing, building and launching an Earth-resources satellite, (3) sustaining the partnership between the three schools to achieve this goal, and (4) implementing systems engineering pedagogy at each of the three schools. This paper will describe the partnership and its goals, the first design of the satellite, the courses developed at NCA&T, and the implementation plan for the course sequence.

Implementing Entrepreneurial Assignments in a Multidisciplinary, Sophomore-Level Design Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dahm, Kevin; Riddell, William; Merrill, Thomas; Harvey, Roberta; Weiss, Leigh

2013-01-01

Many engineering programs stress the importance of technological innovation by offering entrepreneurship electives and programs. Integration of entrepreneurship into the required engineering curriculum has predominantly focused on senior capstone design courses. This paper describes a strategy for integrating entrepreneurship into a…

Utilizing Civil Engineering Senior Design Capstone Projects to Evaluate Students' Sustainability Education across Engineering Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dancz, Claire L. A.; Ketchman, Kevin J.; Burke, Rebekah D.; Hottle, Troy A.; Parrish, Kristen; Bilec, Melissa M.; Landis, Amy E.

2017-01-01

While many institutions express interest in integrating sustainability into their civil engineering curriculum, the engineering community lacks consensus on established methods for infusing sustainability into curriculum and verified approaches to assess engineers' sustainability knowledge. This paper presents the development of a sustainability…

Case Studies in Application of System Engineering Practices to Capstone Projects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murphy, Gloria; vanSusante, Paul; Carmen, Christina; Morris, Tommy; Schmidt, Peter; Zalewski, Janusz

2011-01-01

The Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sponsors a faculty fellowship program that engages researchers with interests aligned with current ESMD development programs. The faculty-members are committed to run a capstone senior design project based- on the materials and experience gained during the fellowship. For the 2010 - 2011 academic year, 5 projects were approved. These projects are in the areas of mechanical and electrical hardware design and optimization, fault prediction and extra planetary civil site preparation. This work summarizes the projects, describes the student teams performing the work, and comments on the integration of Systems Engineering principles into the projects, as well as the affected course curriculums.

Impact of senior design project for the development of leadership and management skills in construction management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chowdhury, Tamara

2013-08-01

Senior design courses are a core part of curricula across engineering and technology disciplines. Such courses offer Construction Management (CMG) students the opportunity to bring together, assimilate and apply the knowledge they have acquired over their entire undergraduate academic programme to an applied technical project. Senior or Capstone design course engages students in a real-world project, enhance leadership development, and prepare to manage and lead project teams. The CMG programme's multidisciplinary approach at Alabama A&M University, combines essential components of construction techniques with concepts of business management to develop technically qualified individuals for responsible management roles in the design, construction and operation of major construction projects. This paper analyses the performance of the students and improvement due to the interaction with the faculty advisors and industrial panel during the two semester Capstone project. The results of this Capstone sequence have shown a continuous improvement of student performance.

Structure and Management of an Engineering Senior Design Course.

PubMed

Tanaka, Martin L; Fischer, Kenneth J

2016-07-01

The design of products and processes is an important area in engineering. Students in engineering schools learn fundamental principles in their courses but often lack an opportunity to apply these methods to real-world problems until their senior year. This article describes important elements that should be incorporated into a senior capstone design course. It includes a description of the general principles used in engineering design and a discussion of why students often have difficulty with application and revert to trial and error methods. The structure of a properly designed capstone course is dissected and its individual components are evaluated. Major components include assessing resources, identifying projects, establishing teams, understanding requirements, developing conceptual designs, creating detailed designs, building prototypes, testing performance, and final presentations. In addition to the course design, team management and effective mentoring are critical to success. This article includes suggested guidelines and tips for effective design team leadership, attention to detail, investment of time, and managing project scope. Furthermore, the importance of understanding business culture, displaying professionalism, and considerations of different types of senior projects is discussed. Through a well-designed course and proper mentoring, students will learn to apply their engineering skills and gain basic business knowledge that will prepare them for entry-level positions in industry.

T.A. BROWN MECHANICAL AERATOR

EPA Science Inventory

Students in the Environmental Engineering and Waster Resources capstone design class in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering will undertake a project in conjunction with Serasih Indonesia to develop a prototype mechanical aerator to be used in aquaculture live...

Common Elements of Capstone Projects in the World's Top-Ranked Engineering Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ward, Thomas A.

2013-01-01

"Capstone" is a metaphor used to describe a final achievement that builds upon previous works and encapsulates them. Capstone projects are included in engineering curricula to integrate multi-disciplinary subjects and teach professional skills that are difficult to impart in a traditional lectured course. Since these projects serve to…

Tradeoffs in Capstone Design Courses Involving More Than One Discipline [Senior Design].

PubMed

Goldberg, Jay

2017-01-01

According to a 2015 survey, 5% of capstone design course instructors indicated that their courses involve students from more than one engineering discipline [1]. Students in these courses may hear presentations on topics of common interest and work together on project teams that require knowledge and skills from more than one discipline. Some courses make use of occasional breakout sessions in which discipline-specific topics (such as U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations) of greater value to students in a particular discipline are presented during class sessions where only students of that discipline meet [2].

The Design and Development of a Computerized Tool Support for Conducting Senior Projects in Software Engineering Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Chung-Yang; Teng, Kao-Chiuan

2011-01-01

This paper presents a computerized tool support, the Meetings-Flow Project Collaboration System (MFS), for designing, directing and sustaining the collaborative teamwork required in senior projects in software engineering (SE) education. Among many schools' SE curricula, senior projects serve as a capstone course that provides comprehensive…

Integrating Cost Engineering and Project Management in a Junior Engineering Economics Course and a Senior Capstone Project Design Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tickles, Virginia C.; Li, Yadong; Walters, Wilbur L.

2013-01-01

Much criticism exists concerning a lack of focus on real-world problem-solving in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) infrastructures. Many of these critics say that current educational infrastructures are incapable in preparing future scientists and engineers to solve the complex and multidisciplinary problems this society…

Collaborative Learning in Engineering Design.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newell, Sigrin

1990-01-01

Described is a capstone experience for undergraduate biomedical engineering students in which student teams work with children and adults with cerebral palsy to produce devices that make their lives easier or more enjoyable. The collaborative approach, benefits to the clients, and evaluation of the projects are discussed. (CW)

Case Study of a Small Scale Polytechnic Entrepreneurship Capstone Course Sequence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Webster, Rustin D.; Kopp, Richard

2017-01-01

A multidisciplinary entrepreneurial senior capstone has been created for engineering technology students at a research I land-grant university statewide extension. The two semester course sequence welcomes students from Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Computer Graphics Technology, and Organizational…

Implementation of Systems Engineering Practices into a Capstone Course

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murphy, Gloria; Schmidt, Peter

2011-01-01

Discusses the NASA Exploration Systems Mission Directorate senior design projects which are to provide students with senior design project ideas, with potential contribution to NASA ESMD objectives. and provides NASA technical representative to act as external customer / technology mentor / requirements source.

DESIGN OF A TRAP GREASE UPGRADER FOR BIOFUEL PROCESSING - PHASE I

EPA Science Inventory

This project provides capstone senior design experience to several teams of engineering undergraduates at Drexel University through the technical and economic evaluation of a trap grease to biodiesel conversion process. The project incorporates two phases: Phase I characteri...

A Bottom-Up Approach to Teaching Robotics and Mechatronics to Mechanical Engineers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shiller, Z.

2013-01-01

This paper describes a multidisciplinary teaching program, designed to provide students with the broad knowledge and skills required to practice product development in robotics and mechatronics. The curriculum was designed to prepare students for the senior capstone design project, in which they design and build a working mechatronic/robotic…

Systems Engineering Capstone Marketplace

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-05

well. There have been unconventional teams in previous CM  projects  that operated  outside  of  the  typical  capstone  design  format  and  managed   great... projects  do not need the full $10,000 delegated, and the  lack of charging  the expected personnel  to help  manage   the Capstone Marketplace  impacted  the...University Affiliated  Research  Center  managed  by Stevens Institute of Technology.      This material  is based upon work  supported,  in whole or  in part

Strengthening Capstone Skills in STEM Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eppes, Tom A.; Milanovic, Ivana; Sweitzer, H. Fredrick

2012-01-01

In this article we describe a curricular strategy that improves the full range of skillsets critical to capstone success. Improved Capstone (ICap) was developed and implemented across the thermo-fluids topical area in the undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Technology Program at the University of Hartford. ICap experiential courses sequentially…

Feasibility, Design and Construction of a Small Hydroelectric Power Generation Station as a Student Design Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peterson, James N.; Hess, Herbert L.

An undergraduate capstone engineering design project now provides hydroelectric power to a remote wilderness location. Students investigated the feasibility of designing, building, and installing a 4kW hydroelectric system to satisfy the need for electric power to support the research and teaching functions of Taylor Ranch, a university facility…

Design methodology and projects for space engineering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nichols, S.; Kleespies, H.; Wood, K.; Crawford, R.

1993-01-01

NASA/USRA is an ongoing sponsor of space design projects in the senior design course of the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Texas at Austin. This paper describes the UT senior design sequence, consisting of a design methodology course and a capstone design course. The philosophical basis of this sequence is briefly summarized. A history of the Department's activities in the Advanced Design Program is then presented. The paper concludes with a description of the projects completed during the 1991-92 academic year and the ongoing projects for the Fall 1992 semester.

The Company Approach to Software Engineering Project Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Broman, D.; Sandahl, K.; Abu Baker, M.

2012-01-01

Teaching larger software engineering project courses at the end of a computing curriculum is a way for students to learn some aspects of real-world jobs in industry. Such courses, often referred to as capstone courses, are effective for learning how to apply the skills they have acquired in, for example, design, test, and configuration management.…

An International Comparison of Final-Year Design Project Curricula

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kentish, Sandra E.; Shallcross, David C.

2006-01-01

This paper reviews design teaching at a total of 15 chemical engineering departments across Australia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The emphasis is on the capstone Design Project, which can be viewed as a major transition subject for students as they move into the workplace. The study shows that this subject has evolved to act as an…

Circumventing Graphical User Interfaces in Chemical Engineering Plant Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Romey, Noel; Schwartz, Rachel M.; Behrend, Douglas; Miao, Peter; Cheung, H. Michael; Beitle, Robert

2007-01-01

Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) are pervasive elements of most modern technical software and represent a convenient tool for student instruction. For example, GUIs are used for [chemical] process design software (e.g., CHEMCAD, PRO/II and ASPEN) typically encountered in the senior capstone course. Drag and drop aspects of GUIs are challenging for…

Effects of the Meetings-Flow Approach on Quality Teamwork in the Training of Software Capstone Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Chung-Yang; Hong, Ya-Chun; Chen, Pei-Chi

2014-01-01

Software development relies heavily on teamwork; determining how to streamline this collaborative development is an essential training subject in computer and software engineering education. A team process known as the meetings-flow (MF) approach has recently been introduced in software capstone projects in engineering programs at various…

Systems Engineering Capstone Marketplace

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-01

Contract Number: HQ0034-13-D-0004 Report No. SERC -2016-TR-102 February 2016 UNCLASSIFIED Systems Engineering Capstone Marketplace A013...Technical Report SERC -2016-TR-102 February 2016 Principal Investigator: Michael DeLorme Megan Clifford Stevens Institute of Technology...WHS TO 026 RT 43 WHS TO 027.RT 042 Report No. SERC -2013-TR-102 July 16, 2014 UNCLASSIFIED

The Impact of a Simulation and Problem-Based Learning Design Project on Student Learning and Teamwork Skills. CSE Technical Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chung, Gregory K. W. K.

This study examined a civil engineering capstone course that embedded a sophisticated simulation-based task within instruction. Students (n=28) were required to conduct a hazardous waste site investigation using simulation software designed specifically for the course (Interactive Site Investigation Software) (ISIS). The software simulated…

Developing teamwork skills in capstone design courses.

PubMed

Goldberg, Jay

2010-01-01

The majority of our biomedical engineering graduates will eventually work in an industry where they will be part of multidisciplinary teams that use the collective skills, expertise, experience, and training of each team member. Diversity within these teams provides different perspectives, opinions, and ways of viewing problems, leading to a larger set of potential solutions. Successful careers require engineers to be able to function on multidisciplinary teams.

When Theater Comes to Engineering Design: Oh How Creative They Can Be.

PubMed

Pfeiffer, Ferris M; Bauer, Rachel E; Borgelt, Steve; Burgoyne, Suzanne; Grant, Sheila; Hunt, Heather K; Pardoe, Jennie J; Schmidt, David C

2017-07-01

The creative process is fun, complex, and sometimes frustrating, but it is critical to the future of our nation and progress in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), as well as other fields. Thus, we set out to see if implementing methods of active learning typical to the theater department could impact the creativity of senior capstone design students in the bioengineering (BE) department. Senior bioengineering capstone design students were allowed to self-select into groups. Prior to the beginning of coursework, all students completed a validated survey measuring engineering design self-efficacy. The control and experimental groups both received standard instruction, but in addition the experimental group received 1 h per week of creativity training developed by a theater professor. Following the semester, the students again completed the self-efficacy survey. The surveys were examined to identify differences in the initial and final self-efficacy in the experimental and control groups over the course of the semester. An analysis of variance was used to compare the experimental and control groups with p < 0.05 considered significant. Students in the experimental group reported more than a twofold (4.8 (C) versus 10.9 (E)) increase of confidence. Additionally, students in the experimental group were more motivated and less anxious when engaging in engineering design following the semester of creativity instruction. The results of this pilot study indicate that there is a significant potential to improve engineering students' creative self-efficacy through the implementation of a "curriculum of creativity" which is developed using theater methods.

Dyna Soars: Low Torque Measurement Dynamometer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dolph, Darrel A.

2004-01-01

Students in the Electronics Engineering Technology program at Pennsylvania College of Technology designed and built a computerized dynamometer platform for testing dc brushless motors. As the capstone experience for EET-320, Measurement and Tests course, students were divided into teams of four and were given three weeks to complete the project.…

System design projects for undergraduate design education

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Batill, S. M.; Pinkelman, J.

1993-01-01

Design education has received considerable in the recent past. This paper is intended to address one aspect of undergraduate design education and that is the selection and development of the design project for a capstone design course. Specific goals for a capstone design course are presented and their influence on the project selection are discussed. The evolution of a series of projects based upon the design of remotely piloted aircraft is presented along with students' perspective on the capstone experience.

Integrating Technical Communication in the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norberg, Seth; Ashcraft, Timothy; van Poppel, Bret

2017-11-01

Technical communication is essential to engineering practice, but these skills can be challenging to teach and assess in the classroom. Instructors in the Mechanical Engineering (ME) program at the United States Military Academy are developing new learning exercises to prepare students for success in their capstone design course and beyond. In this paper we highlight the recent successes and lessons learned from two courses: junior-level Thermal-Fluid Systems and the senior-level ME Seminar. Both courses support the newly implemented West Point Writing Program (WPWP), an institutional, writing-across-the-curriculum program. The junior course incorporates four hands-on experiments, which provide an abundance of data for students to analyze, assess, and present. In the senior course the majority of the content that students present is from their ongoing capstone design projects. Between the two courses, students craft essays, lab reports, short summaries, posters, quad charts, and technical presentations. Both courses include peer evaluation, revision exercises, and timed (on demand) writing assignments. The junior course includes assignments co-authored by a group as well as an individual report. An overview of both courses' assignments with course-end feedback from the students and the faculty is provided. Strengths and weaknesses are identified and recommendations for instructors seeking to implement similar technical communications assignments in their own courses are presented.

Portfolio as a Teaching Method: A Capstone Project to Promote Recognition of Professional Growth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolffe, Robert; Crowe, Helja Antola; Evens, Wayne; McConnaughay, Kelly

2013-01-01

A reflective portfolio as a capstone assignment was selected to accomplish recognition by teachers completing a science, technology, mathematics, engineering master's program for elementary teachers about their professional and personal changes and to provide program evaluators additional qualitative data regarding attainment of program goals. As…

Accounting Capstone Course Design: Using the Internet to Modernize a Graduate Accounting Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bloom, Diane S.; Ehoff, Clemense, Jr.

2012-01-01

This second paper describes how the Internet was used to modernize a graduate accounting capstone course to enhance student interest and learning, and is an extension of an earlier paper that examined a similar approach with an undergraduate accounting capstone course. Course content was developed from contemporary issues and cases obtained from…

Transforming the Capstone: Transformative Learning as a Pedagogical Framework and Vehicle for Ethical Reflection in the Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Jason M.; Strawser, Michael G.

2017-01-01

This study emphasizes the importance of faculty development and training as a means to prepare faculty to design the capstone course as a high-impact educational practice. Specifically, this research explores transformative learning in the capstone class as a vehicle for reflection on personal and professional ethics. Students enrolled in a…

System design from mission definition to flight validation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Batill, S. M.

1992-01-01

Considerations related to the engineering systems design process and an approach taken to introduce undergraduate students to that process are presented. The paper includes details on a particular capstone design course. This course is a team oriented aircraft design project which requires the students to participate in many phases of the system design process, from mission definition to validation of their design through flight testing. To accomplish this in a single course requires special types of flight vehicles. Relatively small-scale, remotely piloted vehicles have provided the class of aircraft considered in this course.

Systems Engineering of Unmanned DoD Systems: Following the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System/Defense Acquisition System Process to Develop an Unmanned Ground Vehicle System

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

Manual D-A-1). APAs are “Performance attributes of a system not important enough to be considered KPPs or KSAs, but still appropriate to include in...the CDD or CPD are designated as APAs ” (JCIDS Manual D-A-1). The requirements are expressed using Thresholds (T) and Objectives (O). “Performance...NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA SYSTEMS ENGINEERING CAPSTONE PROJECT REPORT Approved for public release; distribution is

Survey Tools for Faculty to Quickly Assess Multidisciplinary Team Dynamics in Capstone Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Solnosky, Ryan; Fairchild, Joshua

2017-01-01

Many engineering faculty have limited skills and/or assessment tools to evaluate team dynamics in multidisciplinary team-based capstone courses. Rapidly deployable tools are needed here to provide proactive feedback to teams to facilitate deeper learning. Two surveys were developed based on industrial and organizational psychology theories around…

Principles and Practices Fostering Inclusive Excellence: Lessons from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Capstone Institutions

PubMed Central

DiBartolo, Patricia Marten; Gregg-Jolly, Leslie; Gross, Deborah; Manduca, Cathryn A.; Iverson, Ellen; Cooke, David B.; Davis, Gregory K.; Davidson, Cameron; Hertz, Paul E.; Hibbard, Lisa; Ireland, Shubha K.; Mader, Catherine; Pai, Aditi; Raps, Shirley; Siwicki, Kathleen; Swartz, Jim E.

2016-01-01

Best-practices pedagogy in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) aims for inclusive excellence that fosters student persistence. This paper describes principles of inclusivity across 11 primarily undergraduate institutions designated as Capstone Awardees in Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s (HHMI) 2012 competition. The Capstones represent a range of institutional missions, student profiles, and geographical locations. Each successfully directed activities toward persistence of STEM students, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups, through a set of common elements: mentoring programs to build community; research experiences to strengthen scientific skill/identity; attention to quantitative skills; and outreach/bridge programs to broaden the student pool. This paper grounds these program elements in learning theory, emphasizing their essential principles with examples of how they were implemented within institutional contexts. We also describe common assessment approaches that in many cases informed programming and created traction for stakeholder buy-in. The lessons learned from our shared experiences in pursuit of inclusive excellence, including the resources housed on our companion website, can inform others’ efforts to increase access to and persistence in STEM in higher education. PMID:27562960

Integration of a NASA faculty fellowship project within an undergraduate engineering capstone design class

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carmen, C.

2012-11-01

The United States (US) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) provides university faculty fellowships that prepare the faculty to implement engineering design class projects that possess the potential to contribute to NASA ESMD objectives. The goal of the ESMD is to develop new capabilities, support technologies and research that will enable sustained and affordable human and robotic space exploration. In order to create a workforce that will have the desire and skills necessary to achieve these goals, the NASA ESMD faculty fellowship program enables university faculty to work on specific projects at a NASA field center and then implement the project within their capstone engineering design class. This allows the senior - or final year - undergraduate engineering design students, the opportunity to develop critical design experience using methods and design tools specified within NASA's Systems Engineering (SE) Handbook. The faculty fellowship projects focus upon four specific areas critical to the future of space exploration: spacecraft, propulsion, lunar and planetary surface systems and ground operations. As the result of a 2010 fellowship, whereby faculty research was conducted at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama (AL), senior design students in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) department at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) had the opportunity to complete senior design projects that pertained to current work conducted to support ESMD objectives. Specifically, the UAH MAE students utilized X-TOOLSS (eXploration Toolset for the Optimization Of Launch and Space Systems), an Evolutionary Computing (EC) design optimization software, as well as design, analyze, fabricate and test a lunar regolith burrowing device - referred to as the Lunar Wormbot (LW) - that is aimed at exploring and retrieving samples of lunar regolith. These two projects were implemented during the 2010-2011 academic year at UAH and have proven to significantly motivate and enhance the students understanding of the design, development and optimization of space systems. The current paper provides an overview of the NASA ESMD faculty fellowship program, the 2010 fellowship projects, a detailed description of the means of integrating the X-TOOLSS and LW projects within the UAH MAE senior design class, the MAE student design project results, as well as the learning outcome and impact of the ESMD project had upon the engineering students.

On the design of learning outcomes for the undergraduate engineer's final year project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thambyah, Ashvin

2011-03-01

The course for the final year project for engineering students, because of its strongly research-based, open-ended format, tends to not have well defined learning outcomes, which are also not aligned with any accepted pedagogical philosophy or learning technology. To address this problem, the revised Bloom's taxonomy table of Anderson and Krathwohl (2001) is utilised, as suggested previously by Lee and Lai (2007), to design new learning outcomes for the final year project course in engineering education. Based on the expectations of the engineering graduate, and integrating these graduate expectations into the six cognitive processes and four knowledge dimensions of the taxonomy table, 24 learning outcomes have been designed. It is proposed that these 24 learning outcomes be utilised as a suitable working template to inspire more critical evaluation of what is expected to be learnt by engineering students undertaking final year research or capstone projects.

A Capstone Course on Agile Software Development Using Scrum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahnic, V.

2012-01-01

In this paper, an undergraduate capstone course in software engineering is described that not only exposes students to agile software development, but also makes it possible to observe the behavior of developers using Scrum for the first time. The course requires students to work as Scrum Teams, responsible for the implementation of a set of user…

Using Reengineering as an Integrating Capstone Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matos, Victor; Grasser, Rebecca

2007-01-01

This paper presents an example of integrating IT skills using an interesting real life problem. We describe how the reverse- and forward-engineering of the USA National Do Not Call registry was used in our capstone course to illustrate the fusion of different (but interdependent) issues and techniques learned in the IT program. The purpose of the…

Student and Staff Perceptions of Key Aspects of Computer Science Engineering Capstone Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olarte, Juan José; Dominguez, César; Jaime, Arturo; Garcia-Izquierdo, Francisco José

2016-01-01

In carrying out their capstone projects, students use knowledge and skills acquired throughout their degree program to create a product or provide a technical service. An assigned advisor guides the students and supervises the work, and a committee assesses the projects. This study compares student and staff perceptions of key aspects of…

Undergraduate design projects for assistive technology needs: assisted fishing.

PubMed

Borrego, Nick; Bilan, Kristi; Gebes, T J; Barrett, S F; Morton, S A

2012-01-01

In 2010 the University of Wyoming, College of Engineering and Applied Science was funded for a five year increment of the National Science Foundation’s Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities. This program provides a vital link between challenged individuals who require custom assistive technology devices with senior capstone design students who require challenging, meaningful projects. The program also provides education for our next generation of engineers on the needs of all individuals. In this paper we describe the program organization including project partners in the College and Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND). We also provide a case study of a recently completed project for an assistive fishing device.

Advanced Sea Base Enabler (ASE) Capstone Design Project

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-21

Additionally, a study that examines a potential fleet architecture , which looks at a combination of sea base enabler platforms in order to close current...This change in premise spawned a post-Cold War naval intellectual renaissance , reflected in several Department of the Navy (DON) “white papers...information collected regarding the various systems is reliable. 3. Primary Areas of Focus Detailed engineering analyses, naval architecture or other

General Education: Curriculum. A Capstone Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bunker Hill Community Coll., Boston, MA.

Prepared by the General Education (GE) Review Steering Committee of Massachusetts' Bunker Hill Community College in 1991, this guide provides a model of a Capstone course, a component of the College's newly developed GE Cornerstone Curriculum. Chapter 1 reviews the purpose of Capstone, a mandatory interdisciplinary course designed to integrate the…

US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance 2014 Capstone Experiment

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-01

ARL-TR-7729 ● JULY 2016 US Army Research Laboratory US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance...TR-7729 ● JULY 2016 US Army Research Laboratory US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance 2014 Capstone...National Robotics Engineering Center, Pittsburgh, PA Robert Dean, Terence Keegan, and Chip Diberardino General Dynamics Land Systems, Westminster

The Impact of a Capstone Farm Management Course on Critical Thinking Abilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perry, Dustin K.; Paulsen, Thomas H.; Retallick, Michael S.

2015-01-01

Current research demonstrates a need to explore the effects of specific course designs or directed activities on higher education students' critical thinking abilities. Specifically, such research on the effect of an experiential learning-based capstone course is limited. All students (N = 54) enrolled in a capstone farm management course…

NASA's Robotics Mining Competition Provides Undergraduates Full Life Cycle Systems Engineering Experience

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stecklein, Jonette

2017-01-01

NASA has held an annual robotic mining competition for teams of university/college students since 2010. This competition is yearlong, suitable for a senior university engineering capstone project. It encompasses the full project life cycle from ideation of a robot design to actual tele-operation of the robot in simulated Mars conditions mining and collecting simulated regolith. A major required element for this competition is a Systems Engineering Paper in which each team describes the systems engineering approaches used on their project. The score for the Systems Engineering Paper contributes 25% towards the team's score for the competition's grand prize. The required use of systems engineering on the project by this competition introduces the students to an intense practical application of systems engineering throughout a full project life cycle.

From Mountaintop to Corporate Ladder--What New Professionals Really Really Want in a Capstone Experience!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

French, Erica; Bailey, Janis; van Acker, Elizabeth; Wood, Leigh

2015-01-01

Capstone subjects are increasingly used in Universities worldwide to complete the undergraduate program experience and to transition graduates into the workplace. As such, capstones fulfil a large role consolidating one experience and traversing the gap to another. Yet, little is known or understood about their design, their implementation or…

Developing a Mathematics Capstone Experience at The U.S. Air Force Academy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herzinger, Kurt; Holcomb, Trae; Peterson, Dale; Schaubroeck, Beth

2013-01-01

There are many details to consider when designing a capstone experience. Expectations of students, faculty workload, resources, logistics, and timing all play a part in the value of this endeavor. We discuss the experience of creating a research capstone experience from scratch including the components of our current course as well as lessons…

Systematically Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Information Systems Capstone Course: Implications for Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gill, T. Grandon; Ritzhaupt, Albert D.

2013-01-01

The information systems capstone experience for undergraduate majors is a topic frequently discussed in academic circles within the field. Though very little consensus exists on this topic, there are core themes that emerge in the design, development, and delivery of the undergraduate capstone courses. Our analysis of prior literature reveals four…

Designing an Elective Course on Gelotology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haynes, Gene C.

2016-01-01

The purpose of this capstone project was to design a course description on gelotology, the study of laughter, at a XYZ Institute. The course provides a detailed analysis of the background of gelotology, how the course was designed and how to put the course into application at the capstone site. The course was designed using a sample curriculum as…

Streamlining the Capstone Process: A Time-Saving Approval System for Graduate Theses/Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grooms, James; Kline, Douglas; Cummings, Jeffrey

2016-01-01

Capstones have become an integral part of many information systems programs, both at the undergraduate and graduate level. One of the challenges can be tracking the process from the start of the capstone to completion. This paper describes the analysis, design and implementation of a web application for the approval workflow of a master's program…

Online Community-Based Learning as the Practice of Freedom: The Online Capstone Experience at Portland State University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arthur, Deborah Smith; Newton-Calvert, Zapoura

2015-01-01

Given the design of Portland State University's (PSU) undergraduate curriculum culminating in a capstone experience, the dramatic growth in online courses and online enrollments required a re-thinking of the capstone model to ensure all students could participate in this effective learning model and have a powerful learning experience. In recent…

Thinking Skills by Design: Using a Capstone ePortfolio to Promote Reflection, Critical Thinking, and Curriculum Integration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morreale, Cathleen; Van Zile-Tamsen, Carol; Emerson, Cheryl A.; Herzog, Matthew

2017-01-01

A capstone ePortfolio is a digital space where students can gather and integrate their learning experiences from their undergraduate careers into a meaningful whole, demonstrate their growth as learners, and connect their learning to the world. The process of creating a capstone ePortfolio equips students with the digital composition skills…

Analysis of Student Service-Learning Reflections for the Assessment of Transferable-Skills Development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rizzo, D. M.; Dewoolkar, M.; Hayden, N.; Oka, L.; Pearce, A. R.

2010-12-01

The civil and environmental engineering (CEE) programs at the University of Vermont (UVM) incorporate systems thinking and a systems approach to sustainable engineering problem solving. A systems approach considers long-term social, environmental and economic factors within the context of the engineering problem solution and encompasses sustainable engineering solutions. Our goal is to prepare students to become leaders in their chosen field who can anticipate co-products associated with forecasted solutions. As a way of practicing the systems approach, we include service-learning projects in many of our undergraduate engineering courses, culminating with the senior capstone design course. We use a variety of formative and summative assessment methods to gage student understanding and attitudes including student surveys, focus groups, assessment of student projects, and student reflections. Student reflections from two courses -Modeling Environmental and Transportation Systems (31 juniors) and Senior Design Project (30 seniors) are compared. Of these, 25 students were common to both courses. The focus of the systems modeling service-learning project involved mentoring home-schooled children (11-14 yrs old) to solve problems of mobility, using the fun and inspiration of biomimicry. Students were required to invent innovative methods to move people or goods that improve associated constraints (i.e., minimize congestion, reduce pollution, increase safety), or reduce the need for transportation altogether. The capstone design project required a comprehensive engineering design involving two or more CEE sub-disciplines. Both service-learning projects were intended to enhance students’ academic learning experience, attain civic engagement and reinforce transferable skills (written and oral communication, teamwork, leadership and mentoring skills). The student course reflections were not guided; yet they provided valuable data to assess commonalities and differences in student attitudes toward their service-learning projects, specifically, the development of transferable skills. In the spirit of service-learning pedagogy, we divide the contents of students’ written reflections into three categories - academic enhancement, civic engagement and personal growth skills. The commonalities focused mostly on civic engagement. Differences are observed primarily in academic enhancement and personal growth categories. Students working on the biomimicry design project reflected on personal growth (e.g. leadership skills, mentoring, creativity, organizational skills, communication to nontechnical audience), but did not credit it with academic enhancement. In contrast, the senior design reflections concentrated on academics, specifically, students appreciated the enhancement of technical skills as a part of their engineering experience.

Instructional Design, Active Learning, and Student Performance: Using a Trading Room to Teach Strategy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stewart, Alice C.; Houghton, Susan M.; Rogers, Patrick R.

2012-01-01

This research used a quasi-experimental design with two conditions to test the impact of active learning in the context of integrated instructional design. The control condition was a traditional approach to teaching an undergraduate strategy capstone class. The intervention condition was an undergraduate strategy capstone class that was designed…

Textbook to Reality: Using Corporate Earnings Reports as an Effective Teaching Tool for a Business Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chowdhury, Manzoor E.

2016-01-01

Business curriculums in many universities now include a senior Capstone course that integrates topics or materials from all business areas. This capstone course is designed to teach the skills of strategic thinking and analysis rather than mere facts or concepts. With that goal in mind, the ideal course is structured in such a way so that students…

NASA's Robotic Mining Competition Provides Undergraduates Full Life Cycle Systems Engineering Experience

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stecklein, Jonette

2017-01-01

NASA has held an annual robotic mining competition for teams of university/college students since 2010. This competition is yearlong, suitable for a senior university engineering capstone project. It encompasses the full project life cycle from ideation of a robot design, through tele-operation of the robot collecting regolith in simulated Mars conditions, to disposal of the robot systems after the competition. A major required element for this competition is a Systems Engineering Paper in which each team describes the systems engineering approaches used on their project. The score for the Systems Engineering Paper contributes 25% towards the team’s score for the competition’s grand prize. The required use of systems engineering on the project by this competition introduces the students to an intense practical application of systems engineering throughout a full project life cycle.

Designing and Implementing a Capstone Gerontology Seminar: Synthesis and Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sasser, Jennifer R.

2005-01-01

This paper focuses on the design and implementation of Gerontology: Synthesis and Action, the capstone seminar for the undergraduate and graduate certificate in gerontology program at Marylhurst University, a small, private liberal arts university in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. The institutional and programmatic context in which this…

Aerosol sampling system for collection of Capstone depleted uranium particles in a high-energy environment.

PubMed

Holmes, Thomas D; Guilmette, Raymond A; Cheng, Yung Sung; Parkhurst, Mary Ann; Hoover, Mark D

2009-03-01

The Capstone Depleted Uranium (DU) Aerosol Study was undertaken to obtain aerosol samples resulting from a large-caliber DU penetrator striking an Abrams or Bradley test vehicle. The sampling strategy was designed to (1) optimize the performance of the samplers and maintain their integrity in the extreme environment created during perforation of an armored vehicle by a DU penetrator, (2) collect aerosols as a function of time post perforation, and (3) obtain size-classified samples for analysis of chemical composition, particle morphology, and solubility in lung fluid. This paper describes the experimental setup and sampling methodologies used to achieve these objectives. Custom-designed arrays of sampling heads were secured to the inside of the target in locations approximating the breathing zones of the crew locations in the test vehicles. Each array was designed to support nine filter cassettes and nine cascade impactors mounted with quick-disconnect fittings. Shielding and sampler placement strategies were used to minimize sampler loss caused by the penetrator impact and the resulting fragments of eroded penetrator and perforated armor. A cyclone train was used to collect larger quantities of DU aerosol for measurement of chemical composition and solubility. A moving filter sample was used to obtain semicontinuous samples for DU concentration determination. Control for the air samplers was provided by five remotely located valve control and pressure monitoring units located inside and around the test vehicle. These units were connected to a computer interface chassis and controlled using a customized LabVIEW engineering computer control program. The aerosol sampling arrays and control systems for the Capstone study provided the needed aerosol samples for physicochemical analysis, and the resultant data were used for risk assessment of exposure to DU aerosol.

Aerosol Sampling System for Collection of Capstone Depleted Uranium Particles in a High-Energy Environment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Holmes, Thomas D.; Guilmette, Raymond A.; Cheng, Yung-Sung

2009-03-01

The Capstone Depleted Uranium Aerosol Study was undertaken to obtain aerosol samples resulting from a kinetic-energy cartridge with a large-caliber depleted uranium (DU) penetrator striking an Abrams or Bradley test vehicle. The sampling strategy was designed to (1) optimize the performance of the samplers and maintain their integrity in the extreme environment created during perforation of an armored vehicle by a DU penetrator, (2) collect aerosols as a function of time post-impact, and (3) obtain size-classified samples for analysis of chemical composition, particle morphology, and solubility in lung fluid. This paper describes the experimental setup and sampling methodologies used tomore » achieve these objectives. Custom-designed arrays of sampling heads were secured to the inside of the target in locations approximating the breathing zones of the vehicle commander, loader, gunner, and driver. Each array was designed to support nine filter cassettes and nine cascade impactors mounted with quick-disconnect fittings. Shielding and sampler placement strategies were used to minimize sampler loss caused by the penetrator impact and the resulting fragments of eroded penetrator and perforated armor. A cyclone train was used to collect larger quantities of DU aerosol for chemical composition and solubility. A moving filter sample was used to obtain semicontinuous samples for depleted uranium concentration determination. Control for the air samplers was provided by five remotely located valve control and pressure monitoring units located inside and around the test vehicle. These units were connected to a computer interface chassis and controlled using a customized LabVIEW engineering computer control program. The aerosol sampling arrays and control systems for the Capstone study provided the needed aerosol samples for physicochemical analysis, and the resultant data were used for risk assessment of exposure to DU aerosol.« less

Creating an Alternate Reality: Critical, Creative, and Empathic Thinking Generated in the "Global Village Playground" Capstone Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dondlinger, Mary Jo; Wilson, Douglas A.

2012-01-01

The "Global Village Playground" ("GVP") was a capstone learning experience designed to address institutional assessment needs while providing an integrated and authentic learning experience for students aimed at fostering critical and creative thinking. In the "GVP", students work on simulated and real-world problems as a design team tasked with…

Delivering a National Process Design Unit with Industry Support

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibana, Don

Supported by the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) through the Minerals Tertiary Education Council (MTEC), three Australian universities-Curtin University, Murdoch University and the University of Queensland-have formed the Metallurgical Education Partnership (MEP) to jointly develop and deliver an engineering design capstone unit-Metallurgical Process and Plant Design-in their respective undergraduate programs in extractive metallurgy, in order to enhance the students' educational experience. A unique feature of the program is the close interaction of the students in all three universities and a significant involvement of industry professionals. Now in its sixth year, it is clear that this unit is achieving its objectives.

Collaborating for Success: Team Teaching the Engineering Technical Thesis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keating, Terrence; Long, Mike

2012-01-01

This paper will examine the collaborative teaching process undertaken at College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) by Engineering and the Communication faculties to improve the overall quality of engineering students' capstone projects known as the Technical Thesis. The Technical Thesis is divided into two separate components: a proposal stage…

Design and integration of a problem-based biofabrication course into an undergraduate biomedical engineering curriculum.

PubMed

Raman, Ritu; Mitchell, Marlon; Perez-Pinera, Pablo; Bashir, Rashid; DeStefano, Lizanne

2016-01-01

The rapidly evolving discipline of biological and biomedical engineering requires adaptive instructional approaches that teach students to target and solve multi-pronged and ill-structured problems at the cutting edge of scientific research. Here we present a modular approach to designing a lab-based course in the emerging field of biofabrication and biological design, leading to a final capstone design project that requires students to formulate and test a hypothesis using the scientific method. Students were assessed on a range of metrics designed to evaluate the format of the course, the efficacy of the format for teaching new topics and concepts, and the depth of the contribution this course made to students training for biological engineering careers. The evaluation showed that the problem-based format of the course was well suited to teaching students how to use the scientific method to investigate and uncover the fundamental biological design rules that govern the field of biofabrication. We show that this approach is an efficient and effective method of translating emergent scientific principles from the lab bench to the classroom and training the next generation of biological and biomedical engineers for careers as researchers and industry practicians.

Solving Real World Problems with Alternate Reality Gaming: Student Experiences in the Global Village Playground Capstone Course Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dondlinger, Mary Jo; McLeod, Julie K.

2015-01-01

The Global Village Playground (GVP) was a capstone learning experience designed to address institutional assessment needs while providing an integrated and authentic learning experience for students aimed at fostering complex problem solving, as well as critical and creative thinking. In the GVP, students work on simulated and real-world problems…

Renewable Microgrid STEM Education & Colonias Outreach Program

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None, None

To provide Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) outreach and education to secondary students to encourage them to select science and engineering as a career by providing an engineering-based problem-solving experience involving renewable energy systems such as photovoltaic (PV) panels or wind turbines. All public and private schools, community colleges, and vocational training programs would be eligible for participation. The Power Microgrids High School Engineering Experience used renewable energy systems (PV and wind) to provide a design capstone experience to secondary students. The objective for each student team was to design a microgrid for the student’s school using renewable energymore » sources under cost, schedule, performance, and risk constraints. The students then implemented their designs in a laboratory environment to evaluate the completeness of the proposed design, which is a unique experience even for undergraduate college students. This application-based program was marketed to secondary schools in the 28th Congressional District through the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) Regional Service Centers. Upon application, TEES identified regionally available engineers to act as mentors and supervisors for the projects. Existing curriculum was modified to include microgrid and additional renewable technologies and was made available to the schools.« less

Stimulating Learning via Tutoring and Collaborative Entrepreneurship Gaming

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alves, Antonio Manuel Cerqueira; Pereira, Anabela Maria de Sousa; Castanheira, Helder; Direito, Ines; Duarte, A. Manuel de Oliveira

2012-01-01

This paper presents results from a multidisciplinary program targeted at engineering education and at the development of entrepreneurial mind in telecommunications engineering students. The basic concept is rooted in a capstone-like project with the following characteristics: (i) Creation of student awareness about real world engineering…

Developing a Team-taught Capstone Course in Neuroscience.

PubMed

Kennedy, Susan; Hassebrock, Frank

2012-01-01

Capstone courses are becoming increasingly visible on college and university campuses. In this paper, we describe a capstone experience for undergraduate students pursuing our neuroscience concentration. The course is intended to provide an in-depth and interdisciplinary examination of contemporary topics in the field of neuroscience, and is designed for students who have completed the majority of requirements for the concentration. We describe the evolution of such a course, the goals and objectives of the course, and offer a workable model for similar courses in the context of a liberal arts institution. We summarize the positive aspects of such a course, describe the challenges involved in creating a course of this nature, and offer suggestions for successful similar capstone courses in Neuroscience.

Developing a Team-taught Capstone Course in Neuroscience

PubMed Central

Kennedy, Susan; Hassebrock, Frank

2012-01-01

Capstone courses are becoming increasingly visible on college and university campuses. In this paper, we describe a capstone experience for undergraduate students pursuing our neuroscience concentration. The course is intended to provide an in-depth and interdisciplinary examination of contemporary topics in the field of neuroscience, and is designed for students who have completed the majority of requirements for the concentration. We describe the evolution of such a course, the goals and objectives of the course, and offer a workable model for similar courses in the context of a liberal arts institution. We summarize the positive aspects of such a course, describe the challenges involved in creating a course of this nature, and offer suggestions for successful similar capstone courses in Neuroscience. PMID:23493882

C[superscript 2] = BOK: Two Apparel Studies' Capstone Courses Incorporating the Body of Knowledge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Kathleen R.; Apple, Laurie; Souhtward, Leigh

2014-01-01

Guided by the five cross-cutting themes of the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Body of Knowledge (BOK) two capstone courses (C[superscript 2]) in Apparel Studies were designed to help prepare students for careers, further study, or both.

Building international experiences into an engineering curriculum - a design project-based approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maldonado, Victor; Castillo, Luciano; Carbajal, Gerardo; Hajela, Prabhat

2014-07-01

This paper is a descriptive account of how short-term international and multicultural experiences can be integrated into early design experiences in an aerospace engineering curriculum. Such approaches are considered as important not only in fostering a student's interest in the engineering curriculum, but also exposing them to a multicultural setting that they are likely to encounter in their professional careers. In the broader sense, this programme is described as a model that can be duplicated in other engineering disciplines as a first-year experience. In this study, undergraduate students from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Universidad del Turabo (UT) in Puerto Rico collaborated on a substantial design project consisting of designing, fabricating, and flight-testing radio-controlled model aircraft as a capstone experience in a semester-long course on Fundamentals of Flight. The two-week long experience in Puerto Rico was organised into academic and cultural components designed with the following objectives: (i) to integrate students in a multicultural team-based academic and social environment, (ii) to practise team-building skills and develop students' critical thinking and analytical skills, and finally (iii) to excite students about their engineering major through practical applications of aeronautics and help them decide if it is a right fit for them.

A Systems Analysis and Design Case Study for a Business Modeling Learning Experience for a Capstone CIS/IS Systems Development Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Russell, Jack; Russell, Barbara

2015-01-01

The goal is to provide a robust and challenging problem statement for a capstone, advanced systems analysis and design course for CIS/MIS/CS majors. In addition to the problem narrative, a representative solution for much of the business modeling deliverables is presented using the UML paradigm. A structured analysis deliverable will be the topic…

Creating International Community Service Learning Experiences in a Capstone Marketing-Projects Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Metcalf, Lynn E.

2010-01-01

This article outlines the development of a project-based capstone marketing course, specifically designed to provide marketing students with an international community service learning experience. It differs significantly from previous studies, which focus on integrating service learning into existing marketing courses and on helping local…

A Proposed Design for the Business Capstone Course with Emphasis on Improving Students' Information Competency

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gilinsky, Armand, Jr.; Robison, Richard

2008-01-01

Business school accrediting agencies and employers increasingly demand evidence that students are mastering information competency (IC) skills. The authors present an innovative approach to inculcate IC skills in the strategic management "capstone" class, integrating cross-departmental student training in using electronic information sources,…

Capstone Portfolios and Geography Student Learning Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mossa, Joann

2014-01-01

Due to increasing demands regarding student learning outcomes and accreditation, a capstone portfolio was added to assess critical thinking and communication skills of geography majors at a large public university in the USA. The portfolio guidelines were designed to be adaptable to a flexible curriculum where about half of the requirements within…

Social Network Theory in Engineering Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simon, Peter A.

Collaborative groups are important both in the learning environment of engineering education and, in the real world, the business of engineering design. Selecting appropriate individuals to form an effective group and monitoring a group's progress are important aspects of successful task performance. This exploratory study looked at using the concepts of cognitive social structures, structural balance, and centrality from social network analysis as well as the measures of emotional intelligence. The concepts were used to analyze potential team members to examine if an individual's ability to perceive emotion in others and the self and to use, understand, and manage those emotions are a factor in a group's performance. The students from a capstone design course in computer engineering were used as volunteer subjects. They were formed into groups and assigned a design exercise to determine whether and which of the above-mentioned tools would be effective in both selecting teams and predicting the quality of the resultant design. The results were inconclusive with the exception of an individual's ability to accurately perceive emotions. The instruments that were successful were the Self-Monitoring scale and the accuracy scores derived from cognitive social structures and Level IV of network levels of analysis.

NASA PS304 Lubricant Tested in World's First Commercial Oil-Free Gas Turbine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weaver, Harold F.

2003-01-01

In a marriage of research and commercial technology, a 30-kW Oil-Free Capstone microturbine electrical generator unit has been installed and is serving as a test bed for long-term life-cycle testing of NASA-developed PS304 shaft coatings. The coatings are used to reduce friction and wear of the turbine engine s foil air bearings during startup and shut down when sliding occurs, prior to the formation of a lubricating air film. This testing supports NASA Glenn Research Center s effort to develop Oil-Free gas turbine aircraft propulsion systems, which will employ advanced foil air bearings and NASA s PS304 high temperature solid lubricant to replace the ball bearings and lubricating oil found in conventional engines. Glenn s Oil-Free Turbomachinery team s current project is the demonstration of an Oil-Free business jet engine. In anticipation of future flight certification of Oil-Free aircraft engines, long-term endurance and durability tests are being conducted in a relevant gas turbine environment using the Capstone microturbine engine. By operating the engine now, valuable performance data for PS304 shaft coatings and for industry s foil air bearings are being accumulated.

An Incentivized Capstone Design Team Applying the System Engineering Process

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-02

3-foot Braided Carbon Fiber Tube, 2” dia. – 2 § Aluminum Hinge – 1 § 3/8” Push Button Pin – 2 § Shaft Collar – 4 § Protective Rubber Strip... braiding machine is used to weave this protective sleeve.     31     Figure 16 – Sample of Open Structure The braiding machine is used...is then placed on the braiding machine. The yarns are then braided over a metal, waxed pipe called a mandrel (Figure 18). The same basic braid that

Balancing Instructional Techniques and Delivery Formats in Capstone Business Strategy Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alstete, Jeffrey W.; Beutell, Nicholas J.

2016-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to contend that collegiate programs should carefully plan their capstone courses in light of the educational mission, pedagogical content knowledge, instructional techniques and delivery formats. Design/methodology/approach: This is a concept paper with elements of theory building from the case of business…

Virginia's College and Career Ready Initiative Grade 12 English Capstone Course Content and Performance Expectations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Virginia Department of Education, 2011

2011-01-01

Virginia's "College and Career Ready English Performance Expectations" grade 12 capstone course contains high-interest contextualized content designed to give certain students an additional boost for competent and successful entry into college and careers. The course will add to students' preparation for critical reading, college and…

A Professional Development Manual for Online Learning at Savannah State University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nyatuame, Patrice C.

2017-01-01

This capstone is designed to support instructions, learning, and assessment at Savannah State University. The concepts that frame this capstone include Johnson and Aragon's (2004) pedagogical model that was used to develop the HRE Online Master's Degree Program. The manual addresses the new faculty member with a getting started systematic guide…

Controlling tissue microenvironments: biomimetics, transport phenomena, and reacting systems.

PubMed

Fisher, Robert J; Peattie, Robert A

2007-01-01

The reconstruction of tissues ex vivo and production of cells capable of maintaining a stable performance for extended time periods in sufficient quantity for synthetic or therapeutic purposes are primary objectives of tissue engineering. The ability to characterize and manipulate the cellular microenvironment is critical for successful implementation of such cell-based bioengineered systems. As a result, knowledge of fundamental biomimetics, transport phenomena, and reaction engineering concepts is essential to system design and development. Once the requirements of a specific tissue microenvironment are understood, the biomimetic system specifications can be identified and a design implemented. Utilization of novel membrane systems that are engineered to possess unique transport and reactive features is one successful approach presented here. The limited availability of tissue or cells for these systems dictates the need for microscale reactors. A capstone illustration based on cellular therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus via encapsulation techniques is presented as a representative example of this approach, to stress the importance of integrated systems.

Implementation of a project-based engineering school: increasing student motivation and relevant learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terrón-López, María-José; García-García, María-José; Velasco-Quintana, Paloma-Julia; Ocampo, Jared; Vigil Montaño, María-Reyes; Gaya-López, María-Cruz

2017-11-01

The School of Engineering at Universidad Europea de Madrid (UEM) implemented, starting in the 2012-2013 period, a unified academic model based on project-based learning as the methodology used throughout the entire School. This model expects that every year, in each grade, all the students should participate in a capstone project integrating the contents and competencies of several courses. This paper presents the academic context under which this experience has been implemented, and a summary of the work done to design and implement the Project-Based Engineering School at the UEM. The steps followed, the structure used, some sample projects, as well as the difficulties and benefits of implementing the programme are discussed in this paper. The results are encouraging as students are more motivated and the initial set objectives were accomplished.

Documenting Critical Thinking in a Capstone Course: Moving Students toward a Professional Disposition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kiener, Michael; Ahuna, Kelly H.; Tinnesz, Christine Gray

2014-01-01

This study describes a university capstone course designed to increase student critical thinking skills and preparation for the workforce. Principles of action research and qualitative methods were used to focus on how pedagogical choices of the instructor would influence student learning in these areas. Through extensive use of case studies,…

Using the Computer Algebra System "Maple" to Generate Research Questions for Pre-Service Teachers in a Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farley, Rosemary Carroll

2013-01-01

At Manhattan College, secondary mathematics education students take a capstone course designed specifically for them. In this course, students revisit important topics in the high school curriculum from a mathematically advanced perspective; incorporating the mathematical knowledge they have attained in their college mathematics classes to an…

Using Capstones to Develop Research Skills and Graduate Capabilities: A Case Study from Physiology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Julien, Brianna L.; Lexis, Louise; Schuijers, Johannes; Samiric, Tom; McDonald, Stuart

2012-01-01

In 2011, the Department of Human Biosciences introduced two physiology capstone subjects as part of the Design for Learning Project at La Trobe University. Consistent with the project, the aims of these subjects were to provide an effective culmination point for the Bachelor of Health Science course and to offer students orientation to…

Business and Industry Project-Based Capstone Courses: A Reflection on the Performance of Student Teams

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maleki, Reza A.

2009-01-01

This is the second of two articles in which the author shares experiences gained from the development and delivery of a business/industry project-based capstone course. The course integrates research, proposal development and design experience based on knowledge and skills acquired in earlier coursework. It also incorporates standards and…

Business and Industry Project-Based Capstone Courses: Selecting Projects and Assessing Learning Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maleki, Reza A.

2009-01-01

This is the first of two articles in which the author shares experiences gained from the development and delivery of a business/industry project-based capstone course. The course integrates research, proposal development and design experience based on knowledge and skills acquired in earlier coursework. The course also incorporates standards and…

Integrating Hands-On Undergraduate Research in an Applied Spatial Science Senior Level Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kulhavy, David L.; Unger, Daniel R.; Hung, I-Kuai; Douglass, David

2015-01-01

A senior within a spatial science Ecological Planning capstone course designed an undergraduate research project to increase his spatial science expertise and to assess the hands-on instruction methodology employed within the Bachelor of Science in Spatial Science program at Stephen F Austin State University. The height of 30 building features…

Team-Based Development of Medical Devices: An Engineering-Business Collaborative.

PubMed

Eberhardt, Alan W; Johnson, Ophelia L; Kirkland, William B; Dobbs, Joel H; Moradi, Lee G

2016-07-01

There is a global shift in the teaching methodology of science and engineering toward multidisciplinary, team-based processes. To meet the demands of an evolving technical industry and lead the way in engineering education, innovative curricula are essential. This paper describes the development of multidisciplinary, team-based learning environments in undergraduate and graduate engineering curricula focused on medical device design. In these programs, students actively collaborate with clinicians, professional engineers, business professionals, and their peers to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. In the undergraduate senior capstone courses, teams of biomedical engineering (BME) and business students have produced and delivered numerous functional prototypes to satisfied clients. Pursuit of commercialization of devices has led to intellectual property (IP) disclosures and patents. Assessments have indicated high levels of success in attainment of student learning outcomes and student satisfaction with their undergraduate design experience. To advance these projects toward commercialization and further promote innovative team-based learning, a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Design and Commercialization was recently launched. The MEng facilitates teams of graduate students in engineering, life sciences, and business who engage in innovation-commercialization (IC) projects and coursework that take innovative ideas through research and development (R&D) to create marketable devices. The activities are structured with students working together as a "virtual company," with targeted outcomes of commercialization (license agreements and new start-ups), competitive job placement, and/or career advancement.

Implementation of a Project-Based Engineering School: Increasing Student Motivation and Relevant Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Terrón-López, María-José; García-García, María-José; Velasco-Quintana, Paloma-Julia; Ocampo, Jared; Vigil Montaño, María-Reyes; Gaya-López, María-Cruz

2017-01-01

The School of Engineering at Universidad Europea de Madrid (UEM) implemented, starting in the 2012-2013 period, a unified academic model based on project-based learning as the methodology used throughout the entire School. This model expects that every year, in each grade, all the students should participate in a capstone project integrating the…

Team-Based Development of Medical Devices: An Engineering–Business Collaborative

PubMed Central

Eberhardt, Alan W.; Johnson, Ophelia L.; Kirkland, William B.; Dobbs, Joel H.; Moradi, Lee G.

2016-01-01

There is a global shift in the teaching methodology of science and engineering toward multidisciplinary, team-based processes. To meet the demands of an evolving technical industry and lead the way in engineering education, innovative curricula are essential. This paper describes the development of multidisciplinary, team-based learning environments in undergraduate and graduate engineering curricula focused on medical device design. In these programs, students actively collaborate with clinicians, professional engineers, business professionals, and their peers to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. In the undergraduate senior capstone courses, teams of biomedical engineering (BME) and business students have produced and delivered numerous functional prototypes to satisfied clients. Pursuit of commercialization of devices has led to intellectual property (IP) disclosures and patents. Assessments have indicated high levels of success in attainment of student learning outcomes and student satisfaction with their undergraduate design experience. To advance these projects toward commercialization and further promote innovative team-based learning, a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Design and Commercialization was recently launched. The MEng facilitates teams of graduate students in engineering, life sciences, and business who engage in innovation-commercialization (IC) projects and coursework that take innovative ideas through research and development (R&D) to create marketable devices. The activities are structured with students working together as a “virtual company,” with targeted outcomes of commercialization (license agreements and new start-ups), competitive job placement, and/or career advancement. PMID:26902869

Increasing Student Responsibility and Active Learning in an Undergraduate Capstone Finance Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nelson, David; Bianco, Candy

2013-01-01

This paper focuses on the effectiveness of factors in designing and delivering a complex, capstone course in an undergraduate major in finance. The course uses an instructional delivery system that is contrasted to the standard lecture format and has a broader set of objectives than is usually specified for a finance course. An objective of the…

The Capstone Sales Course: An Integral Part of a University Level Professional Selling Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Titus, David; Harris, Garth; Gulati, Rajesh; Bristow, Dennis

2017-01-01

The Capstone Sales course is the final in a sequence of five required courses in a 15 credit Professional Selling program housed in the Marketing Department at St. Cloud State University. The course is heavily focused on experiential learning activities for senior-level sales students. In this paper details of the course design, instructor and…

Notes on Accounting Capstone Course Design: Contemporary Issues versus Case Analysis Enhances Student Interest and Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ehoff, Clemense, Jr.

2010-01-01

This paper presents how the Internet can be used to bring contemporary issues into the accounting capstone course to enhance student interest and learning. While existing cases have been reviewed and structured, they focus on issues that may not be at the forefront of the items currently under examination and/or debate by the accounting…

Implementing Service-Learning to the Information Systems and Technology Management Program: A Study of an Undergraduate Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wei, Kangning; Siow, Jane; Burley, Diana L.

2007-01-01

Service-learning has been identified as an extremely valuable educational tool and applied to different disciplines and areas, but literature review on service learning has indicated that service-learning is little used in Information Systems education. This paper presents our design and development of a service-learning capstone course for…

Moving from the Classroom to the Workplace: A Service-Learning Case Study of a Media Production Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Giese, Mark

2013-01-01

This is a case study of how a capstone course, Producing and Directing, evolved into a service-learning course designed to provide graduating students with real-world workplace experience. It will examine issues including course structure, grading issues, course and client logistics, unaddressed skill sets, group work, and work-product quality…

University of Wyoming College of Engineering undergraduate design projects to aid Wyoming persons with disabilities, a mid-program review.

PubMed

Barrett, Steven F; Gray, J Renee

2005-01-01

In Spring 2002 the University of Wyoming received National Science Foundation funding from the Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems to provide a meaningful design experience for University of Wyoming, College of Engineering students that will directly aid individuals with disabilities within the state of Wyoming. At the 2003 RMBS we presented a paper on the value of starting such a program. We have found that students receive a much richer capstone design experience when developing a project for direct use by a challenged individual. We are now approximately midway through this project. Since its inception the program has blossomed to include serving individuals in several regional states, outreach short courses to the community, projects have become of increasing difficulty and involve interdisciplinary teamwork, and many challenged individuals have been provided specialized one of a kind assistive devices. In this paper we will report on these advancements, lessons learned, and benefits received by participating in this vital program.

University of Texas Safeguards by Design Problem Statement

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rauch, Eric Benton; Scherer, Carolynn P.; Ruggiero, Christy E.

This document describes the problem statement that students at the University of Texas will use for their senior level capstone design class. The purpose of this project is to introduce students to Safeguards by Design concepts as part of their capstone design course at the culmination of their degree program. This work is supported by Los Alamos National Laboratory with FY17 and FY18 programmatic funding from the U. S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), through the Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN), Office of International Nuclear Safeguards (INS), Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI), Human Resource Developmentmore » Program, Safeguards by Design Project.« less

Students' and Teachers' Perceptions: Initial Achievements of a Project-Based Engineering School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Terrón-López, María-José; Velasco-Quintana, Paloma-Julia; García-García, María-José; Ocampo, Jared R.

2017-01-01

A unified academic model based on the project-based learning (PBL) methodology was implemented, in the 2012-2013 period, in the School of Engineering at Universidad Europea de Madrid. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether teachers and students participating in the capstone projects feel that the objectives for which this methodology was…

University Capstone Project: Enhanced Initiation Techniques for Thermochemical Energy Conversion

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

technologies such as scramjets, gas turbine engines (relight and afterburner ignition), and pulsed detonation engines ( PDEs ) because of the limited...events in a flow tube were recorded, and the PDE engine was fired while monitoring ignition time and wave speed throughout the detonation process...long steel tube fitted with a 36” long, 2” x 2” square polycarbonate test section is used in place of the instrumented detonation tube. The PDE

Principles and Practices Fostering Inclusive Excellence: Lessons from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Capstone Institutions.

PubMed

DiBartolo, Patricia Marten; Gregg-Jolly, Leslie; Gross, Deborah; Manduca, Cathryn A; Iverson, Ellen; Cooke, David B; Davis, Gregory K; Davidson, Cameron; Hertz, Paul E; Hibbard, Lisa; Ireland, Shubha K; Mader, Catherine; Pai, Aditi; Raps, Shirley; Siwicki, Kathleen; Swartz, Jim E

Best-practices pedagogy in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) aims for inclusive excellence that fosters student persistence. This paper describes principles of inclusivity across 11 primarily undergraduate institutions designated as Capstone Awardees in Howard Hughes Medical Institute's (HHMI) 2012 competition. The Capstones represent a range of institutional missions, student profiles, and geographical locations. Each successfully directed activities toward persistence of STEM students, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups, through a set of common elements: mentoring programs to build community; research experiences to strengthen scientific skill/identity; attention to quantitative skills; and outreach/bridge programs to broaden the student pool. This paper grounds these program elements in learning theory, emphasizing their essential principles with examples of how they were implemented within institutional contexts. We also describe common assessment approaches that in many cases informed programming and created traction for stakeholder buy-in. The lessons learned from our shared experiences in pursuit of inclusive excellence, including the resources housed on our companion website, can inform others' efforts to increase access to and persistence in STEM in higher education. © 2016 P. M. DiBartolo, L. Gregg-Jolly, D. Gross, C. A. Manduca, E. Iverson, et al. CBE—Life Sciences Education © 2016 The American Society for Cell Biology. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). It is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Practicing What We Teach, Teaching What They'll Practice: Developing "Reflective Practitioners" through a Capstone Business Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grinnell, James; Muise, Cristina; Litvin, Deborah

2009-01-01

Business education is failing to prepare undergraduates for success in the 21st century workplace. In this paper we contribute one example of a course specifically designed to confront and close this gap between what we know and what we do as business educators. Our example is an innovative, student-centered, senior-level capstone course developed…

Reserve Component Training under CAPSTONE

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-03-15

that promotes aggressive, bold, initiative-seeking performances by their sub- ordinates and units. Emphasis on innovative training must continue to...their subordinates and units. Emphasis on innovative training must continue to ensure winning results on tomorrow’s battlefield. CAPSTONE, a Total Army...Department of the Army (HQDA) managed program that brings units up to a designated structure by filling organizational voids with units from a different

A Cultured Learning Environment: Implementing a Problem- and Service-Based Microbiology Capstone Course to Assess Process- and Skill-Based Learning Objectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, Rachel M.; Willford, John D.; Pfeifer, Mariel A.

2018-01-01

In this study, a problem-based capstone course was designed to assess the University of Wyoming Microbiology Program's skill-based and process-based student learning objectives. Students partnered with a local farm, a community garden, and a free downtown clinic in order to conceptualize, propose, perform, and present studies addressing problems…

Teaching Tip: Managing Software Engineering Student Teams Using Pellerin's 4-D System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doman, Marguerite; Besmer, Andrew; Olsen, Anne

2015-01-01

In this article, we discuss the use of Pellerin's Four Dimension Leadership System (4-D) as a way to manage teams in a classroom setting. Over a 5-year period, we used a modified version of the 4-D model to manage teams within a senior level Software Engineering capstone course. We found that this approach for team management in a classroom…

CaPOW! Using Problem Sets in a Capstone Course to Improve Fourth-Year Medical Students' Confidence in Self-Directed Learning.

PubMed

Clay, Alison S; Ming, David Y; Knudsen, Nancy W; Engle, Deborah L; Grochowski, Colleen O'Connor; Andolsek, Kathryn M; Chudgar, Saumil M

2017-03-01

Despite the importance of self-directed learning (SDL) in the field of medicine, individuals are rarely taught how to perform SDL or receive feedback on it. Trainee skill in SDL is limited by difficulties with self-assessment and goal setting. Ninety-two graduating fourth-year medical students from Duke University School of Medicine completed an individualized learning plan (ILP) for a transition-to-residency Capstone course in spring 2015 to help foster their skills in SDL. Students completed the ILP after receiving a personalized report from a designated faculty coach detailing strengths and weaknesses on specific topics (e.g., pulmonary medicine) and clinical skills (e.g., generating a differential diagnosis). These were determined by their performance on 12 Capstone Problem Sets of the Week (CaPOWs) compared with their peers. Students used transitional-year milestones to self-assess their confidence in SDL. SDL was successfully implemented in a Capstone course through the development of required clinically oriented problem sets. Coaches provided guided feedback on students' performance to help them identify knowledge deficits. Students' self-assessment of their confidence in SDL increased following course completion. However, students often chose Capstone didactic sessions according to factors other than their CaPOW performance, including perceived relevance to planned specialty and session timing. Future Capstone curriculum changes may further enhance SDL skills of graduating students. Students will receive increased formative feedback on their CaPOW performance and be incentivized to attend sessions in areas of personal weakness.

Test and On-Orbit Experiences of FalconSAT-3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saylor, W. W.; France, M. E. B.

2008-08-01

The fundamental objectives of the capstone design project in the Department of Astronautics at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) are for cadets to learn important engineering lessons by executing a real space mission on a Department of Defense-funded satellite project. FalconSAT-3 is a 50 kg, gravity gradient-stabilized designed and built by cadets and launched March 2007 on the first ESPA (Enhanced extended launch vehicle Satellite Payload Adapter) mission. FalconSAT-3 was one of six satellites integrated onto the launch vehicle and the nature of the mission made it that the satellite was subject to the full formality of testing requirements. Two successive gravity gradient booms failed either design requirements or environmental testing; design requirements grew dramatically during the design phase; ambiguous thermal vacuum test results led to uncertainty at launch; and after launch it was not possible to contact the satellite for several weeks.

Communication skills to develop trusting relationships on global virtual engineering capstone teams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaugg, Holt; Davies, Randall S.

2013-05-01

As universities seek to provide cost-effective, cross-cultural experiences using global virtual (GV) teams, the 'soft' communication skills typical of all teams, increases in importance for GV teams. Students need to be taught how to navigate through cultural issues and virtual tool issues to build strong trusting relationships with distant team members. Weekly team meetings provide an excellent opportunity to observe key team interactions that facilitate relationship and trust-building among team members. This study observed the weekly team meetings of engineering students attending two US universities and one Asian university as they collaborated as a single GV capstone GV team. In addition local team members were interviewed individually and collectively throughout the project to determine strategies that facilitated team relations and trust. Findings indicate the importance of student choice of virtual communication tools, the refining of communication practices, and specific actions to build trusting relationships. As student developed these attributes, collaboration and success was experienced on this GV team.

C2 Core and UCore Message Design Capstone: Interoperable Message Structure

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

there are sufficient resources to carry out a mission. The Team used the Theatre Battle Management Command System ( TBMCS ) to generate sample CMD...System ( TBMCS ) was used to generate CMD messages as inputs for both use cases. These were programmatically transformed into the three-layer message...used for the experiment was generated from the TBMCS in the form of a CMD XML document. The Capstone experiment included transforming that document to

NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Paper 43: The role of information resource training in aerospace education. Expanded version

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lawrence, Barbara; Pinelli, Thomas E.; Barclay, Rebecca O.; Kennedy, John M.; Holloway, Karen

1994-01-01

Information resource instruction for undergraduate aerospace engineering students has traditionally been limited to an occasional part of the education process--a written paper required in the capstone design course or a library tour. Efforts to encourage the use of aerospace literature and information resources have been made in the past decade, with a recent push from information and, especially, networking technology. This paper presents data from a survey of U.S. aerospace engineering students regarding their instruction in the use of information resources. We find that more than 25 percent of the students surveyed had no instruction in technical communications skills or the use of information resources. We consider the need for instruction in the use of information resources and technical communications skills and the opportunities presented for improvement.

Research on Building Education and Workforce Capacity in Systems Engineering

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-31

Professional Ethics Since one goal of RT-19A is to understand how best to increase the number of schools offering systems engineering capstone courses...project evaluation plan  Developed and issued the request for proposals and selection process (an independent review team and rubric) for...faculty members from both institutions talk frequently to share ideas, compare progress and clarify any issues . Auburn recruited faculty only, so

Evolution of Students' Varied Conceptualizations About Socially Responsible Engineering: A Four Year Longitudinal Study.

PubMed

Rulifson, Greg; Bielefeldt, Angela R

2018-03-20

Engineers should learn how to act on their responsibility to society during their education. At present, however, it is unknown what students think about the meaning of socially responsible engineering. This paper synthesizes 4 years of longitudinal interviews with engineering students as they progressed through college. The interviews revolved broadly around how students saw the connections between engineering and social responsibility, and what influenced these ideas. Using the Weidman Input-Environment-Output model as a framework, this research found that influences included required classes such as engineering ethics, capstone design, and some technical courses, pre-college volunteering and familial values, co-curricular groups such as Engineers Without Borders and the Society of Women Engineers, as well as professional experiences through internships. Further, some experiences such as technical courses and engineering internships contributed to confine students' understanding of an engineer's social responsibility. Overall, students who stayed in engineering tended to converge on basic responsibilities such as safety and bettering society as a whole, but tended to become less concerned with improving the lives of the marginalized and disadvantaged. Company loyalty also became important for some students. These results have valuable, transferable contributions, providing guidance to foster students' ideas on socially responsible engineering.

Computer ethics: A capstone course

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fisher, T.G.; Abunawass, A.M.

1994-12-31

This paper presents a capstone course on computer ethics required for all computer science majors in our program. The course was designed to encourage students to evaluate their own personal value systems in terms of the established values in computer science as represented by the ACM Code of Ethics. The structure, activities, and topics of the course as well as assessment of the students are presented. Observations on various course components and student evaluations of the course are also presented.

Transportation Research Fueled by Academia | News | NREL

Science.gov Websites

. Interested in furthering their research and education with the vast resources available at NREL, university researchers who are currently teaching include Senior Research Engineer Adam Duran, who has a senior capstone more transportation researchers-Yi Hou, Clement Rames, and Josh Sperling-are currently teaching an

Capstone Report - The Technology Readiness of Alternative Fuels : Alternative Fuels & Life-Cycle Engineering Program : November 29, 2006 to November 28, 2011

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-12-20

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration (ASD/NII) and the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy (UST/P) sponsored a National Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Architecture Study to "provide more effe...

Developing a 21st Century Engineering Workforce

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-10-06

Developing a 21st Century Engineering Workforce Mr. Nicholas M. Torelli Director, Mission Assurance, ODASD(SE) 6 October 2011 Annual SERC Research...STATEMENT A -- Cleared for public release by OSR on 05 October 2011 -- SR case number 11-S-3744 applies A major thrust of the SERC is academic research...Technical Leadership   RT–16 Experience Accelerator   RT-19& 19A SE Capstone Courses SERC Research Provides Learning Resources ASRR 10

The TXESS Revolution: A Partnership to Advance Earth and Space Science in Texas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellins, K. K.; Olson, H. C.; Willis, M.

2007-12-01

The Texas State Board of Education voted in 2006 to require a fourth year of science for graduation from high school and to authorize the creation of a new senior level Earth Systems and Space Science course as an option to fulfill that requirement. The new Earth Systems and Space Science course will be a capstone course for which three required science courses(biology, chemistry and physics)are prerequisites. Here, we summarize the collective efforts of business leaders, scientists and educators who worked collaboratively for almost a decade to successfully reinstate Earth science as part of Texas' standard high school curriculum and describe a new project, the Texas Earth and Space Science (TXESS) Revolution, a 5-year professional development program for 8th -12th grade minority and minority-serving science teachers and teacher mentors in Texas to help prepare them to teach the new capstone course. At the heart of TXESS Revolution is an extraordinary partnership, involving (1) two UT-Austin academic units, the Jackson School of Geosciences and the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering; (2) TERC, a not-for-profit educational enterprise in Massachusetts with 30 years experience in designing science curriculum; (3) the University of South Florida; and (4) the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching, a statewide network of teacher mentors and science teachers. With guidance from the Texas Education Agency, the state agency charged with overseeing education, the TXESS Revolution project will provide teachers with access to high quality materials and instruction aligned with the Texas educational standards for the new capstone course through: a program of eight different 3-day professional development academies offered to both teachers and teachers mentors; immersive summer institutes, field experiences, and a Petroleum Science and Technology Institute; training on how to implement Earth Science by Design, a teacher professional development program developed by TERC and the American Geological Institute with National Science Foundation (NSF) funding; and an online learning forum designed to keep teachers and teacher mentors in contact with facilitators and fellow project-participants between and after training, as well as share best practices and new information. The new capstone course promises to be a rigorous and dynamic change to the way Earth and Space Science has been presented previously anywhere in the U.S. and will provide many opportunities for professional development and the dissemination of suitable Earth and Space Science curriculum. The TXESS Revolution project welcomes opportunities to collaborate with geoscience consortia, programs, organizations and geoscience educators to advance Earth and Space Science in Texas. NSF's Opportunities to Enhance Diversity in the Geosciences program, the Shell Oil Company and the Jackson School of Geosciences are together funding the TXESS Revolution project.

A WEB based approach in biomedical engineering design education.

PubMed

Enderle, J D; Browne, A F; Hallowell, M B

1997-01-01

As part of the accreditation process for university engineering programs, students are required to complete a minimum number of design credits in their course of study, typically at the senior level. Many call this the capstone course. Engineering design is a course or series of courses that bring together concepts and principles that students learn in their field of study--it involves the integration and extension of material learned in their major toward a specific project. Most often, the student is exposed to system-wide analysis, critique and evaluation for the first time. Design is an iterative, decision making process in which the student optimally applies previously learned material to meet a stated objective. At the University of Connecticut, students work in teams of 3-4 members and work on externally sponsored projects. To facilitate working with sponsors, a WEB based approach is used for reporting the progress on projects. Students are responsible for creating their own WEB sites that support both html and pdf formats. Students provide the following deliverables: weekly progress reports, project statement, specifications, project proposal, interim report, and final report. A senior design homepage also provides links to data books and other resources for use by students. We are also planning distance learning experiences between two campuses so students can work on projects that involve the use of video conferencing.

Students' and teachers' perceptions: initial achievements of a Project-Based Engineering School

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terrón-López, María-José; Velasco-Quintana, Paloma-Julia; García-García, María-José; Ocampo, Jared R.

2017-11-01

A unified academic model based on the project-based learning (PBL) methodology was implemented, in the 2012-2013 period, in the School of Engineering at Universidad Europea de Madrid. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether teachers and students participating in the capstone projects feel that the objectives for which this methodology was designed for are being achieved. The data were collected through interviews to participants at the end of the PBL experience. The results are encouraging, as students seem to be more motivated, and they say that they are experiencing deeper learning, and have developed key competitive skills required for their professional lives. Findings also suggest that teachers face positively the PBL as a learning approach since they perceive that students obtain a deeper learning, develop transversal skills with the projects and are more engaged with their studies. Implications and recommendations for the future of the model are also discussed.

Undergraduate design projects to aid persons with disabilities: reflections.

PubMed

Barret, Steven F; Morton, Scott A; Root-Elledge, Sandy

2007-01-01

In Spring 2002 the University of Wyoming, College of Engineering, received a five year grant from the National Science Foundation to link senior capstone design projects with the custom requirements of the assistive technology (AT) community. This serendipitous collaboration has been highly beneficial to our senior design students as well as individuals with a disability requiring one-of-a-kind AT devices. Now that the program is coming to a close on its five year term, we believe there are lessons we have learned that would be valuable to others considering participation in such a program. We will briefly review program development and organization, highlight lessons learned, and discuss program benefits and pitfalls. Paper emphasis will be on the practical implementation and management of this valuable program. Due to the rich benefits received from participating in the program, we plan on applying for a second five year program funding increment.

Communication Skills to Develop Trusting Relationships on Global Virtual Engineering Capstone Teams

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zaugg, Holt; Davies, Randall S.

2013-01-01

As universities seek to provide cost-effective, cross-cultural experiences using global virtual (GV) teams, the "soft" communication skills typical of all teams, increases in importance for GV teams. Students need to be taught how to navigate through cultural issues and virtual tool issues to build strong trusting relationships with…

Undergraduate courses for enhancing design ability in naval architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Kyu-Yeul; Ku, Namkug; Cha, Ju-Hwan

2013-09-01

Contemporary lectures in undergraduate engineering courses typically focus on teaching major technical knowledge-based theories in a limited time. Therefore, most lectures do not allow the students to gain understanding of how the theories are applied, especially in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering departments. Shipyards require students to acquire practical ship design skills in undergraduate courses. To meet this requirement, two lectures are organized by the authors; namely, "Planning Procedure of Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering" (PNAOE) and "Innovative Ship Design" (ISD). The concept of project-based and collaborative learning is applied in these two lectures. In the PNAOE lecture, sophomores receive instruction in the designing and building of model ships, and the students' work is evaluated in a model ship contest. This curriculum enables students to understand the concepts of ship design and production. In the ISD lecture, seniors learn how to develop their creative ideas about ship design and communicate with members of group. They are encouraged to cooperate with others and understand the ship design process. In the capstone design course, students receive guidance to facilitate understanding of how the knowledge from their sophomore or junior classes, such as fluid mechanics, statics, and dynamics, can be applied to practical ship design. Students are also encouraged to compete in the ship design contest organized by the Society of Naval Architects of Korea. Moreover, the effectiveness of project-based and collaborative learning for enhancing interest in the shipbuilding Industry and understanding the ship design process is demonstrated by citing the PNAOE and ISD lectures as examples.

Student participation and interactivity using asynchronous computer-mediated communication for resolution of an undergraduate capstone management case study.

PubMed

Miller, Paulette J

2012-01-01

Online discussion activities are designed for computer-mediated learning activities in face-to-face, hybrid, and totally online courses. The use of asynchronous computer-mediated communication (A-CMC) coupled with authentic workplace case studies provides students in the protected learning environment with opportunities to practice workplace decision making and communication. In this study, communication behaviors of transmitter and receiver were analyzed to determine participation and interactivity in communication among small-group participants in a health information management capstone management course.

The Capstone Experience for the Religious Studies Major

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Upson-Saia, Kristi

2013-01-01

The purpose of this essay is to offer a survey of religious studies capstones from twenty-nine U.S. colleges and universities, to identify the most common frustrations about the capstone, and to observe how departments resolve such frustrations. I conclude that the most successful capstones--in terms of students' performance and faculty…

Using History and Philosophy as the Capstone to a Biology Major

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haave, Neil C.

2017-01-01

Capstone experiences have high educational impact with a number of approaches for biology. In most capstones, students produce a major project, typically as an undergraduate research experience, with a primary goal to integrate students' learning. At Augustana, our senior biology capstone uses history and philosophy to frame students' reflections…

A Unique Methodology for Implementing High School Capstone Experiences through Teacher Professional Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chin, Jessica; Zeid, Abe; Duggan, Claire; Kamarthi, Sagar

2011-01-01

Innovators and abstract thinkers--students who question why are going to be the future of engineering, of science and cures for diseases. Rarely do students ask where and how innovation is created. Students, particularly post-secondary students have lost their curiosity and they have lost their ability to question. Why? Because the relationship…

Review Sessions and Results: Competency Testing in the Capstone Business Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parente, Diane H.; Brown, Randy C.; Warner, Alfred G.

2005-01-01

Capstone is defined in the dictionary as "putting the final stone in place." Business Policy or Strategic Management is typically the capstone class in a business management degree program. As such, there are prerequisite requirements in terms of courses and specific knowledge. We have implemented a competency test for the capstone class and…

Survey of Biology Capstone Courses in American and Canadian Higher Education: Requirement, Content, and Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haave, Neil C.

2015-01-01

Capstone experiences have high educational impact with various approaches available for biology. However, no information exists regarding the pervasiveness of capstone courses in Canadian and American biology programs. This study surveyed the prevalence and character of biology capstone courses in the USA and Canada. The survey included a majority…

A Collaborative Capstone to Develop a Mobile Hospital Clinic Application through a Student Team Competition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wong, Wilson; Pepe, James; Stahl, James; Englander, Irv

2013-01-01

A new collaborative capstone model is presented that consists of three synergistic elements: (1) a capstone course component; (2) a business component; and (3) an advanced technical course component geared towards enhancing the student capstone learning experience. The model was fully implemented at Bentley University in spring 2012 with…

Developing a Capstone Course within a Health Informatics Program

PubMed Central

Hackbarth, Gary; Cata, Teuta; Cole, Laura

2012-01-01

This article discusses the ongoing development of a health informatics capstone program in a Midwest university from the hiring of a program coordinator to the development of a capstone course, through initial student results. University health informatics programs require a strong academic program to be successful but also require a spirited program coordinator to manage resources and organize an effective capstone course. This is particularly true of health informatics master's programs that support health industry career fields, whereby employers can locate and work with a pool of qualified applicants. The analysis of students’ logs confirms that students’ areas of focus and concern are consistent with course objectives and company work requirements during the work-study portion of the student capstone project. The article further discusses lessons learned and future improvements to be made in the health informatics capstone course. PMID:22783150

Experiences Gained Creating a Biophysics Major at a Predominately Undergraduate Institution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Link, Justin; Herbert, Steven

2014-03-01

Xavier University, a liberal arts predominately undergraduate institution (PUI) located in Cincinnati, OH, implemented a Biophysics major in the Department of Physics in spring 2012. The program is built upon foundational physics courses and is unique due to the possible selection of upper-division courses that students elect to take towards their undergraduate degree. A capstone course is offered to bring all prior knowledge in the fundamental sciences together to approach complex problems in biology. Due to the flexibility of the program, it serves students well who are interested in pursuing advanced degrees in Biophysics or Biomedical Engineering. It also offers students interested in the health professions an alternate path towards medical school which can be advantageous in the application process. This session will express some of the advantages and challenges to creating such a program at a liberal arts PUI and discuss the capstone course within the major.

Designing Effective Undergraduate Research Experiences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Severson, S.

2010-12-01

I present a model for designing student research internships that is informed by the best practices of the Center for Adaptive Optics (CfAO) Professional Development Program. The dual strands of the CfAO education program include: the preparation of early-career scientists and engineers in effective teaching; and changing the learning experiences of students (e.g., undergraduate interns) through inquiry-based "teaching laboratories." This paper will focus on the carry-over of these ideas into the design of laboratory research internships such as the CfAO Mainland internship program as well as NSF REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) and senior-thesis or "capstone" research programs. Key ideas in maximizing student learning outcomes and generating productive research during internships include: defining explicit content, scientific process, and attitudinal goals for the project; assessment of student prior knowledge and experience, then following up with formative assessment throughout the project; setting reasonable goals with timetables and addressing motivation; and giving students ownership of the research by implementing aspects of the inquiry process within the internship.

COMS Day as a Communication Senior Capstone Team Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ozley, Raymond R.; Wang, Tiffany R.; Ford, Sherry Greenwood; Hardig, Sally Bennett

2017-01-01

Courses: Senior Seminar. Objectives: (1) To provide graduating students a semester-long capstone experience where they can apply communication theories/skills in a professional context. (2) To create a capstone project that contributes to programmatic assessment.

Educational Effectiveness Review

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-01

Capstone Initiative ...................................................24 Student Engagement Initiative...Program ɢ Extending Direct Assessments – The Capstone Initiative ɢ Student Engagement Initiative ɢ Leveraging Professional Accreditation Practices...time graduation Student Outcomes • Quality Point Ratings (QPRs) • Capstone assessments • Employer, Sponsor assessments Student Engagement • Challenge

Submarine Combat Systems Engineering Project Capstone Project

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-06

sonar , imaging, Electronic Surveillance (ES) and communications. These sensors passively detect contacts, which emit... passive sensors is included. A Search Detect Identify Track Decide Engage Assess 3 contact can be sensed by the system as either surface or... Detect Track Avoid Search Detect Identify Track Search Engage Assess Detect Track Avoid Search • SONAR •Imagery •TC • SONAR • SONAR •EW •Imagery •ESM

Student-Designed Flume Arrives at NWTC | News | NREL

Science.gov Websites

opportunity to plan, design, and construct a flume for testing and characterizing hydrokinetic power devices . The project was one of several open to CSM students as part of the Capstone Design@Mines program transported to the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) on Dec. 7. "The design and construction of the

Broadcast Journalism Education and the Capstone Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tanner, Andrea; Forde, Kathy Roberts; Besley, John C.; Weir, Tom

2012-01-01

This study assesses the current state of the television news capstone experience in accredited journalism and mass communication programs in the United States. Specifically, the authors employed a mixed-methods approach, interviewing 20 television news capstone instructors and conducting an analysis of broadcast journalism curriculum information…

Faculty Engagement with Integrative Assignment Design: Connecting Teaching and Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Green, Kimberly; Hutchings, Pat

2018-01-01

Building on an initiative of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment, Washington State University faculty have worked to develop more effective integrative capstone assignments in ways that support ongoing improvement.

The Accounting Undergraduate Capstone: Promoting Synthesis, Reflection, Transition, and Competencies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Grace F.; Halabi, Abdel K.

2011-01-01

The authors review 24 midwestern institutions that have an undergraduate capstone course. Specifically they focus on accounting capstone courses, discovering that these are used to promote personal and functional skill development in 8 areas: research, problem solving, critical thinking, reflection, synthesis, teamwork, communication, and…

Capstone Course Innovation: Bloomberg Professional Service

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Payette, Dennis L.; Libertella, Anthony F.

2012-01-01

This paper reports on the introduction of a curricular innovation in a required capstone course: namely the Business Policy and Strategy course in the School of Business at Adelphi University. The curriculum capstone courses have tended to primarily include business related case studies and business simulation exercises. Consequently, curriculum…

Design of a solar tracking interactive kiosk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greene, Nathaniel R.; Brunskill, Jeffrey C.

2017-01-01

A two-axis solar tracker and its interactive kiosk were designed by an interdisciplinary team of students and faculty. The objective was to develop a publicly accessible kiosk that would facilitate the study of energy usage and production on campus. Tracking is accomplished by an open-loop algorithm, microcontroller, and ham radio rotator. Solar panel output is monitored in real time and displayed to the public with lights and digits that can be read by the casual passersby. While maximum power point tracking is the most accurate means of quantifying the output power of a photovoltaic panel, simplicity and design constraints dictated the use of short-circuit current as a proxy for power. A touchscreen display allows kiosk visitors to compare two solar panels, an automatic tracker that faces the sun, and an identical panel whose elevation and azimuth can be controlled with a virtual joystick. This project was a capstone experience for students in physics/engineering, computer science, and instructional technology. We discuss technical challenges and design choices, as well as the educational goals of the kiosk.

A comparative case study of the characteristics of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused high schools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scott, Catherine Elizabeth

This study examined the characteristics of 10 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused high schools. A comparative case designed was used to identify key components of STEM school designs. Schools were selected from various regions across the United States. Data collected included websites, national statistics database, standardized test scores, interviews and published articles. Results from this study indicate that there is a variety of STEM high school programs designed to increase students' ability to pursue college degrees in STEM fields. The school mission statements influence the overall school design. Students at STEM schools must submit an application to be admitted to STEM high schools. Half of the STEM high schools used a lottery system to select students. STEM high schools have a higher population of black students and a lower population of white and Hispanic students than most schools in the United States. They serve about the same number of economically disadvantaged students. The academic programs at STEM high schools are more rigorous with electives focused on STEM content. In addition to coursework requirements, students must also complete internships and/or a capstone project. Teachers who teach in STEM schools are provided regularly scheduled professional development activities that focus on STEM content and pedagogy. Teachers provide leadership in the development and delivery of the professional development activities.

Leadership for Dummies: A Capstone Project for Leadership Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Lori L.; Odom, Summer F.; Wied, Lexi M.

2011-01-01

Capstone courses in leadership provide students opportunities to synthesize prior knowledge about various aspects of leadership. This article describes the "Leadership for Dummies" project, which could be used as a capstone experience for leadership majors. Based on his experiences as a psychological researcher, Gardner (2008) identified five…

Describing Typical Capstone Course Experiences from a National Random Sample

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grahe, Jon E.; Hauhart, Robert C.

2013-01-01

The pedagogical value of capstones has been regularly discussed within psychology. This study presents results from an examination of a national random sample of department webpages and an online survey that characterized the typical capstone course in terms of classroom activities and course administration. The department webpages provide an…

Capstone Experiences in Small MPA Programs in the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Younhee

2017-01-01

A capstone experience, as an exit degree requirement, allows Master of Public Administration (MPA) students to build quasi-experimental practices by applying learned knowledge and skills throughout their curriculum in the United States. Accredited MPA programs have implemented their capstone courses differently to achieve required standards. Small…

ETV/COMBINED HEAT AND POWER AT A COMMERCIAL SUPERMARKET CAPSTONE 60 KW MICROTURBINE SYSTEM

EPA Science Inventory

The Environmental Technology Verification report discusses the technology and performance of the Capstone 60 Microturbine CHP System manufactured by Capstone Microturbine Corporation. This system is a 60 kW electrical generator that puts out 480 v AC at 60 Hz and that is driven b...

The Senior Capstone, Dome or Spire?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heinemann, Robert L.

This paper examines a basic philosophical issue involved with the purpose of a senior capstone communication course required of all majors. The issue involves two opposites: closure, represented by the dome, and further exploration, represented by the spire. Both approaches have legitimate claims for a capstone course. There is definitely a need…

Service-Learning in a Capstone Modeling Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berkove, Ethan

2013-01-01

A capstone course is often synthetic, bringing together many components of a student's educational background. For this reason, a project-based course in mathematical modeling makes a great capstone, as modeling problems often require a broad collection of mathematical tools for their solution. The addition of a service-learning component can…

A Survey of Statistical Capstone Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martonosi, Susan E.; Williams, Talithia D.

2016-01-01

In this article, we highlight the advantages of incorporating a statistical capstone experience in the undergraduate curriculum, where students perform an in-depth analysis of real-world data. Capstone experiences develop statistical thinking by allowing students to engage in a consulting-like experience that requires skills outside the scope of…

Capstone Business Course Assessment: Exploring Student Readiness Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Payne, Stephen L.; Flynn, Jan; Whitfield, J. Michael

2008-01-01

In addition to assessment of student-learning outcomes in capstone business courses, an assessment concern is student readiness for these typical capstone experiences. A review of both (a) the literature on learning retention or application and student dispositions for undertaking significant learning challenges and (b) the authors' preliminary…

Cost, Schedule, And Performance Elements For Comparison of Hydrodynamic Models of Near-Surface Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Operations

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

2-89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239-18 ii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK iii Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited. COST ...from the scope of this demonstration due to time constraints. Further study of this software would benefit similar cost , schedule, and performance...NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA SYSTEMS ENGINEERING CAPSTONE PROJECT REPORT Approved for public release. Distribution

Improved airfield damage assessment System (IADAS) capstone

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-09-01

96  Figure C-1.  Russian RBK-500 BetAB Cluster Bomb . Sources: Jane’s Air Launched Weapons (2007) and Flankers Site (2017...127  Figure C-2.  Russian RBK-500RTM AO Cluster Bomb . Sources: International Campaign to Ban Landmines (2012) and The Fighter...AFCEC Air Force Civil Engineer Center AoA analysis of alternatives CBU cluster bomb unit CCDR combatant commanders COCOMO II Constructive Cost Model

Application of Model-based Systems Engineering Methods to Development of Combat System Architectures

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-04-22

Spt: Chacon , Hoang, Matela, Sarabia Supportability *Carpenter, Banner-Bacin, Chacon , Kinberg M&S Across Acq Manz Independent Kang, Chandler Advisor M...W entland SW / O A *W entland, Sysavath; Spt: Carpenter, Sung, Mend iola M&S/CORE *Pham , Kong, Va ldez, Vasquez; Spt: Chacon , Hoang, Matela...Sarabia Supportability *Carpenter, Banner-Bacin, Chacon , Kinberg M&S Across Acq Manz Independent Kang, Chandler Advisor M Green Capstone Architect

Collaborative Invention in Computer Prototype Design: Negotiating Group Processes and Artifacts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Werner, Mark

A study looked at four groups of mostly senior graphic and industrial design students in their final semester capstone course--a collaborative studio project intended to give them the opportunity to apply their design expertise to real-world problems for real clients. The study examined the ways in which one of these groups used arguments to…

Capping Them Off! Exploring and Explaining the Patterns in Undergraduate Capstone Subjects in Australian Business Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Acker, Liz; Bailey, Janis; Wilson, Keithia; French, Erica

2014-01-01

Universities are increasingly offering capstone subjects as part of curricula to prepare final-year undergraduates for employment through consolidating and integrating their knowledge and skills while bridging the gap between academic learning and professional work. This study investigates capstone subjects offered by Australian business schools,…

Capstone Experiences in Career and Technical Education. Practice Application Brief No. 16.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kerka, Sandra

Capstones are culminating experiences in which students synthesize subject-matter knowledge they have acquired, integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge, and connect theory and application in preparation for entry into a career. Capstone courses should be both a synthesis and a bridge to students' future after graduation. In career and technical…

The Biology Major Capstone Experience: Measurements of Accountability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davis, Thomas A.

2011-01-01

Loras College senior biology and biology research majors are required to take a comprehensive exam, give an oral presentation, write this talk into their thesis and participate in an exit interview with a non-biology faculty member before they graduate. Details of these capstone experiences will be discussed further. Other capstone experiences…

Standards in capstone design courses and the engineering curriculum.

PubMed

Goldberg, Jay

2012-01-01

In 1990, I was the group leader of Research and Development for Surgitek, a urological device manufacturer in Racine, Wisconsin, which was the market leader in ureteral stents. I recognized the need for an industry standard for ureteral stents, felt that taking a leadership role in the development of a new standard would be a good professional development activity, and volunteered to serve as the chair of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM, now known as ASTM International) Task Group on Ureteral Stents. After several years, the standard was approved, and I continue to serve as the chair of the ASTM Subcommittee on Urological Materials and Devices. This experience helped me understand the value of industry standards, expanded my professional network and visibility within the medical device industry, and helped develop my leadership skills.

Individualizing a capstone project: a cruise ship nurse creates a brochure about the Norwalk virus.

PubMed

Campbell, William T; Benn, Sonja

2011-01-01

An MS capstone is a summative academic project where the student is expected to combine personal experience, previous nursing knowledge, and newly acquired graduate nursing skills and integrate them into practice. The authors discuss the challenges of a capstone project from the committee chair and student perspectives. This family nurse practitioner student was a cruise ship nurse who identified a need related to the Norwalk virus. The committee chair needed to direct the student through the capstone formal process while helping her to create a professional brochure to educate future travelers.

Student Scientific Inquiry in the Core Curriculum

PubMed Central

Vansal, Sandeep S.; Moore, Ronnie J.; Feldman, Stuart

2013-01-01

Objective. To design and implement a required student-driven research program as a capstone experience in the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum. Design. A research proposal in the form of a competitive grant application was required for each of 65 fourth-year students in an inaugural PharmD class at Touro College of Pharmacy in New York. The focus of the proposals was on hypothesis-driven research in basic science, clinical research, health outcomes, and public health. Assessment. Students’ research proposals were graded using a standardized grading instrument. On a post-experience survey, most students rated the overall experience positively, indicating increased confidence in their research skills. About two-thirds of faculty members were satisfied with their students’ performance, and the great majority thought the experience would be useful in the students’ careers. Conclusion. The capstone research project was a positive experience for fourth-year students. PMID:24159217

Teaching Management Information Systems as a General Education Requirement (GER) Capstone

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoanca, Bogdan

2012-01-01

Although many IS programs nationwide use capstone courses in the major, this paper reports on the use of an upper division Management Information Systems (MIS) class as a general education requirements (GER) capstone. The class is a core requirement for all majors in the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program at the University of Alaska…

Developing and Implementing an Undergraduate Finance Capstone Course for Both Onground and Online Course Delivery

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wiechowski, Linda S.

2010-01-01

Capstone courses provide an opportunity to integrate several topics and to help prepare students for the real world. This paper examines the process of developing an undergraduate finance capstone course for both onground (face-to-face) and online course delivery. The process begins with the determination of the core competencies employers require…

The MBA Capstone Course: Building Theoretical, Practical, Applied, and Reflective Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Inamdar, Syeda Noorein; Roldan, Malu

2013-01-01

The capstone strategy course is used in many management education programs to provide practical business relevance as a means for students to transition to the business world. We conducted an empirical study to determine to what extent capstone strategy courses are teaching the following four skills that prepare students to meet business job…

History and Systems of Psychology: A Course to Unite a Core Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Joshua L.; McCarley, Nancy; Kraft, John

2013-01-01

Core curricula are designed, in part, to help undergraduate students become intellectually well-rounded. To merge core curricula with the components of the scholarship of teaching and learning movement, students engaged in core curricula need capstone courses designed to aid them in retaining information over the long term and synthesizing…

The Socratic Method: Empirical Assessment of a Psychology Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burns, Lawrence R.; Stephenson, Paul L.; Bellamy, Katy

2016-01-01

Although students make some epistemological progress during college, most graduate without developing meaning-making strategies that reflect an understanding that knowledge is socially constructed. Using a pre-test-post-test design and a within-subjects 2 × 2 mixed-design ANOVA, this study reports on empirical findings which support the Socratic…

Deep Space Habitat Wireless Smart Plug

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morgan, Joseph A.; Porter, Jay; Rojdev, Kristina; Carrejo, Daniel B.; Colozza, Anthony J.

2014-01-01

NASA has been interested in technology development for deep space exploration, and one avenue of developing these technologies is via the eXploration Habitat (X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge. In 2013, NASA's Deep Space Habitat (DSH) project was in need of sensors that could monitor the power consumption of various devices in the habitat with added capability to control the power to these devices for load shedding in emergency situations. Texas A&M University's Electronic Systems Engineering Technology Program (ESET) in conjunction with their Mobile Integrated Solutions Laboratory (MISL) accepted this challenge, and over the course of 2013, several undergraduate students in a Capstone design course developed five wireless DC Smart Plugs for NASA. The wireless DC Smart Plugs developed by Texas A&M in conjunction with NASA's Deep Space Habitat team is a first step in developing wireless instrumentation for future flight hardware. This paper will further discuss the X-Hab challenge and requirements set out by NASA, the detailed design and testing performed by Texas A&M, challenges faced by the team and lessons learned, and potential future work on this design.

Water Channel Facility for Fluid Dynamics Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eslam-Panah, Azar; Sabatino, Daniel

2016-11-01

This study presents the design, assembly, and verification process of the circulating water channel constructed by undergraduate students at the Penn State University at Berks. This work was significantly inspired from the closed-loop free-surface water channel at Lafayette College (Sabatino and Maharjan, 2015) and employed for experiments in fluid dynamics. The channel has a 11 ft length, 2.5 ft width, and 2 ft height glass test section with a maximum velocity of 3.3 ft/s. First, the investigation justifies the needs of a water channel in an undergraduate institute and its potential applications in the whole field of engineering. Then, the design procedures applied to find the geometry and material of some elements of the channel, especially the contraction, the test section, the inlet and end tanks, and the pump system are described. The optimization of the contraction design, including the maintenance of uniform exit flow and avoidance of flow separation, is also included. Finally, the discussion concludes by identifying the problems with the undergraduate education through this capstone project and suggesting some new investigations to improve flow quality.

GSBPP CAPSTONE REVIEW

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

including the GSBPP exit survey , archived GSBPP capstones, faculty advisement data, faculty interviews, and a new GSBPP student survey in order to detail...analysis from multiple sources, including the GSBPP exit survey , archived GSBPP capstones, faculty advisement data, faculty interviews, and a new...GSBPP student survey in order to detail the capstone’s process, content, and value to multiple stakeholders. The project team also employs the Plan-Do

The Content and Integrative Component of Capstone Experiences: An Analysis of Political Science Undergraduate Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hummer, Jill Abraham

2014-01-01

In 1991, the APSA Task Force on Political Science recommended elements of a curricular structure that would best promote student learning. The report stated that there should be a capstone experience at the end of the senior year and that the capstone should require students to integrate their whole learning experience in the major. This article…

The Application of Self-Directed Learning in a Marketing Strategy Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gray, David M.

2011-01-01

Capstone courses can create a space for students and educators to act as co-producers of desired learning outcomes which are directly relevant to the world of work. This study uses an auto-ethnographic case study approach to demonstrate how a mixed model learning approach evolved in a capstone marketing strategy unit in a marketing major at an…

Taking a Case Method Capstone Course Online: A Comparative Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gill, T. Grandon; Mullarkey, Matthew T.

2015-01-01

A capstone course is normally offered at the end of a program of study with the goal of helping students synthesize what they have learned in the courses preceding it. The paper describes such a course--an undergraduate capstone course for MIS majors--that was built around case discussions and projects and originally offered in a face-to-face…

Improving motivation and engagement in core engineering courses with student teams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trenshaw, Kathryn Faye

Team-based projects are common in capstone engineering design courses and increasingly common in first-year engineering programs. Despite high enrollments and budget cutbacks affecting many programs, second- and third-year students can also benefit from team-based project experiences, which motivate them to succeed in engineering and prepare them for a globally competitive workforce. My dissertation research demonstrates that team design projects can be incorporated into the curricula of engineering departments, and these projects result in positive affective outcomes for students. Using ABET outcomes and Self Determination Theory (SDT) as the background for my studies, I investigated students' confidence, motivation, and sense of community after experiencing team design projects in two different engineering departments at a large public institution. In the first study, I used a sequential mixed methods approach with a primary quantitative phase followed by an explanatory qualitative phase to evaluate a chemical engineering program that integrated team design projects throughout the curriculum. The evaluation methods included a survey based on desired ABET outcomes for students and focus groups to expand on the quantitative results. Students reported increased confidence in their design, teamwork, and communication skills after completing the projects. In my second and third studies, I used qualitative interviews based on SDT to explore student motivation in an electrical and computer engineering course redesigned to support students' intrinsic motivation to learn. SDT states that intrinsic motivation to learn is supported by increasing students' sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in regard to their learning. Using both narrative inquiry and phenomenological methodologies, I analyzed data from interviews of students for mentions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness as well as course events that were critical in changing students' motivation. Analysis revealed that individual choice, constructive failures, and a strong sense of community in the classroom were critical to moving students toward intrinsic motivation. Further, community building through team experiences characterized the essence of the student experience in the course. My research highlights a need for better quantitative measures of students' affective outcomes, specifically motivation, in the context of a single course. Based on the results of my studies, SDT should be reevaluated in terms of possible interdependencies between autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and how the social context of large engineering courses may create a deeper need for supporting relatedness.

6. EXTERIOR VIEW OF HILLMAN FAN HOUSE LOOKING WEST The ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

6. EXTERIOR VIEW OF HILLMAN FAN HOUSE LOOKING WEST The engine house is on the right. The end of the 1883 Pittston Steam Engine cylinder head and steam chest is visible in the doorway. Although its stairs are missing, the iron framing of a porch stands in front of what was a doorway. The entrance door to the north airlock is visible inside the enlarged window. The end view of the upshaft chimney shows the brick ribbing for support, the brick corbelling, and concrete capstones. - Dorrance Colliery Fan Complex, South side of Susquehanna River at Route 115 & Riechard Street, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, PA

Aircraft integrated design and analysis: A classroom experience

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weisshaar, Terrence A.

1989-01-01

AAE 451 is the capstone course required of all senior undergraduates in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. During the past year the first steps of a long evolutionary process were taken to change the content and expectations of this course. These changes are the result of the availability of advanced computational capabilities and sophisticated electronic media availability at Purdue. This presentation will describe both the long range objectives and this year's experience using the High Speed Commercial Transport design, the AIAA Long Duration Aircraft design and RPV design proposal as project objectives. The central goal of these efforts is to provide a user-friendly, computer-software-based environment to supplement traditional design course methodology. The Purdue University Computer Center (PUCC), the Engineering Computer Network (ECN) and stand-alone PC's are being used for this development. This year's accomplishments center primarily on aerodynamics software obtained from NASA/Langley and its integration into the classroom. Word processor capability for oral and written work and computer graphics were also blended into the course. A total of ten HSCT designs were generated, ranging from twin-fuselage aircraft, forward swept wing aircraft to the more traditional delta and double-delta wing aircraft. Four Long Duration Aircraft designs were submitted, together with one RPV design tailored for photographic surveillance.

TriviaPrep: The Design and Development of a Competitive Academic Trivia Application

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bailey, Sean D.

2017-01-01

An ever-growing trend in education is the integration of mobile devices in the school setting, especially considering the abundance of research available on BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Not surprisingly, a common concern found is the lack of student interest in educational applications. This capstone reports a summary of the research, design, and…

Assessment of the quality and applicability of an e-portfolio capstone assessment item within a bachelor of midwifery program.

PubMed

Baird, Kathleen; Gamble, Jenny; Sidebotham, Mary

2016-09-01

Education programs leading to professional licencing need to ensure assessments throughout the program are constructively aligned and mapped to the specific professional expectations. Within the final year of an undergraduate degree, a student is required to transform and prepare for professional practice. Establishing assessment items that are authentic and able to reflect this transformation is a challenge for universities. This paper both describes the considerations around the design of a capstone assessment and evaluates, from an academics perspective, the quality and applicability of an e-portfolio as a capstone assessment item for undergraduate courses leading to a professional qualification. The e-portfolio was seen to meet nine quality indicators for assessment. Academics evaluated the e-portfolio as an authentic assessment item that would engage the students and provide them with a platform for ongoing professional development and lifelong learning. The processes of reflection on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, comparison of clinical experiences with national statistics, preparation of professional philosophy and development of a curriculum vitae, whilst recognised as comprehensive and challenging were seen as highly valuable to the student transforming into the profession. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Incorporating service-learning within engineering and technology education in secondary schools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smiley, Craig L.

This study focuses the status of service-learning incorporated into the secondary engineering and technology classroom in the State of Indiana. Post-secondary engineering service-learning programs have been found to increase student interest in engineering to attract females into engineering (Coyle, Jamieson, & Oakes, 2005). Engineering, Design, and Development (EDD) is the capstone class of Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum taught in many schools across Indiana, in which students design and develop a project that addresses an open-ended engineering problem. Of all the courses offered in the PLTW curriculum, this has the greatest potential for students to engage in a service-learning project, because the open-ended engineering problem could be used to help the community. A Likert-type survey was sent to the 62 secondary technology education teachers in Indiana who were certified to teach EDD during the 2011-2012 school year to identify the frequency at which the core components of service-learning, as identified by the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (2006), were being implemented in the EDD curriculum. Fifteen teachers completed the survey by the end of the 2011-2012 academic calendar. Four of the 15 EDD teachers (27%) reported that a majority of their students' projects addressed a need in the community, and therefore were considered to be service-learning projects. The percentage of projects that were called service-learning projects by the respondents appeared to have a direct relationship with the total number of students enrolled in the PLTW program, and an inverse relationship with the number of years the teacher had been teaching technology education. Upon further study, only 2 of these EDD teachers (13%) were guiding students to collaborate with their community partner frequently enough to have an experience indicative of high quality service-learning according to the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse.

Shifting Paradigms in Management Education: What Happens When We Take Groups Seriously.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mundell, Bryan; Pennarola, Ferdinando

1999-01-01

An Italian university's capstone business administration course is designed around andragogical principles. Students spend 90% of their time in independent teamwork on multidisciplinary problems. The course uses information technology in the form of databases and networked computers. (SK)

An Industrial Analysis for Integrating Business Subjects.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kapusinski, Albert T.

1986-01-01

Describes the industrial analysis seminar at Caldwell College (New Jersey), which was designed to be a capstone course for undergraduate business majors, allowing them to bring business topics into focus by using all their collected business acumen: accounting, marketing, management, economics, law, etc. (CT)

Engaging Undergraduates to Solve Global Health Challenges: A New Approach Based on Bioengineering Design

PubMed Central

Oden, Maria; Mirabal, Yvette; Epstein, Marc

2010-01-01

Recent reports have highlighted the need for educational programs to prepare students for careers developing and disseminating new interventions that improve global public health. Because of its multi-disciplinary, design-centered nature, the field of Biomedical Engineering can play an important role in meeting this challenge. This article describes a new program at Rice University to give undergraduate students from all disciplines a broad background in bioengineering and global health and provides an initial assessment of program impact. Working in partnership with health care providers in developing countries, students in the Beyond Traditional Borders (BTB) initiative learn about health challenges of the poor and put this knowledge to work immediately, using the engineering design process as a framework to formulate solutions to complex global health challenges. Beginning with a freshman design project and continuing through a capstone senior design course, the BTB curriculum uses challenges provided by partners in the developing world to teach students to integrate perspectives from multiple disciplines, and to develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. Exceptional students implement their designs under the guidance of clinicians through summer international internships. Since 2006, 333 students have designed more than 40 technologies and educational programs; 28 have been implemented in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, southeast Asia, and the United States. More than 18,000 people have benefited from these designs. 95% of alumni who completed an international internship reported that participation in the program changed or strengthened their career plans to include a focus on global health medicine, research, and/or policy. Empowering students to use bioengineering design to address real problems is an effective way to teach the new generation of leaders needed to solve global health challenges. PMID:20387116

Strategic Distraction: The Consequence of Neglecting Organizational Design

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-08-01

Richard L. Daft , Organization Theory and Design , 10th ed. (Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2010), 59. 7. Ibid., 11. 8. Ibid., 14–18. 9. Richard ...managerial texts but often with shockingly little depth. Take for example Richard Daft’s capstone text Organization Theory and Design . One might consider...was dominated by his inbox.”2 Without the corrective emphasis on design within the organization , the DOD has begun what many

An Approach to Integrating Health Disparities within Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Education.

PubMed

Vazquez, Maribel; Marte, Otto; Barba, Joseph; Hubbard, Karen

2017-11-01

Health disparities are preventable differences in the incidence, prevalence and burden of disease among communities targeted by gender, geographic location, ethnicity and/or socio-economic status. While biomedical research has identified partial origin(s) of divergent burden and impact of disease, the innovation needed to eradicate health disparities in the United States requires unique engagement from biomedical engineers. Increasing awareness of the prevalence and consequences of health disparities is particularly attractive to today's undergraduates, who have undauntedly challenged paradigms believed to foster inequality. Here, the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The City College of New York (CCNY) has leveraged its historical mission of access-and-excellence to integrate the study of health disparities into undergraduate BME curricula. This article describes our novel approach in a multiyear study that: (i) Integrated health disparities modules at all levels of the required undergraduate BME curriculum; (ii) Developed opportunities to include impacts of health disparities into undergraduate BME research projects and mentored High School summer STEM training; and (iii) Established health disparities-based challenges as BME capstone design and/or independent entrepreneurship projects. Results illustrate the rising awareness of health disparities among the youngest BMEs-to-be, as well as abundant undergraduate desire to integrate health disparities within BME education and training.

Creation of an Aeronautical Capstone Design Project Program at Ohio State University

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-08

Equation 12 below. As Figure 35 shows, a single adhesively bonded lap joint is considered. The epoxy only sees a load in the axial direction. In...lap joint [1] = = ( ) 12 =stress distribution factor = applied load in the axial direction ...Figure 11. The joints are designed to handle the bending loads of horizontal, vertical and angled deployment and are designed to directly load the carbon

CA 2025: The Strategic Design of Civil Affairs

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-01

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA CAPSTONE PROJECT Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited CA 2025...Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE June 2015 3. REPORT TYPE AND...Airborne) 96th CA BN(A) 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) AAA American Anthropological Association AC active component ADM Army Design

Potential of the Cogex Software Platform to Replace Logbooks in Capstone Design Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Foley, David; Charron, François; Plante, Jean-Sébastien

2018-01-01

Recent technologies are offering the power to share and grow knowledge and ideas in unprecedented ways. The CogEx software platform was developed to take advantage of the digital world with innovative ideas to support designers work in both industrial and academic contexts. This paper presents a qualitative study on the usage of CogEx during…

Closed Brayton cycle power conversion systems for nuclear reactors :

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wright, Steven A.; Lipinski, Ronald J.; Vernon, Milton E.

2006-04-01

This report describes the results of a Sandia National Laboratories internally funded research program to study the coupling of nuclear reactors to gas dynamic Brayton power conversion systems. The research focused on developing integrated dynamic system models, fabricating a 10-30 kWe closed loop Brayton cycle, and validating these models by operating the Brayton test-loop. The work tasks were performed in three major areas. First, the system equations and dynamic models for reactors and Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) systems were developed and implemented in SIMULINKTM. Within this effort, both steady state and dynamic system models for all the components (turbines, compressors,more » reactors, ducting, alternators, heat exchangers, and space based radiators) were developed and assembled into complete systems for gas cooled reactors, liquid metal reactors, and electrically heated simulators. Various control modules that use proportional-integral-differential (PID) feedback loops for the reactor and the power-conversion shaft speed were also developed and implemented. The simulation code is called RPCSIM (Reactor Power and Control Simulator). In the second task an open cycle commercially available Capstone C30 micro-turbine power generator was modified to provide a small inexpensive closed Brayton cycle test loop called the Sandia Brayton test-Loop (SBL-30). The Capstone gas-turbine unit housing was modified to permit the attachment of an electrical heater and a water cooled chiller to form a closed loop. The Capstone turbine, compressor, and alternator were used without modification. The Capstone systems nominal operating point is 1150 K turbine inlet temperature at 96,000 rpm. The annular recuperator and portions of the Capstone control system (inverter) and starter system also were reused. The rotational speed of the turbo-machinery is controlled by adjusting the alternator load by using the electrical grid as the load bank. The SBL-30 test loop was operated at the manufacturers site (Barber-Nichols Inc.) and installed and operated at Sandia. A sufficiently detailed description of the loop is provided in this report along with the design characteristics of the turbo-alternator-compressor set to allow other researchers to compare their results with those measured in the Sandia test-loop. The third task consisted of a validation effort. In this task the test loop was operated and compared with the modeled results to develop a more complete understanding of this electrically heated closed power generation system and to validate the model. The measured and predicted system temperatures and pressures are in good agreement, indicating that the model is a reasonable representation of the test loop. Typical deviations between the model and the hardware results are less than 10%. Additional tests were performed to assess the capability of the Brayton engine to continue to remove decay heat after the reactor/heater is shutdown, to develop safe and effective control strategies, and to access the effectiveness of gas inventory control as an alternative means to provide load following. In one test the heater power was turned off to simulate a rapid reactor shutdown, and the turbomachinery was driven solely by the sensible heat stored in the heater for over 71 minutes without external power input. This is an important safety feature for CBC systems as it means that the closed Brayton loop will keep cooling the reactor without the need for auxiliary power (other than that needed to circulate the waste heat rejection coolant) provided the heat sink is available.« less

The South Carolina Amazing Coast Program: Using Ocean Sciences to Address Next Generation Science Standards in Grades 3-5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bell, E. V.; Thomas, C.; Weiss, B.; Bliss, A.; Spence, L.

2013-12-01

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are more inclusive of ocean sciences than the National Science Standards and respective state science standards. In response, the Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence-SouthEast (COSEE SE) is piloting the South Carolina's Amazing Coast (SCAC) program: a three-year initiative that incorporates ocean science concepts in grades 3-5 with the goals of addressing NGSS, STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) disciplines, and inquiry skills. The SCAC program targeted two Charleston County, South Carolina elementary schools that were demographically similar: Title 1 status (75% free or reduced lunch), > 90% African American student population, grade level size <55, and proximity to tidal salt marsh or barrier islands (< 2 miles). Fourteen teachers and approximately 240 students participated in the SCAC program between 2010 and 2013. The SCAC framework uses a scaffolding and multi-pronged approach for teacher professional development and student engagement. The scaffolding approach to curriculum implementation focuses on one grade level per year (Year 1 = 3rd; Year 2 = 4th, and Year 3 = 5th), thus building student and teacher literacy in ocean sciences. The coach-mentor model of teacher professional development was also used for the implementation of the program which differs from the traditional 'train the trainer' method in allowing for more frequent and consistent interaction by COSEE SE staff with the students and teachers during the school year. The coach mentor model enabled the creation of a community of practice where teachers served as both learners and practitioners of student learning. Methods for student engagement aligned with the NGSS and included hands-on classroom activities, use of 'hook' species such as loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) and smooth cord grass (Spartina alterniflora), field experiences to explore local ecosystems, interactions with marine scientists, and a capstone project incorporating STEM and inquiry skills. Specifically, third grade students learn about coastal habitats, animal and plant adaptations, and human impacts to the environment, and engage in a salt marsh restoration capstone project. This part of the curriculum aligns with the NGSS Core Ideas 3-LS1, 3-LS3, 3-LS4, 3-ESS3. The fourth grade students learn about weather, organism responses to the environment, and engage in a weather buoy construction capstone project. This part of the curriculum aligns with the NGSSS Core Ideas 4-LS1, 4-ESS2, 4-ESS3, 3-5-ETS1. In 5th grade, students focus specifically on the ocean ecosystem, human impacts on the environment and engage in a capstone project of designing and constructing remotely operated vehicles. This part of the curriculum aligns with NGSS Core Ideas 5-PS2, 5-LS1, 5-LS2, 5-ESS2, 3-5-ETS1. Initial evaluation results indicate that the SCAC teachers value the coach mentor approach for teacher professional development as well as the impact of field based experiences, place-based learning, and a culminating capstone project on student learning. Teacher feedback also indicates elements of sustainability that extend beyond the scope of the pilot project.These initial evaluation results poise the SCAC curriculum to be replicated in other southeastern states.

CAPSTONE SENIOR DESIGN - SUPRAMOLECULAR PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANES FOR FUEL CELLS

EPA Science Inventory

In order to assume a leading role in the burgeoning hydrogen economy, new infrastructure will be required for fuel cell manufacturing and R&D capabilities. The objective of this proposal is the development of a new generation of advanced proton exchange membrane (PEM) technol...

Increasing Active Learning and End-Client Interaction in the Systems Analysis and Design and Capstone Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reinicke, Bryan A.; Janicki, Thomas N.

2010-01-01

Systems analysis and design (SAD) is one of the core courses offered in most IS programs, yet this class can be challenging for students and instructors alike. The concepts can be abstract, and getting students to appreciate their importance can be difficult. This paper discusses the implementation of a two semester sequence in which the students…

Designing Journalism Capstone Units That Demonstrate Student Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cullen, Trevor

2016-01-01

There are considerable differences in the structure, content, and delivery of tertiary journalism degrees in Australia as identified in a 2014 Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT) Innovation and Development Project report on graduate qualities and journalism curriculum renewal. To address this situation, the author argues for journalism capstone…

Enhancing Knowledge Integration: An Information System Capstone Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steiger, David M.

2009-01-01

This database project focuses on learning through knowledge integration; i.e., sharing and applying specialized (database) knowledge within a group, and combining it with other business knowledge to create new knowledge. Specifically, the Tiny Tots, Inc. project described below requires students to design, build, and instantiate a database system…

Student scientific inquiry in the core curriculum.

PubMed

Vaidean, Georgeta D; Vansal, Sandeep S; Moore, Ronnie J; Feldman, Stuart

2013-10-14

To design and implement a required student-driven research program as a capstone experience in the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum. A research proposal in the form of a competitive grant application was required for each of 65 fourth-year students in an inaugural PharmD class at Touro College of Pharmacy in New York. The focus of the proposals was on hypothesis-driven research in basic science, clinical research, health outcomes, and public health. Students' research proposals were graded using a standardized grading instrument. On a post-experience survey, most students rated the overall experience positively, indicating increased confidence in their research skills. About two-thirds of faculty members were satisfied with their students' performance, and the great majority thought the experience would be useful in the students' careers. The capstone research project was a positive experience for fourth-year students.

The evolution of a doctor of nursing practice capstone process: programmatic revisions to improve the quality of student projects.

PubMed

Nelson, Joan M; Cook, Paul F; Raterink, Ginger

2013-01-01

The past several years have seen explosive growth in the number of doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree programs offered by colleges of nursing in the United States. Through a process of trial and error since 2005, the faculty at the University of Colorado, College of Nursing, have revised the course structure and procedures related to the DNP capstone project to improve the quality and usefulness of these student projects. Efforts have focused on educating and involving all nursing faculty in the DNP capstone process, distinguishing between competencies for our PhD and DNP projects, clearly aligning the DNP capstone project with quality improvement methods rather than with research, working with our campus institutional review board to clarify regulatory review requirements for quality improvement studies, developing a review committee to oversee DNP students' projects, and structuring our sequential course requirements to encourage students' professional presentations and publications. Our current capstone process reflects 7 years of iterative work, which we summarize in this article in hopes that it will help institutions currently in the process of developing a DNP program. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

AIAA Educator Academy: Enriching STEM Education for K-12 Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slagle, E.; Bering, E. A.; Longmier, B. W.; Henriquez, E.; Milnes, T.; Wiedorn, P.; Bacon, L.

2012-12-01

Educator Academy is a K-12 STEM curriculum developed by the STEM K-12 Outreach Committee of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Consisting of three independent curriculum modules, K-12 students participate in inquiry-based engineering challenges to improve critical thinking skills and enhance problem solving skills. The Mars Rover Celebration Curriculum Module is designed for students in grades 3-8. Throughout this module, students learn about Mars and the solar system. Working with given design criteria, students work in teams to do basic research about Mars that will determine the operational objectives and structural features of their rover. Then, students participate in the design and construction of a model of a mock-up Mars Rover to carry out a specific science mission on the surface of Mars. At the end of this project, students have the opportunity to participate in a regional capstone event where students share their rover designs and what they have learned. The Electric Cargo Plan Curriculum Module is designed for students in grades 6-12. Throughout this module, students learn about aerodynamics and the four forces of flight. Working individually or in teams, students design and construct an electrically-powered model aircraft to fly a tethered flight of at least one lap without cargo, followed by a second tethered flight of one lap carrying as much cargo as possible. At the end of this project, students have the opportunity to participate in a regional capstone event where students share what they have learned and compete with their different cargo plane designs. The Space Weather Balloon Curriculum Module is designed for students in grades 9-12. Throughout this module, students learn and refine physics concepts as well as experimental research skills. Students participate in project-based learning that is experimental in nature. Students are engaged with the world around them as they collaborate to launch a high altitude balloon equipped with HD cameras. To better assist teachers in implementing one or more of these Curriculum Modules, teacher workshops are held to give teachers a hands-on look at how this curriculum is used in the classroom. And, to provide further support, teachers are each provided with an AIAA professional member as a mentor for themselves and/or their students. These curriculum modules, provided by AIAA are available to any K-12 teachers as well as EPO officers for use in formal or informal education settings.

Engineering Management Capstone Project EM 697: Compare and Contrast Risk Management Implementation at NASA and the US Army

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brothers, Mary Ann; Safie, Fayssal M. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and the U.S. Army at Redstone Arsenal were analyzed to determine whether they were successful in implementing their risk management program. Risk management implementation surveys were distributed to aid in this analysis. The scope is limited to NASA S&MA (Safety and Mission Assurance) at MSFC, including applicable support contractors, and the US Army Engineering Directorate, including applicable contractors, located at Redstone Arsenal. NASA has moderately higher risk management implementation survey scores than the Army. Accordingly, the implementation of the risk management program at NASA is considered good while only two of five of the survey categories indicated that the risk management implementation is good at the Army.

A national comparison of biochemistry and molecular biology capstone experiences.

PubMed

Aguanno, Ann; Mertz, Pamela; Martin, Debra; Bell, Ellis

2015-01-01

Recognizing the increasingly integrative nature of the molecular life sciences, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) recommends that Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) programs develop curricula based on concepts, content, topics, and expected student outcomes, rather than courses. To that end, ASBMB conducted a series of regional workshops to build a BMB Concept Inventory containing validated assessment tools, based on foundational and discipline-specific knowledge and essential skills, for the community to use. A culminating activity, which integrates the educational experience, is often part of undergraduate molecular life science programs. These "capstone" experiences are commonly defined as an attempt to measure student ability to synthesize and integrate acquired knowledge. However, the format, implementation, and approach to outcome assessment of these experiences are quite varied across the nation. Here we report the results of a nation-wide survey on BMB capstone experiences and discuss this in the context of published reports about capstones and the findings of the workshops driving the development of the BMB Concept Inventory. Both the survey results and the published reports reveal that, although capstone practices do vary, certain formats for the experience are used more frequently and similarities in learning objectives were identified. The use of rubrics to measure student learning is also regularly reported, but details about these assessment instruments are sparse in the literature and were not a focus of our survey. Finally, we outline commonalities in the current practice of capstones and suggest the next steps needed to elucidate best practices. © 2015 The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Advanced Marketing/Coop Course Outline.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dixon, Bobby

This document contains the information required to present a 1-year school course that is the capstone class of a 2-year marketing major and is designed for high school students wishing to develop the skills required for entry into the marketing industry. The document begins with a rationale, brief course description, list of course objectives,…

Online Module to Assure Success as Prelicensure Nursing Students Transition to Professional Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baptiste, Diana-Lyn; Shaefer, Sarah J. M.

2015-01-01

Prelicensure nursing students have a final capstone, practicum, or clinical course as they transition to the professional nurse role. Generally, the student role requires increased independent practice and this can be a challenge. To maximize learning in this clinical experience, an online module was designed. This article will describe course…

An Investigation of the Implementation of Support Services in a Graduate Advising Center

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maxey, Susan W.

2014-01-01

This capstone examined the differences in support services provided for undergraduate versus graduate students. From the research, a centralized advising system was designed and implemented for graduate students at a public state supported university in Kentucky to help students be more satisfied with their graduate school experience and increase…

Case Study Effectiveness in a Team-Teaching and General-Education Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olorunnisola, Anthony A.; Ramasubramanian, Srividya; Russill, Chris; Dumas, Josephine

2003-01-01

This paper examines the effectiveness of the case study method in a team-teaching environment designed to augment a large capstone communications course that satisfies general education requirements. Results from a survey revealed that the use of case study enhanced the otherwise missing connection between the large lecture and the recitation…

The Value of Oral Feedback in the Context of Capstone Projects in Design Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karlsen, Kristine Hoeg

2017-01-01

Research frequently reports student dissatisfaction with feedback in higher education. Large class sizes and modularization challenge teachers in providing useful feedback. Most of these studies have investigated student perceptions of written feedback in coursework, and few attempts have been made considering feedback in face-to-face contexts…

Disciplined Imagination: Art and Metaphor in the Business School Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ryman, Joel A.; Porter, Thomas W.; Galbraith, Craig S.

2009-01-01

Business schools frequently emphasize the importance of thinking "outside-the-box," and yet very few business students are actually challenged to do so in practice. This paper presents a pedagogical technique designed to foster creativity and imagination, while providing a deeper understanding of the concepts taught in a capstone business…

Service Learning in an FCS: A Community-Campus Collaboration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Friesen, Carol A.; Whitaker, Sue H.; Piotrowicz, Kay

2004-01-01

The new core for the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Ball State University was designed to provide students with a better understanding of the integrative nature of the family and consumer sciences (FCS) profession. The resultant 9-credit core includes an introductory course, a capstone course, and one student-selected course. The…

The Accounting Capstone Problem

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elrod, Henry; Norris, J. T.

2012-01-01

Capstone courses in accounting programs bring students experiences integrating across the curriculum (University of Washington, 2005) and offer unique (Sanyal, 2003) and transformative experiences (Sill, Harward, & Cooper, 2009). Students take many accounting courses without preparing complete sets of financial statements. Accountants not only…

Surface operations usability study utilizing Capstone phase I avionics : quick look report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-10-07

Evaluate usability, suitability and acceptability of of the surface moving map implemented within Capstone Phase 1 Avionics for surface operations : Task 1: Airport Surface Situational Awareness (ASSA) : Task 2: Surface-Final Approach Runway Occupanc...

Negotiating the Client-Based Capstone Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reifenberg, Steve; Long, Sean

2017-01-01

Many graduate programs for professionals (public policy, public administration, business, international affairs, and others) use client-based experiential learning projects, often termed "capstones," in which students combine theory and practice to benefit an outside client. Increasingly, undergraduate programs use client-based capstones…

Staging a Reflective Capstone Course to Transition PharmD Graduates to Professional Life

PubMed Central

Hobson, Eric H.; Spinelli, Alisa J.

2015-01-01

Objective. To develop and implement a capstone course that would allow students to reflect on their development as a professional, assess and share their achievement of the college’s outcomes, complete a professional portfolio, establish a continuing professional development plan, and prepare to enter the pharmacy profession. Design. Students were required to complete a hybrid course built around 4 online and inclass projects during the final semester of the curriculum. Assessment. Faculty used direct measures of learning, such as reading student portfolios and program outcome reflections, evaluating professional development plans, and directly observing each student in a video presentation. All projects were evaluated using standardized rubrics. Since 2012, all graduating students met the course’s minimum performance requirements. Conclusion. The course provided an opportunity for student-based summative evaluation, direct observation of student skills, and documentation of outcome completion as a means of evaluating readiness to enter the profession. PMID:25741030

A Cross-Discipline Modeling Capstone Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frazier, Marian L.; LoFaro, Thomas; Pillers Dobler, Carolyn

2018-01-01

The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and the American Statistical Association (ASA) have both updated and revised their curriculum guidelines. The guidelines of both associations recommend that students engage in a "capstone" experience, be exposed to applications, and have opportunities to communicate mathematical and…

Capstone 3 electronic flight bag (EFB) - airport moving map operational evaluation : human factors report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-05-30

This report documents the human factors activities conducted as part of the Capstone 3 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Airport Moving Map operational evaluation. The purpose of that operational evaluation was to understand the safety implications of ...

Use of the AAVSO's International Variable Star Index (VSX) in an Undergraduate Astronomy Course Capstone Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, Kristine

2017-06-01

The author discusses a capstone project that utilizes the AAVSO's International Variable Star Index (VSX), ASAS light curves and phase plots, and the SIMBAD astronomical data repository in a laboratory-based undergraduate Stellar and Galactic Astronomy course.

A Survey of Computer Science Capstone Course Literature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dugan, Robert F., Jr.

2011-01-01

In this article, we surveyed literature related to undergraduate computer science capstone courses. The survey was organized around course and project issues. Course issues included: course models, learning theories, course goals, course topics, student evaluation, and course evaluation. Project issues included: software process models, software…

Calculating Capstone Depleted Uranium Aerosol Concentrations from Beta Activity Measurements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Szrom, Fran; Falo, Gerald A.; Parkhurst, MaryAnn

2009-03-01

Beta activity measurements were used as surrogate measurements of uranium mass in aerosol samples collected during the field testing phase of the Capstone Depleted Uranium (DU) Aerosol Study. These aerosol samples generated by the perforation of armored combat vehicles were used to characterize the depleted uranium (DU) source term for the subsequent human health risk assessment (HHRA) of Capstone aerosols. Establishing a calibration curve between beta activity measurements and uranium mass measurements is straightforward if the uranium isotopes are in equilibrium with their immediate short-lived, beta-emitting progeny. For DU samples collected during the Capstone study, it was determined that themore » equilibrium between the uranium isotopes and their immediate short lived, beta-emitting progeny had been disrupted when penetrators had perforated target vehicles. Adjustments were made to account for the disrupted equilibrium and for wall losses in the aerosol samplers. Correction factors for the disrupted equilibrium ranged from 0.16 to 1, and the wall loss correction factors ranged from 1 to 1.92.« less

Three Ways edTPA Prepared Me for the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Butler, Matthew

2015-01-01

edTPA, a capstone assessment designed to assess whether new teachers are ready for the job by evaluating their teaching and their analysis of their teaching, helped prepare the author for the classroom in three ways. First, he became accountable to his students. Second, he learned to analyze his teaching. Third, he discovered how to relate…

Fostering Cooperative Learning with Scrum in a Semi-Capstone Systems Analysis and Design Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Magana, Alejandra J.; Seah, Ying Ying; Thomas, Paul

2018-01-01

Agile methods such as Scrum that emphasize technical, communication, and teamwork skills have been practiced by IT professionals to effectively deliver software products of good quality. The same methods combined with pedagogies of engagement can potentially be used in the setting of higher education to promote effective group learning in software…

ESL Mentoring for Secondary Rural Educators: Math and Science Teachers Become Second Language Specialists through Collaboration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hansen-Thomas, Holly; Grosso Richins, Liliana

2015-01-01

This article draws on data from the capstone graduate course in a specially designed professional development program for rural math and science teachers that describes how participant teachers translated their newly acquired knowledge about English as a second language (ESL) into a mentoring experience for their rural content specialist peers.…

Measuring Longitudinal Student Performance on Student Learning Outcomes in Sustainability Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jarchow, Meghann E.; Formisano, Paul; Nordyke, Shane; Sayre, Matthew

2018-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the student learning outcomes (SLOs) for a sustainability major, evaluate faculty incorporation of the SLOs into the courses in the sustainability major curriculum and measure student performance on the SLOs from entry into the major to the senior capstone course. Design/methodology/approach:…

Whole Farm Nutrient Management: Capstone Course on Environmental Management of Dairy Farms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Albrecht, Gregory L.; Ketterings, Quirine M.; Czymmek, Karl J.; van Amburgh, Michael E.; Fox, Danny G.

2006-01-01

Whole Farm Nutrient Management is an upper-level, undergraduate course offered through the Department of Animal Science (AS) and Department of Crop and Soil Sciences (CSS) at Cornell University. The course (AS/CSS 412) is designed for students interested in agricultural careers and aims to help them develop a working knowledge of agricultural…

Building Adaptive Expertise and Practice-Based Evidence: Applying the Implementation Stages Framework to Special Education Teacher Preparation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mason-Williams, Loretta; Frederick, Jacqueline R.; Mulcahy, Candace A.

2015-01-01

Preparing pre-service special educators to meet classroom demands requires teacher preparation programs to design experiences for students to demonstrate routine expertise, while also building adaptive expertise. In this article, the authors describe a capstone project that meets these needs and prepares pre-service special educators for their…

Development and Sustainability of ePortfolios in Counselor Education: An Applied Retrospective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luther, Ann E.; Barnes, Paul

2015-01-01

This article chronicles the evolution of an ePortfolio as a practicum/internship capstone project used to assess skill development in graduate level counselor education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The authors describe the successes and challenges encountered from the implementation of an internally designed and maintained ePortfolio in…

Investigating Teaching Leadership in the Capstone Marketing Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Facca-Miess, Tina M.

2015-01-01

Marketing graduates are ultimately expected to perform in managerial roles, yet limited course work is devoted to leadership training for marketing management. In the capstone marketing course, group projects with partner organizations can serve as an opportunity for student leadership development. Marketing students working in groups on…

Bush School Capstone course support : the regional impact of climate change on transportation infrastructure and decision making.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-09-01

The Master of Public Service and Administration program at Texas A&Ms Bush School of Government : and Public Service requires that all second year graduate students participate in a two semester Capstone : course. These courses represent the pract...

A Capstone Mathematics Course for Prospective Secondary Mathematics Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Artzt, Alice F.; Sultan, Alan; Curcio, Frances R.; Gurl, Theresa

2012-01-01

This article describes an innovative capstone mathematics course that links college mathematics with school mathematics and pedagogy. It describes how college juniors in a secondary mathematics teacher preparation program engage in leadership experiences that enable them to learn mathematics for teaching while developing student-centered…

19. Walkway on top of caisson and capston heads. View ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

19. Walkway on top of caisson and capston heads. View shows water from Paget Sound on right and an empty drydock on left. Camera is pointed E from a raised platforms. - Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Drydock No. 3, Farragut Avenue, Bremerton, Kitsap County, WA

Capstone: A Geometry-Centric Platform to Enable Physics-Based Simulation and Design of Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-05

foundation for the air-vehicle early design tool DaVinci being developed by CREATETM-AV project to enable development of associative models of air...CREATETM-AV solvers Kestrel [11] and Helios [16,17]. Furthermore, it is the foundation for the CREATETM-AV’s DaVinci [9] tool that provides a... Tools and Environments (CREATETM) program [6] aimed at developing a suite of high- performance physics-based computational tools addressing the needs

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT, SWINE WASTE ELECTRIC POWER AND HEAT PRODUCTION--CAPSTONE 30KW MICROTURBINE SYSTEM

EPA Science Inventory

Under EPA’s Environmental Technology Verification program, which provides objective and scientific third party analysis of new technology that can benefit the environment, a combined heat and power system was evaluated based on the Capstone 30kW Microturbine developed by Cain Ind...

Use of the AAVSO's International Variable Star Index (VSX) in an Undergraduate Astronomy Course Capstone Project (Abstract)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, K.

2017-12-01

(Abstract only) The author discusses a capstone project that utilizes the AAVSO's International Variable Star Index (VSX), ASAS light curves and phase plots, and the SIMBAD astronomical data repository in a laboratory-based undergraduate Stellar and Galactic Astronomy course.

Capstone Senior Research Course in Economics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Ishuan; Simonson, Robert

2016-01-01

In this article, the authors describe the structure and assessment of a capstone course in economics. The outcomes are noteworthy for three reasons. First, among cited evidence to date, this is the only undergraduate economics program from a nonselective public university reporting similar achievements in undergraduate research paper publications.…

From Curricular Alignment to the Culminating Project: The Peabody College Ed.D. Capstone

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smrekar, Claire; McGraner, Kristin

2009-01-01

The Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations (LPO) at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, recently replaced the conventional Ed.D. dissertation with a team-produced, client-consultant oriented, culminating report. This article describes the purpose and principles associated with the "capstone" project and describes the…

Team-Teaching a Digital Senior Capstone Project in CTE

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ryan, Melanie D.; Tews, Nichole M.; Washer, Barton A.

2012-01-01

Secondary career and technical education (CTE) students are faced with the unique challenge of learning not only specific content-related knowledge and skills, but also postsecondary preparation, 21st century technology, employability and self-marketing skills. At Cass Career Center in Harrisonville, Missouri, a senior capstone project was…

What Makes a Senior Thesis Good?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trosset, Carol; Weisler, Steven

2018-01-01

Kuh (2008) describes the capstone as a "culminating experience" students undertake close to graduation often involving "a project of some sort that integrates and applies what they've learned" (p. 11). The senior thesis is one form of the capstone in which students write an analytic paper under faculty supervision, typically as…

Improving Communication Skills through a Capstone Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ackerman, Michael; Fenton, William E.; Raymond, Anne M.

2013-01-01

In the early 1990s, in an effort to enhance their majors' ability to communicate mathematical ideas, the Mathematics Department at Bellarmine University added a capstone course, "Readings in Mathematics," to the curriculum of each degree program in the department. We provide an overview of the course, noting its unique aspects, with…

A Capstone Learning Experience for Students in the Management of Natural Resources.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bell, Sidney; Lowe, Roger; Edwards, M. Craig

2002-01-01

High school students in a forestry and wildlife management course learned the use of global positioning software, geographic information systems, and other computer programs. They applied these skills in a capstone multimedia presentation for the community of maps they had made of a local arboretum. (JOW)

The Capstone Strategy Course: What Might Real Integration Look Like?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kachra, Ariff; Schnietz, Karen

2008-01-01

The traditional master of business administration (MBA) capstone strategy course is intended to integrate the prior course work of the MBA program but is doing this less and less well in today's high-velocity and complex business environment. The traditional strategy course structures, emphasizing formulation-implementation and the…

"Why" and "How" We Can Teach Social Entrepreneurship in a Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fenton, Mark

2012-01-01

Social entrepreneurship, while not a new term, does not have a universal definition. Teaching entrepreneurship in a comprehensive university capstone course often includes a formal business plan project. By incorporating concepts of social entrepreneurship, students develop an awareness of entrepreneurship beyond a more traditional approach. This…

Experiences with Flipping the Marketing Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scovotti, Carol

2016-01-01

This article reviews the experiences of a flipped classroom approach in a marketing capstone course. Students completed readings, watched lecture videos, took a quiz, and submitted a short assignment for 10 course modules. While a few minutes were devoted to clarifying confusion from lecture topics, class time was used for experiential-learning…

Development of Capstone Project Attitude Scales

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bringula, Rex P.

2015-01-01

This study attempted to develop valid and reliable Capstone Project Attitude Scales (CPAS). Among the scales reviewed, the Modified Fennema-Shermann Mathematics Attitude Scales was adapted in the construction of the CPAS. Usefulness, Confidence, and Gender View were the three subscales of the CPAS. Four hundred sixty-three students answered the…

Drug Synthesis and Analysis on a Dime: A Capstone Medicinal Chemistry Experience for the Undergraduate Biochemistry Laboratory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Streu, Craig N.; Reif, Randall D.; Neiles, Kelly Y.; Schech, Amanda J.; Mertz, Pamela S.

2016-01-01

Integrative, research-based experiences have shown tremendous potential as effective pedagogical approaches. Pharmaceutical development is an exciting field that draws heavily on organic chemistry and biochemistry techniques. A capstone drug synthesis/analysis laboratory is described where biochemistry students synthesize azo-stilbenoid compounds…

Promoting Liberal Learning in a Capstone Accounting Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahlawat, Sunita; Miller, Gerald; Shahid, Abdus

2012-01-01

This paper describes our efforts to integrate liberal learning principles in a capstone course within the overwhelmingly career-focused discipline of accountancy. Our approach was based on the belief that business and liberal learning courses are complementary, rather than competitive, elements of a well-rounded education. The ability to deal with…

Uniting Active and Deep Learning to Teach Problem-Solving Skills: Strategic Tools and the Learning Spiral

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diamond, Nina; Koernig, Stephen K.; Iqbal, Zafar

2008-01-01

This article describes an innovative strategic tools course designed to enhance the problem-solving skills of marketing majors. The course serves as a means of preparing students to capitalize on opportunities afforded by a case-based capstone course and to better meet the needs and expectations of prospective employers. The course format utilizes…

GATE: Energy Efficient Vehicles for Sustainable Mobility-Project TI022- FinalReport

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rizzoni, Giorgio

Unique opportunity for industry to engage in original, highly leveraged precompetitive research in automotive and transportation systems, with focus on advanced propulsion systems; fuel economy; vehicle safety, connectivity and autonomy; and advanced driver assistance systems Additional benefits: prepare graduate students for future careers in automotive industry, reaching undergraduate students through capstone design and other project activities, focused recruitment events

Accessible Earth: Enhancing diversity in the Geosciences through accessible course design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bennett, R. A.; Lamb, D. A.

2017-12-01

The tradition of field-based instruction in the geoscience curriculum, which culminates in a capstone geological field camp, presents an insurmountable barrier to many disabled students who might otherwise choose to pursue geoscience careers. There is a widespread perception that success as a practicing geoscientist requires direct access to outcrops and vantage points available only to those able to traverse inaccessible terrain. Yet many modern geoscience activities are based on remotely sensed geophysical data, data analysis, and computation that take place entirely from within the laboratory. To challenge the perception of geoscience as a career option only for the non-disabled, we have created the capstone Accessible Earth Study Abroad Program, an alternative to geologic field camp for all students, with a focus on modern geophysical observation systems, computational thinking, data science, and professional development.In this presentation, we will review common pedagogical approaches in geosciences and current efforts to make the field more inclusive. We will review curricular access and inclusivity relative to a wide range of learners and provide examples of accessible course design based on our experiences in teaching a study abroad course in central Italy, and our plans for ongoing assessment, refinement, and dissemination of the effectiveness of our efforts.

Assessing a Writing Intensive General Education Capstone: Research as Faculty Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parrish, Juli; Hesse, Doug; Bateman, Geoffrey

2016-01-01

We explain how collaboratively assessing a writing-intensive general education capstone seminar constituted a high-impact practice for faculty development. Students at the University of Denver complete an Advanced Seminar taught by faculty across the curriculum. Topics and themes vary widely, as do types of assigned writing, making assessment an…

Building Real World Domain-Specific Social Network Websites as a Capstone Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yue, Kwok-Bun; De Silva, Dilhar; Kim, Dan; Aktepe, Mirac; Nagle, Stewart; Boerger, Chris; Jain, Anubha; Verma, Sunny

2009-01-01

This paper describes our experience of using Content Management Software (CMS), specifically Joomla, to build a real world domain-specific social network site (SNS) as a capstone project for graduate information systems and computer science students. As Web 2.0 technologies become increasingly important in driving business application development,…

The Role of the Web Server in a Capstone Web Application Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Umapathy, Karthikeyan; Wallace, F. Layne

2010-01-01

Web applications have become commonplace in the Information Systems curriculum. Much of the discussion about Web development for capstone courses has centered on the scripting tools. Very little has been discussed about different ways to incorporate the Web server into Web application development courses. In this paper, three different ways of…

Meeting the Capstone Challenge in Postgraduate Food Science Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McSweeney, Peter; Calvo, Joaquin; Santhanam-Martin, Michael; Billman-Jacobe, Helen

2017-01-01

Project work and work placements can help prepare tertiary food science students for the workplace. Programs in the curriculum should support the development of transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and planning. This paper describes a case study of a new capstone project for Masters of Food Science students based on a work…

The Molecular Biology Capstone Assessment: A Concept Assessment for Upper-Division Molecular Biology Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Couch, Brian A.; Wood, William B.; Knight, Jennifer K.

2015-01-01

Measuring students' conceptual understandings has become increasingly important to biology faculty members involved in evaluating and improving departmental programs. We developed the Molecular Biology Capstone Assessment (MBCA) to gauge comprehension of fundamental concepts in molecular and cell biology and the ability to apply these concepts in…

An Integrated Approach to Research Methods and Capstone

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Postic, Robert; McCandless, Ray; Stewart, Beth

2014-01-01

In 1991, the AACU issued a report on improving undergraduate education suggesting, in part, that a curriculum should be both comprehensive and cohesive. Since 2008, we have systematically integrated our research methods course with our capstone course in an attempt to accomplish the twin goals of comprehensiveness and cohesion. By taking this…

Chemical Research Writing: A Preparatory Course for Student Capstone Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schepmann, Hala G.; Hughes, Laura A.

2006-01-01

A research writing course was developed to prepare chemistry majors to conduct and report on their capstone research projects. The course guides students through a multistep process of preparing a literature review and research proposal. Students learn how to identify and avoid plagiarism, critically read and summarize a scientific article,…

Reflective Practice in a Capstone Business Internship Subject

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lang, Roselynn; McNaught, Keith

2013-01-01

Purpose: Capstone subjects which link students approaching graduation with significant experiential learning and relevant industry placements, have the potential to be very valuable to students. This is particularly evident if they are able to critically reflect on the experience. In light of this, the School of Business at the University of Notre…

Integration, Reflection, Interpretation: Realizing the Goals of a General Education Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fernandez, Nancy Page

2006-01-01

For the past 23 years, students at California State Polytechnic University at Pomona have benefited from its Interdisciplinary General Education Program (IGE)--a sequential, interdisciplinary general education program that culminates in a capstone course. IGE's history and structure support a strong culture of assessment. The program, founded in…

The Sociology Research Experience Capstone Course at Three Institutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKinney, Kathleen; Busher, Melissa

2011-01-01

This study describes the objectives, structures, and outcomes of a one-semester, required sociology research capstone course as taught at three institutions. Pre- and postquestionnaires from students, syllabi from instructors, and a random sample of final research papers were analyzed. Results indicate that the main foci of the course are to…

Developing a Generic Review Framework to Assure Capstone Quality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hammer, Sara; Abawi, Lindy; Gibbings, Peter; Jones, Hazel; Redmond, Petrea; Shams, Syed

2018-01-01

Within the higher education context, capstone units can be viewed as a significant means of assuring intended learning outcomes for programmes. They provide students with the opportunity to consolidate and apply prior and new disciplinary learning, as well as employability skills and graduate attributes. This paper describes the first stage of an…

Full Speed Ahead: Using a Senior Capstone Course to Facilitate Students' Professional Transition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Appleby, Karen M.; Foster, Elaine; Kamusoko, Sibongile

2016-01-01

In recent years, institutions of higher education have become more focused on preparing students for their professional lives through senior seminars and capstone courses. Specifically in the fields of physical education, recreation and dance (PERD), it is strongly recommended by both the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation and SHAPE…

Case Study: The Capstone Project at Chelsea High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Priti Johari

2017-01-01

Capstone projects serve as the centerpiece for an assessment system that values problem-solving and frames assessment as learning opportunities for students and teachers. Every January and May for one week, Chelsea High School, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, breaks from their traditional, four- periods-a-day bell schedule and the fast pace of a…

Reconsidering the International Business Capstone: Capping, Bridging, or Both?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Starr-Glass, David

2010-01-01

The capstone experience has become ubiquitous in undergraduate education. Originally, it served as a terminal display of academic excellence and bridging experience between study and work; more recently, however, it has been seen in terms of academic completion and consolidation. In times of increased turbulence for new business graduates, and in…

Navigating Multiple ePortfolios: Lessons Learned from a Capstone Seminar

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richards-Schuster, Katie; Galura, Joseph

2017-01-01

ePortfolios are a growing trend in higher education, implemented by an increasing number of curricular and co-curricular programs. Given the de-centralized nature of many colleges and universities, it is inevitable that faculty requiring ePortfolios, especially as capstone experiences, will engage with students who have completed one or more…

Real World Projects, Real World Problems: Capstones for External Clients

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reinicke, Bryan; Janicki, Thomas

2011-01-01

Capstones form an important part of the curriculum in many undergraduate and graduate programs in Information Systems. These projects give the students a chance to synthesize and apply the skills they have been acquiring throughout their academic program. These projects can be integrated with another recent initiative in higher education: service…

Writing in a History of Mathematics Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carter, John

2014-01-01

This article presents two approaches to using original sources in a capstone writing project for a History of Mathematics course. One approach involves searching local libraries and is best suited to schools in metropolitan areas. A second approach involves online resources available anywhere. Both projects were used in a course intended for…

Advanced Internship: A High-Impact, Low-Cost, Super-Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fernald, Peter S.; Goldstein, Gary S.

2013-01-01

In an earlier issue of this journal, the authors described a capstone course, Internship, that both "caps" the undergraduate experience and functions as a "bridge" to the world beyond college. Here, they describe a sequel to that course, Advanced Internship, which both extends and enhances the "capping" and "bridging" experiences. The bridging…

Detached and Unsustainable: Central Tensions in Teacher Research Capstones and the Possibilities for Reimagined Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fulmer, Ellie Fitts; Bodner, Jill

2017-01-01

With increased frequency, teacher education programs require candidates to engage in practice-based research capstones (e.g., Lattimer, 2012; Mule, 2006). Yet, experience provides evidence that newly credentialed teachers regularly disregard the practice of teacher inquiry immediately after graduation, prompting the authors to ask, "how can…

Accessible Earth: Enhancing diversity in the Geosciences through accessible course design and Experiential Learning Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bennett, Rick; Lamb, Diedre

2017-04-01

The tradition of field-based instruction in the geoscience curriculum, which culminates in a capstone geological field camp, presents an insurmountable barrier to many disabled students who might otherwise choose to pursue geoscience careers. There is a widespread perception that success as a practicing geoscientist requires direct access to outcrops and vantage points available only to those able to traverse inaccessible terrain. Yet many modern geoscience activities are based on remotely sensed geophysical data, data analysis, and computation that take place entirely from within the laboratory. To challenge the perception of geoscience as a career option only for the able bodied, we have created the capstone Accessible Earth Study Abroad Program, an alternative to geologic field camp with a focus on modern geophysical observation systems, computational thinking, and data science. In this presentation, we will report on the theoretical bases for developing the course, our experiences in teaching the course to date, and our plan for ongoing assessment, refinement, and dissemination of the effectiveness of our efforts.

Secondary School Senior Capstone Projects: A Descriptive and Interpretive Case Study on Post-Secondary Students' Perspectives of Learning Transfer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yasuda, Vanessa Applbaum

2017-01-01

This descriptive and interpretive case study investigates how 12 undergraduate college students perceived participation in their high school Senior Capstone Project (SCP) impacted their college academic experience. Learning transfer was explored from the learner's perspective. Data was collected using qualitative methods in three sequential phases…

Adapting to Change in a Master Level Real-World-Projects Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tappert, Charles C.; Stix, Allen

2012-01-01

Our mission of capstone computing courses for the past ten years has been to offer students experience with the development of real-world information technology projects. This experience has included both the hard and soft skills required for the work they could expect as industrial practitioners. Hard skills entail extending one's knowledge…

Planning "and" Sprinting: Use of a Hybrid Project Management Methodology within a CIS Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baird, Aaron; Riggins, Frederick J.

2012-01-01

An increasing number of information systems projects in industry are managed using hybrid project management methodologies, but this shift in project management methods is not fully represented in our CIS curriculums. CIS capstone courses often include an applied project that is managed with traditional project management methods (plan first,…

Benefits of Including a Capstone Simulation Course in Community College Business Curricula.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Black, William L.

This article makes an argument for including a capstone, or end-of-term, business simulation course in community college business curricula. The International Business Practice Firm (IBPF), a worldwide virtual business network, is proposed as a foundation for such a course. The author argues that, in general, graduates of college business programs…

Revising the Experiential Learning Component of the Business Capstone Course at Delaware Technical Community College's George Campus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roux, June N.

2017-01-01

This Executive Position Paper examines the experiential learning component of the business capstone course at Delaware Technical Community College's George campus in Wilmington, Delaware. As a statewide institution of higher education, Delaware Tech offers associate of applied science degrees in practical, skills-based majors, including a number…

Why Phishing Works: Project for an Information Security Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pollacia, Lissa; Ding, Yan Zong; Yang, Seung

2015-01-01

This paper presents a project which was conducted in a capstone course in Information Security. The project focused on conducting research concerning the various aspects of phishing, such as why phishing works and who is more likely to be deceived by phishing. Students were guided through the process of conducting research: finding background and…

Capstone Interdisciplinary Team Project: A Requirement for the MS in Sustainability Degree

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jiji, Latif M.; Schonfeld, Irvin Sam; Smith, George A.

2015-01-01

Purpose: This paper aims to describe experience gained with a required six-credit year-long course, the Capstone Interdisciplinary Team Project, a key component of the Master of Science (MS) in Sustainability degree at the City College of New York. A common feature of sustainability problems is their interdisciplinary nature. Solutions to…

Incorporating Current Research, Wikis, and Discussion Lists in a Mathematics Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Narasimhan, Revathi

2009-01-01

This article shows how current mathematical research and innovative internet technologies such as wikis and email discussion lists can enliven a senior seminar or capstone course. We give example of assignments as well as examples of how new technologies can enhance a course. This paper grew out of the author's experience of teaching a senior…

Promoting Active Engagement in Health Research: Lessons from an Undergraduate Gerontology Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robbins, Emily J.; Kinney, Jennifer M.; Kart, Cary S.

2008-01-01

With National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Aging (NIH/NIA) (R15/AREA) funding, the authors offered a four-credit hour undergraduate research course that was cross-listed in gerontology and sociology. This capstone course was aimed at providing students with the opportunity to (1) gain knowledge about diabetes and racial/ethnic…

A Practice-Centered Approach to Professional Development: Teacher-Librarian Collaboration in Capstone Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harada, Violet H.

2016-01-01

This paper reports on a professional development initiative that targeted teams of teachers and librarians working with high school students on strengthening an inquiry approach to capstone projects. While much has been written about student-focused models for information search and use, little has been reported on how training for the…

An Innovative Course Featuring Action Research Integrated with Unifying Science Themes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Otto, Charlotte A.; Luera, Gail R.; Everett, Susan A.

2009-01-01

In this article, we describe an innovative capstone course for preservice K-8 teachers integrating action research and a unifying theme in science (AAAS in Science for all Americans. Oxford University Press, New York, 1989; NRC in National science education standards. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1996). The goals of the capstone course…

Raising the Bar: Challenging Students in a Capstone Project Course with an Android and Mobile Web Parallel Development Team Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wong, Wilson; Pepe, James; Englander, Irv

2017-01-01

Information systems capstone projects aim to prepare students for what they will encounter in the industry after graduation. Corporate application development is often a complex endeavor that requires coordination between related products. For example, software development in the mobile application sector may require a coordinated parallel…

Inclusion-Based Afterschool Program Evaluation: A Capstone Research Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Earl, Kristine N.

2013-01-01

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized as a complex brain disorder that impacts the life of an individual (Autism Society, n.d.; Autism Speaks, 2013). The prevalence of autism is on the rise (Baio, 2012; CDC, 2012), impacting the stress of the family (Haimer, 2012; Hall & Graff) and the need for services (Haney, 2012). This capstone study…

Principled Design of an Augmented Reality Trainer for Medics

DTIC Science & Technology

2018-04-13

retake test is scheduled. In addition, extensive simulation capstone scenarios are run with a full body manikin that includes airway management...platform so they could run with high quality graphical resolution. We updated the underlying data models to reflect the training scenario parameters...Sedeh, P., Schumann, M., & Groeben, H. (2009). Laryngoscopy via Macintosh blade versus GlideScope: Success rate and time for endotracheal intubation

A New Approach to Teaching Biomechanics Through Active, Adaptive, and Experiential Learning.

PubMed

Singh, Anita

2017-07-01

Demand of biomedical engineers continues to rise to meet the needs of healthcare industry. Current training of bioengineers follows the traditional and dominant model of theory-focused curricula. However, the unmet needs of the healthcare industry warrant newer skill sets in these engineers. Translational training strategies such as solving real world problems through active, adaptive, and experiential learning hold promise. In this paper, we report our findings of adding a real-world 4-week problem-based learning unit into a biomechanics capstone course for engineering students. Surveys assessed student perceptions of the activity and learning experience. While students, across three cohorts, felt challenged to solve a real-world problem identified during the simulation lab visit, they felt more confident in utilizing knowledge learned in the biomechanics course and self-directed research. Instructor evaluations indicated that the active and experiential learning approach fostered their technical knowledge and life-long learning skills while exposing them to the components of adaptive learning and innovation.

Empowering Students to Create Better Virtual Reality Applications: A Longitudinal Study of a VR Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Takala, Tuukka M.; Malmi, Lauri; Pugliese, Roberto; Takala, Tapio

2016-01-01

In this paper we present our experiences of teaching an annually organized virtual reality (VR) capstone course. We review three iterations of the course, during which a total of 45 students completed the course and 16 VR applications were implemented. Our comparative analysis describes the students' evaluation of the course, the applications…

The Undergraduate Capstone Course in the Social Sciences: Results from a Regional Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hauhart, Robert C.; Grahe, Jon E.

2010-01-01

Among the common requirements for receipt of a degree in the social sciences is the completion of a senior seminar in which a senior thesis or capstone project is produced. A number of educational goals have been proposed for this requirement: integrating the knowledge base supplied by the regular curriculum, contributing to students' future roles…

Secrets to Success: Business Skills and Knowledge That Students Find Most Useful in Succeeding in a Capstone Course Simulation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gresch, Eric; Rawls, Janita

2017-01-01

This exploratory research examines students' perceptions of a capstone business simulation game by identifying (a) courses that were most useful in preparing students for the simulation and (b) interpersonal skills students found most helpful when working with teammates on the simulation. Also identified are the simulation's impact on student…

Sharing the Treats of Mathematics in a Senior Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shifflet, Daniel R.

2013-01-01

In this paper we discuss why a senior capstone course is the perfect setting to reward graduating seniors with some of the more fun and interesting aspects of advanced mathematics. We provide a beginner's list of topics to consider as well as a method of implementing these tidbits outside of the classroom if time is an issue.

Reducing the Boundaries between the Community and the Academy with a Full-Time Service Learning Capstone

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ballard, Andy

2013-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to share my experiences as the instructor of a full-time, single semester, service-learning capstone course. In this innovative course students already volunteering in the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) organization work in teams to identify community needs and address them using their business skills and knowledge…

Service-Learning by Doing: How a Student-Run Consulting Company Finds Relevance and Purpose in a Business Strategy Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, David F.; Sherwood, Arthur Lloyd; DePaolo, Concetta A.

2010-01-01

A challenge for undergraduate learning in strategy is that the students lack professional work experiences. Without a rich background of experience, many strategic management topics are difficult to grasp. Our solution has been to develop a strategic management capstone course that combines service-learning and problem-based learning. The…

A Multi-Institutional Study of Students' Perceptions and Experiences in the Research-Based Capstone Course in Sociology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKinney, Kathleen; Day, Melissa D.

2012-01-01

In this article, we describe student perceptions of, and experiences in, a one-semester, required sociology research capstone course. The data come from 106 students in eight sections of the course taught at three institutions. We used multiple methods for data collection: questionnaires, focus groups, and learning reflection essays. Our results…

Integrating Chemical Information Instruction into the Chemistry Curriculum on Borrowed Time: A Multiyear Case Study of a Capstone Research Report for Organic Chemistry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jacobs, Danielle L.; Dalal, Heather A.; Dawson, Patricia H.

2016-01-01

To develop information literacy skills in chemistry and biochemistry majors at a primarily undergraduate institution, a multiyear collaboration between chemistry faculty and librarians has resulted in the establishment of a semester-long capstone project for Organic Chemistry II. Information literacy skills were instilled via a progressive…

Team-Based Learning in a Capstone Course in Speech-Language Pathology: Learning Outcomes and Student Perceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wallace, Sarah E.

2015-01-01

Team-based learning (TBL), although found to increase student engagement and higher-level thinking, has not been examined in the field of speech-language pathology. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of integrating TBL into a capstone course in evidence-based practice (EBP). The researcher evaluated 27 students' understanding of…

Students' Perceptions of Communications Provided by Faculty and Peer Leaders, Course Motivation, and Final Project Innovativeness in Capstone Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evert, Amanda Faith

2011-01-01

Scope and Method of Study. The purpose of this study was to assess students' perceptions of communications provided by faculty and peer leaders in relationship to both students' perceptions of their course motivation as well as their perceptions of the innovativeness of their final project in single and multidisciplinary capstone courses. The…

"Reflecting on Reflections:" Curating ePortfolios for Integrative Learning and Identity Development in a General Education Senior Capstone

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schrand, Tom; Jones, Katharine; Hanson, Valerie

2018-01-01

By embedding an ePortfolio process in a general education core that culminates with a senior capstone course, Thomas Jefferson University has created an opportunity for students to use their completed ePortfolios as archives of primary sources that they can curate to produce narratives about their intellectual development. The result was a…

Using a Movie as a Capstone Activity for the Introductory Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blessing, Stephen B.; Blessing, Jennifer S.

2015-01-01

A capstone experience serves as a culminating exercise for students to assimilate the information learned in a course and to realize how to use the material and skills in different contexts. Both majors and nonmajors benefit from having the material in the introductory course consolidated in such a way, for later study in the field and to more…

The Live In-Class CEO Intervention: A Capstone Experiential Technique for Leadership Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rashford, Nicholas S.; de Figueiredo, Joao Neiva

2011-01-01

This article describes a pedagogical technique that has been used successfully for more than 35 years in business education, primarily as a capstone experience in MBA and Executive MBA programs: the live in-class CEO intervention method. This method consists of a CEO bringing to the classroom a strategic issue that she or he is currently…

An international capstone experience for pharmacy students.

PubMed

Gourley, Dick R; Vaidya, Varun A; Hufstader, Meghan A; Ray, Max D; Chisholm-Burns, Marie A

2013-04-12

This report describes the experiences of the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy over 20 years with an international capstone educational experience for students. Although the university provides reciprocal opportunities to international students, this report focuses on the experiences of the college's pharmacy students who have participated in the program. This capstone course is offered as an elective course in the advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) component of the college's experiential program. Goals of the program and a brief description of its organizational structure are provided. Results of a structured student satisfaction survey and a survey covering the most recent 3 years of the program are presented. This program has greatly broadened participants' cultural horizons and expanded their global view and understanding of the contributions of pharmacy to health care.

Collins Center Update. Volume 14, Issue 2, January-March 2012

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-01

forces in Afghanistan, the Romanian Armed Forces General Staff requested a traveling contact team (TCT) from the Commander, U.S. European Command...THIS ISSUE • Strategic Decision Making Exercise (SDME) 2012 • The Romanian Armed Forces and Joint Staff Planning • The Senior Leader Seminar (SLS...military decision-making exercise is designed as a capstone event which provides students the opportunity to role-play as strategic leaders and staffs

Sustaining Change: Successes, Challenges, and Lessons Learned from Twenty Years of Empowering Students through Community-Based Learning Capstones

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kerrigan, Seanna M.

2015-01-01

More than four thousand students engage in the community-based learning capstone program every year by enrolling in one of 240 senior-level courses that culminate their undergraduate education. In this article, the author shares the context and history of the program, its foundational principles and processes, and the nuts-and-bolts details of the…

The Benefits of Peer Review and a Multisemester Capstone Writing Series on Inquiry and Analysis Skills in an Undergraduate Thesis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weaver, K. F.; Morales, V.; Nelson, M.; Weaver, P. F.; Toledo, A.; Godde, K.

2016-01-01

This study examines the relationship between the introduction of a four-course writing-intensive capstone series and improvement in inquiry and analysis skills of biology senior undergraduates. To measure the impact of the multicourse write-to-learn and peer-review pedagogy on student performance, we used a modified Valid Assessment of Learning in…

A Capstone Project: Closing the Achievement Gap of English Learners in Literacy at Sunshine Elementary School Using the Gap Analysis Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herrera, Juan Carlos

2013-01-01

This project was an alternative capstone dissertation conducted by a team of three doctoral students. The project focused on systematic and long-term underachievement of the English Language (EL) population of a single school, Sunshine Elementary, using the gap analysis model (Clark and Estes, 2008). More specifically, the purpose of the analysis…

A Capstone Project: Closing the Achievement Gap of English Language Learners at Sunshine Elementary School Using the Gap Analysis Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mingo-Long, Enyetta

2013-01-01

This project was an alternative capstone dissertation conducted by a team of three doctoral students. The project focused on systematic and long-term underachievement of the English Language Learner (ELL) population of a single school, Sunshine Elementary, using the gap analysis model (Clark and Estes, 2008). More specifically, the purpose of the…

Positive Effects of Restricting Student Note-Taking in a Capstone Psychology Course: Reducing the Demands of Divided Attention in the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Long, Gerald M.

2014-01-01

Two versions of a senior-level capstone course with differing note-taking strategies were compared. In one semester, a traditional student note-taking format was used; in another semester, student note-taking was rendered unnecessary by providing students with complete instructor notes. Student performance in the course as well as student opinions…

NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Research Project Capstone Even

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-05-05

Dr. Amber Straughn, Lead Scientist for James Webb Space Telescope Education & Public Outreach at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, speaks to students from Mapletown Jr/Sr High School and Margaret Bell Middle School during the NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Research Project Capstone Event in the James E. Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters on Monday, May 5, 2014 Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Authentic Diversity: A Case Study on College Students' Engagement with Diversity Competencies in an Integrative Studies Degree Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saunders, Kimberly

2009-01-01

This qualitative study provided a lens into the context of a senior capstone experience in an Integrative Studies degree program. The primary aim of this case study was to explore the use of capstone portfolio pedagogy as a reflection tool to demonstrate how students engage with authentic diversity competencies in an Integrative Studies degree…

2011 National Survey of Senior Capstone Experiences: Institutional-Level Data on the Culminating Experience. Research Reports on College Transitions No. 3

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Padgett, Ryan D.; Kilgo, Cindy A.

2012-01-01

In 2011, the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition revisited its 1999 National Survey of Senior Seminars and Capstone Courses to explore the current state of culminating experiences in American higher education. Drawn from a sample of public and private colleges and universities across the country, the…

A transformative model for undergraduate quantitative biology education.

PubMed

Usher, David C; Driscoll, Tobin A; Dhurjati, Prasad; Pelesko, John A; Rossi, Louis F; Schleiniger, Gilberto; Pusecker, Kathleen; White, Harold B

2010-01-01

The BIO2010 report recommended that students in the life sciences receive a more rigorous education in mathematics and physical sciences. The University of Delaware approached this problem by (1) developing a bio-calculus section of a standard calculus course, (2) embedding quantitative activities into existing biology courses, and (3) creating a new interdisciplinary major, quantitative biology, designed for students interested in solving complex biological problems using advanced mathematical approaches. To develop the bio-calculus sections, the Department of Mathematical Sciences revised its three-semester calculus sequence to include differential equations in the first semester and, rather than using examples traditionally drawn from application domains that are most relevant to engineers, drew models and examples heavily from the life sciences. The curriculum of the B.S. degree in Quantitative Biology was designed to provide students with a solid foundation in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, with an emphasis on preparation for research careers in life sciences. Students in the program take core courses from biology, chemistry, and physics, though mathematics, as the cornerstone of all quantitative sciences, is given particular prominence. Seminars and a capstone course stress how the interplay of mathematics and biology can be used to explain complex biological systems. To initiate these academic changes required the identification of barriers and the implementation of solutions.

A Transformative Model for Undergraduate Quantitative Biology Education

PubMed Central

Driscoll, Tobin A.; Dhurjati, Prasad; Pelesko, John A.; Rossi, Louis F.; Schleiniger, Gilberto; Pusecker, Kathleen; White, Harold B.

2010-01-01

The BIO2010 report recommended that students in the life sciences receive a more rigorous education in mathematics and physical sciences. The University of Delaware approached this problem by (1) developing a bio-calculus section of a standard calculus course, (2) embedding quantitative activities into existing biology courses, and (3) creating a new interdisciplinary major, quantitative biology, designed for students interested in solving complex biological problems using advanced mathematical approaches. To develop the bio-calculus sections, the Department of Mathematical Sciences revised its three-semester calculus sequence to include differential equations in the first semester and, rather than using examples traditionally drawn from application domains that are most relevant to engineers, drew models and examples heavily from the life sciences. The curriculum of the B.S. degree in Quantitative Biology was designed to provide students with a solid foundation in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, with an emphasis on preparation for research careers in life sciences. Students in the program take core courses from biology, chemistry, and physics, though mathematics, as the cornerstone of all quantitative sciences, is given particular prominence. Seminars and a capstone course stress how the interplay of mathematics and biology can be used to explain complex biological systems. To initiate these academic changes required the identification of barriers and the implementation of solutions. PMID:20810949

Enhancing project-oriented learning by joining communities of practice and opening spaces for relatedness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pascual, R.

2010-03-01

This article describes an extension to project-oriented learning to increase social construction of knowledge and learning. The focus is on: (a) maximising opportunities for students to share their knowledge with practitioners by joining communities of practice, and (b) increasing their intrinsic motivation by creating conditions for student's relatedness. The case study considers a last year capstone course in Mechanical Engineering. The work addresses innovative practices of active learning and beyond project-oriented learning through: (a) the development of a web-based decision support system, (b) meetings between the communities of students, maintenance engineers and academics, and (c) new off-campus group instances. The author hypothesises that this multi-modal approach increases deep learning and social impact of the educational process. Surveys to the actors support a successful achievement of the educational goals. The methodology can easily be extended to further improve the learning process.

Hybrid Rocket Experiment Station for Capstone Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conley, Edgar; Hull, Bethanne J.

2012-01-01

Portable hybrid rocket motors and test stands can be seen in many papers but none have been reported on the design or instrumentation at such a small magnitude. The design of this hybrid rocket and test stand is to be small and portable (suitcase size). This basic apparatus will be used for demonstrations in rocket propulsion. The design had to include all of the needed hardware to operate the hybrid rocket unit (with the exception of the external Oxygen tank). The design of this project includes making the correlation between the rocket's thrust and its size, the appropriate transducers (physical size, resolution, range, and cost), compatability with a laptop analog card, the ease of setup, and its portability.

A Capstone Project Using the Gap Analysis Model: Closing the College Readiness Gap for Latino English Language Learners with a Focus on School Support and School Counseling Resources

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jimenez, Evelyn

2013-01-01

This capstone project applied Clark and Estes' (2008) gap analysis framework to identify performance gaps, develop perceived root causes, validate the causes, and formulate research-based solutions to present to Trojan High School. The purpose was to examine ways to increase the academic achievement of ELL students, specifically Latinos, by…

Warrior Ethos Revisited: Implications for the Future

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-15

ambiguous circumstances which will require a high degree of moral judgment in the reasoned application of force. Adapting Army culture to meet these...relationships and places high priority on the development of moral character. The Army Capstone Concept 2016-2028 argues that while the character of war...assessment of the situation”.5 As the Army through its Capstone Concept seeks to define required future capabilities, what cultural changes if any

Aircraft integrated design and analysis: A classroom experience

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1988-01-01

AAE 451 is the capstone course required of all senior undergraduates in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. During the past year the first steps of a long evolutionary process were taken to change the content and expectations of this course. These changes are the result of the availability of advanced computational capabilities and sophisticated electronic media availability at Purdue. This presentation will describe both the long range objectives and this year's experience using the High Speed Commercial Transport (HSCT) design, the AIAA Long Duration Aircraft design and a Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) design proposal as project objectives. The central goal of these efforts was to provide a user-friendly, computer-software-based, environment to supplement traditional design course methodology. The Purdue University Computer Center (PUCC), the Engineering Computer Network (ECN), and stand-alone PC's were used for this development. This year's accomplishments centered primarily on aerodynamics software obtained from the NASA Langley Research Center and its integration into the classroom. Word processor capability for oral and written work and computer graphics were also blended into the course. A total of 10 HSCT designs were generated, ranging from twin-fuselage and forward-swept wing aircraft, to the more traditional delta and double-delta wing aircraft. Four Long Duration Aircraft designs were submitted, together with one RPV design tailored for photographic surveillance. Supporting these activities were three video satellite lectures beamed from NASA/Langley to Purdue. These lectures covered diverse areas such as an overview of HSCT design, supersonic-aircraft stability and control, and optimization of aircraft performance. Plans for next year's effort will be reviewed, including dedicated computer workstation utilization, remote satellite lectures, and university/industrial cooperative efforts.

The Benefits of Peer Review and a Multisemester Capstone Writing Series on Inquiry and Analysis Skills in an Undergraduate Thesis

PubMed Central

Weaver, K. F.; Morales, V.; Nelson, M.; Weaver, P. F.; Toledo, A.; Godde, K.

2016-01-01

This study examines the relationship between the introduction of a four-course writing-intensive capstone series and improvement in inquiry and analysis skills of biology senior undergraduates. To measure the impact of the multicourse write-to-learn and peer-review pedagogy on student performance, we used a modified Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education rubric for Inquiry and Analysis and Written Communication to score senior research theses from 2006 to 2008 (pretreatment) and 2009 to 2013 (intervention). A Fisher-Freeman-Halton test and a two-sample Student’s t test were used to evaluate individual rubric dimensions and composite rubric scores, respectively, and a randomized complete block design analysis of variance was carried out on composite scores to examine the impact of the intervention across ethnicity, legacy (e.g., first-generation status), and research laboratory. The results show an increase in student performance in rubric scoring categories most closely associated with science literacy and critical-thinking skills, in addition to gains in students’ writing abilities. PMID:27789531

Physicochemical characterization of Capstone depleted uranium aerosols IV: in vitro solubility analysis.

PubMed

Guilmette, Raymond A; Cheng, Yung Sung

2009-03-01

As part of the Capstone Depleted Uranium (DU) Aerosol Study, the solubility of selected aerosol samples was measured using an accepted in vitro dissolution test system. This static system was employed along with a SUF (synthetic ultrafiltrate) solvent, which is designed to mimic the physiological chemistry of extracellular fluid. Using sequentially obtained solvent samples, the dissolution behavior over a 46-d test period was evaluated by fitting the measurement data to two- or three-component negative exponential functions. These functions were then compared with Type M and S absorption taken from the International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication 66 Human Respiratory Tract Model. The results indicated that there was a substantial variability in solubility of the aerosols, which in part depended on the type of armor being impacted by the DU penetrator and the particle size fraction being tested. Although some trends were suggested, the variability noted leads to uncertainties in predicting the solubility of other DU-based aerosols. Nevertheless, these data provide a useful experimental basis for modeling the intake-dose relationships for inhaled DU aerosols arising from penetrator impact on armored vehicles.

A Systematic Approach to Applying Lean Techniques to Optimize an Office Process at the Y-12 National Security Complex

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Credille, Jennifer; Owens, Elizabeth

This capstone offers the introduction of Lean concepts to an office activity to demonstrate the versatility of Lean. Traditionally Lean has been associated with process improvements as applied to an industrial atmosphere. However, this paper will demonstrate that implementing Lean concepts within an office activity can result in significant process improvements. Lean first emerged with the conception of the Toyota Production System. This innovative concept was designed to improve productivity in the automotive industry by eliminating waste and variation. Lean has also been applied to office environments, however the limited literature reveals most Lean techniques within an office are restrictedmore » to one or two techniques. Our capstone confronts these restrictions by introducing a systematic approach that utilizes multiple Lean concepts. The approach incorporates: system analysis, system reliability, system requirements, and system feasibility. The methodical Lean outline provides tools for a successful outcome, which ensures the process is thoroughly dissected and can be achieved for any process in any work environment.« less

NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Research Project Capstone Even

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-05-05

Students and faculty from Mapletown Jr/Sr High School and Margaret Bell Middle School listen as John Grunsfeld, NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, speaks about his experiences on the final space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope during the NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Research Project Capstone Event in the James E. Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters on Monday, May 5, 2014. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

A Capstone Project Using the Gap Analysis Model: Closing the College Readiness Gap for Latino English Language Learners with a Focus on College Affordability and Student Grades

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kurland, Michael A. T.

2013-01-01

This capstone dissertation inquiry project focused on the underperformance of English language learners (ELLs) at a high school. The Clark and Estes' (2008) gap analysis model was the analytical framework used to conduct this inquiry. At the request of the school, the inquiry focus was on gaining a better understanding of the underachievement…

The Use of Mock NSF-type Grant Proposals and Blind Peer Review as the Capstone Assignment in Upper-Level Neurobiology and Cell Biology Courses

PubMed Central

Itagaki, Haruhiko

2013-01-01

Although the use of grant proposals and blind peer review are standard in the natural sciences, their use as a pedagogical tool is rarely mentioned in the literature. As a consequence of dissatisfaction with term papers and literature reviews as the capstone writing experience in 300-level undergraduate biology courses, I have been experimenting with mock NSF-type grant proposals followed by blind peer review as the major assignment in my junior/senior-level classes. The improvement in educational outcomes and competencies due to this assignment appears to be substantial and worth the additional effort on both the students’ and instructor’s parts. Here, I outline the mechanics of this assignment and its advantages and disadvantages as well as the type of curriculum that is required to support this type of capstone assignment. PMID:24319395

Basic Hitchhiker Payload Requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horan, Stephen

1999-01-01

This document lists the requirements for the NMSU Hitchhiker experiment payload that were developed as part of the EE 498/499 Capstone Design class during the 1999-2000 academic year. This document is used to describe the system needs as described in the mission document. The requirements listed here are those primarily used to generate the basic electronic and data processing requirements developed in the class design document. The needs of the experiment components are more fully described in the draft NASA hitchhiker customer requirements document. Many of the details for the overall payload are given in full detail in the NASA hitchhiker documentation.

Capstone Depleted Uranium Aerosols: Generation and Characterization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Parkhurst, MaryAnn; Szrom, Fran; Guilmette, Ray

2004-10-19

In a study designed to provide an improved scientific basis for assessing possible health effects from inhaling depleted uranium (DU) aerosols, a series of DU penetrators was fired at an Abrams tank and a Bradley fighting vehicle. A robust sampling system was designed to collect aerosols in this difficult environment and continuously monitor the sampler flow rates. Aerosols collected were analyzed for uranium concentration and particle size distribution as a function of time. They were also analyzed for uranium oxide phases, particle morphology, and dissolution in vitro. The resulting data provide input useful in human health risk assessments.

Undergraduate Research in Physics as a course for Engineering and Computer Science Majors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Brien, James; Rueckert, Franz; Sirokman, Greg

2017-01-01

Undergraduate research has become more and more integral to the functioning of higher educational institutions. At many institutions undergraduate research is conducted as capstone projects in the pure sciences, however, science faculty at some schools (including that of the authors) face the challenge of not having science majors. Even at these institutions, a select population of high achieving engineering students will often express a keen interest in conducting pure science research. Since a foray into science research provides the student the full exposure to the scientific method and scientific collaboration, the experience can be quite rewarding and beneficial to the development of the student as a professional. To this end, the authors have been working to find new contexts in which to offer research experiences to non- science majors, including a new undergraduate research class conducted by physics and chemistry faculty. An added benefit is that these courses are inherently interdisciplinary. Students in the engineering and computer science fields step into physics and chemistry labs to solve science problems, often invoking their own relevant expertise. In this paper we start by discussing the common themes and outcomes of the course. We then discuss three particular projects that were conducted with engineering students and focus on how the undergraduate research experience enhanced their already rigorous engineering curriculum.

Applications of Capstone depleted uranium aerosol risk data to military combat risk management.

PubMed

Daxon, Eric G; Parkhurst, Mary Ann; Melanson, Mark A; Roszell, Laurie E

2009-03-01

Risks to personnel engaged in military operations include not only the threat of enemy firepower but also risks from exposure to other hazards such as radiation. Combatant commanders of the U.S. Army carefully weigh risks of casualties before implementing battlefield actions using an established paradigm that takes these risks into consideration. As a result of the inclusion of depleted uranium (DU) anti-armor ammunition in the conventional (non-nuclear) weapons arsenal, the potential for exposure to DU aerosols and its associated chemical and radiological effects becomes an element of the commanders' risk assessment. The Capstone DU Aerosol Study measured the range of likely DU oxide aerosol concentrations created inside a combat vehicle perforated with a DU munition, and the Capstone Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) estimated the associated doses and calculated risks. This paper focuses on the development of a scientific approach to adapt the risks from DU's non-uniform dose distribution within the body using the current U.S. Department of Defense radiation risk management approach. The approach developed equates the Radiation Exposure Status categories to the estimated radiological risks of DU and makes use of the Capstone-developed Renal Effects Group as a measure of chemical risk from DU intake. Recommendations are provided for modifying Army guidance and policy in order to better encompass the potential risks from DU aerosol inhalation during military operations.

Scanning the Horizon: Implications for Navy Strategy of National, Joint and Other Services’ Strategic Trends

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

CJCS’s) companion document, the Capstone Concept for Joint Operations (CCJO) (discussed below) "ibid., 28. "That said, it should be noted that it...Capstone Concept for Joint Operations (CCJO) The companion document to the JOE that answers the challenges of the future identified in the JOE (and...Karin E. Kitchens , Aaron Martin, A Review of the Army’s Modular Force Structure" (RAND National Defense Research Institute, Technical Report,Jun. 2011

NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Research Project Capstone Even

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-05-05

John Grunsfeld, NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, speaks to students from Mapletown Jr/Sr High School and Margaret Bell Middle School about his experiences on the final space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope during the NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Research Project Capstone Event in the James E. Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters on Monday, May 5, 2014. Grunsfeld flew on three of the five servicing missions to the Hubble Space Telescope. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

The U.S. Navy in the World (2001-2010): Context for U.S. Navy Capstone Strategies and Concepts

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

Merchant Marine ocean- going shipbuilding each down to single digits US shipbuilding industry largely dependent on US Navy orders  Building few commercial...Merchant Marine ships 228 2000s: US shipbuilding industrial base 115 229 2000s: US government shipbuilding policies No US government ship construction ...Context for U.S. Navy Capstone Strategies and Concepts 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT

Teachers, Traditions, and Transformation: Keynote Address Delivered at the 9th Annual Master's Capstone Conference for the Urban Teacher Master's and Certification Program at the University of Pennsylvania on 29 April 2014

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, John F., III

2015-01-01

An alumnus of both Teach For America and the master's program in urban education at the University of Pennsylvania, John F. Smith III delivered the following address on April 29, 2014, to teachers in the 2013 and 2014 cohorts of Teach For America in Philadelphia. Program organizers invited him to provide remarks during the capstone event and to…

Military Review. Special Edition: Center for the Army Profession and Ethic. September 2010

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-01

in more general moral concepts and lessens any gap between the Army and the society it serves and which provides its recruits. It will also serve to...Hartle, Moral Issues in Military Decision Making (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2004) 29. 6. TRADOC Pam 525-3-0 The Army Capstone Concept ...Army Profession and Ethic (CAPE) White Paper. 17. Case and Underwood. 18. Army Capstone Concept , 9. 19. Jonathan Glover, Humanity: A Moral History of

Active learning in capstone design courses.

PubMed

Goldberg, Jay R

2012-01-01

There is a growing trend to encourage students to take a more active role in their own education. Many schools are moving away from the sage on the stage to the guide on the side model where the instructor is a facilitator of learning. In this model, the emphasis is more on learning and less on teaching, and it requires instructors to incorporate more active and student-centered learning methods into their courses. These methods include collaborative, cooperative, problem-based, and project-based learning.

Simulation Performance and National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses Outcomes: Field Research Perspectives.

PubMed

Brackney, Dana E; Lane, Susan Hayes; Dawson, Tyia; Koontz, Angie

2017-11-01

This descriptive field study examines processes used to evaluate simulation for senior-level Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students in a capstone course, discusses challenges related to simulation evaluation, and reports the relationship between faculty evaluation of student performance and National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) first-time passing rates. Researchers applied seven terms used to rank BSN student performance (n = 41, female, ages 22-24 years) in a senior-level capstone simulation. Faculty evaluation was correlated with students' NCLEX-RN outcomes. Students evaluated as "lacking confidence" and "flawed" were less likely to pass the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt. Faculty evaluation of capstone simulation performance provided additional evidence of student preparedness for practice in the RN role, as evidenced by the relationship between the faculty assessment and NCLEX-RN success. Simulation has been broadly accepted as a powerful educational tool that may also contribute to verification of student achievement of program outcomes and readiness for the RN role.

Development and deployment of a low-cost, mobile-ready, air quality sensor system: progress toward distributed networks and autonomous aerial sampling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hersey, S. P.; DiVerdi, R.; Gadtaula, P.; Sheneman, T.; Flores, K.; Chen, Y. H.; Jayne, J. T.; Cross, E. S.

2017-12-01

Throughout the 2016-2017 academic year, a new partnership between Olin College of Engineering and Aerodyne Research, Inc. developed an affordable, self-contained air quality monitoring instrument called Modulair. The Modulair instrument is based on the same operating principles as Aerodyne's newly-developed ARISense integrated sensor system, employing electrochemical sensors for gas-phase measurements of CO, NO, NO2, and O3 and an off-the-shelf optical particle counter for particle concentration, number, and size distribution information (0.4 < dp < 17 microns). High Dimensional Model Representation (HDMR) has been used to model the interference derived from relative humidity and temperature as well as the cross-sensitivity of the electrochemical sensors to non-target gas-phase species. The aim of the modeling effort is to provide transparent and robust calibration of electrical signals to pollutant concentrations from a set of electrochemical sensors. Modulair was designed from the ground-up, with custom electronics - including a more powerful microcontroller, a fully re-designed housing and a device-specific backend with a mobile, cloud-based data management system for real-time data posting and analysis. Open source tools and software were utilized in the development of the instrument. All initial work was completed by a team of undergraduate students as part of the Senior Capstone Program in Engineering (SCOPE) at Olin College. Deployment strategies for Modulair include distributed, mobile measurements and drone-based aerial sampling. Design goals for the drone integration include maximizing airborne sampling time and laying the foundation for software integration with the drone's autopilot system to allow for autonomous plume sampling across concentration gradients. Modulair and its flexible deployments enable real-time mapping of air quality data at exposure-relevant spatial scales, as well as regular, autonomous characterization of sources and dispersion of atmospheric pollutants. We will present an overview of the Modulair instrument and results from benchtop and field validation, including mobile and drone-based plume sampling in the Boston area.

The University of Washington's Community-Oriented Public Health Practice program and Public Health-Seattle & King County partnership.

PubMed

House, Peter J; Hartfield, Karen; Nicola, Bud; Bogan, Sharon L

2014-01-01

The Community-Oriented Public Health Practice (COPHP) program, a 2-year in-residence MPH degree program in the University of Washington School of Public Health, has partnered with Public Health-Seattle & King County (PHSKC) since 2002 to create a mutually beneficial set of programs to improve teaching and address community-based public health problems in a practice setting. The COPHP program uses a problem-based learning approach that puts students in small groups to work on public health problems. Both University of Washington-based and PHSKC-based faculty facilitate the classroom work. In the first year for students, COPHP, in concert with PHSKC, places students in practicum assignments at PHSKC; in the second year, students undertake a master's project (capstone) in a community or public health agency. The capstone project entails taking on a problem in a community-based agency to improve either the health of a population or the capacity of the agency to improve population health. Both the practicum and the capstone projects emphasize applying classroom learning in actual public health practice work for community-based organizations. This partnership brings PHSKC and COPHP together in every aspect of teaching. In essence, PHSKC acts as the "academic health department" for COPHP. There are detailed agreements and contracts that guide all aspects of the partnership. Both the practicum and capstone projects require written contracts. The arrangements for getting non-University of Washington faculty paid for teaching and advising also include formal contracts.

Applications of Capstone Depleted Uranium Aerosol Risk Data to Military Combat Risk Management

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daxon, Eric G.; Parkhurst, MaryAnn; Melanson, Mark A.

2009-03-01

Risks to personnel engaged in military operations include not only the threat of enemy firepower but also risks from exposure to other hazards such as radiation. Combatant commanders of the U. S. Army carefully weigh risks of casualties before implementing battlefield actions using an established paradigm that take these risks into consideration. As a result of the inclusion of depleted uranium (DU) anti-armor ammunition in the conventional (non-nuclear) weapons arsenal, the potential for exposure to DU aerosols and its associated chemical and radiological effects becomes an element of the commanders’ risk assessment. The Capstone DU Aerosol Study measured the rangemore » of likely DU oxide aerosol concentrations created inside a combat vehicle perforated with a DU munition, and the Capstone Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) estimated the associated doses and calculated risks. This paper focuses on the development of a scientific approach to adapt the risks from DU’s non uniform dose distribution within the body using the current U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) radiation risk management approach. The approach developed equates the Radiation Exposure Status (RES) categories to the estimated radiological risks of DU and makes use of the Capstone-developed Renal Effects Group (REG) as a measure of chemical risk from DU intake. Recommendations are provided for modifying Army guidance and policy in order to better encompass the potential risks from DU aerosol inhalation during military operations.« less

Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Summer Conference: NASA/USRA University Advanced Aeronautics Design Program and Advanced Space Design Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1993-01-01

The NASA/USRA University Advanced Design Program was established in 1984 as an attempt to add more and better design education to primarily undergraduate engineering programs. The original focus of the pilot program encompassing nine universities and five NASA centers was on space design. Two years later, the program was expanded to include aeronautics design with six universities and three NASA centers participating. This year marks the last of a three-year cycle of participation by forty-one universities, eight NASA centers, and one industry participant. The Advanced Space Design Program offers universities an opportunity to plan and design missions and hardware that would be of usc in the future as NASA enters a new era of exploration and discovery, while the Advanced Aeronautics Design Program generally offers opportunities for study of design problems closer to the present time, ranging from small, slow-speed vehicles to large, supersonic and hypersonic passenger transports. The systems approach to the design problem is emphasized in both the space and aeronautics projects. The student teams pursue the chosen problem during their senior year in a one- or two-semester capstone design course and submit a comprehensive written report at the conclusion of the project. Finally, student representatives from each of the universities summarize their work in oral presentations at the Annual Summer Conference, sponsored by one of the NASA centers and attended by the university faculty, NASA and USRA personnel and aerospace industry representatives. As the Advanced Design Program has grown in size, it has also matured in terms of the quality of the student projects. The present volume represents the student work accomplished during the 1992-1993 academic year reported at the Ninth Annual Summer Conference hosted by NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, June 14-18, 1993.

Development of a Base for the Re-evaluation of the Professional Segment of the Master of Science Degree Program in Industrial Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Part V: Frequency and Importance of Their Professional Tasks as Reported by Wisconsin Capstone Industrial Education Teachers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wright, Lawrence S.

This document presents data on the frequency with which Wisconsin capstone industrial education teachers perform their professional tasks and on the importance which they attach to these professional tasks. The data are presented in a series of tables and in two appendixes. This study is part of a larger study of junior, junior-senior, senior high…

Optical projects in the Clinic program at Harvey Mudd College

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Q.

2017-08-01

Clinic program is the senior capstone program at Harvey Mudd College (HMC). Multidisciplinary and industry-sponsored projects allow a team of students to solve a real-world problem over one academic year. Over its 50 plus years, Clinic program has completed numerous optics related projects. This report gives an overview of the Clinic program, reviews recent optical projects and discusses how this program supports the learning of the HMC engineering students. A few sample optical projects with more details are presented to provide an insight of what challenges that undergraduates can overcome. Students achieve learning within the optics discipline and the related engineering disciplines. The experiences in these optical projects indicate the great potential to bringing optical hands-on projects into the undergraduate level. Because of the general engineering curriculum at HMC, these projects often work the best with a multidisciplinary nature even if the core of the project is optically focused. Students gain leadership training, oral and written communication skills and experiences in team work. Close relationship with the sponsor liaisons allows for the students to gain skills in professional conduct, management of tight schedule and a specified budget, and it well prepares the students to their engineering practice. Optical projects have their own sets of specific challenges, so it needs to be chosen properly to match the undergraduate skill sets such as those of HMC engineering students.

Combined Heat and Power Systems Technology Development and Demonstration 370 kW High Efficiency Microturbine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

none,

The C370 Program was awarded in October 2010 with the ambitious goal of designing and testing the most electrically efficient recuperated microturbine engine at a rated power of less than 500 kW. The aggressive targets for electrical efficiency, emission regulatory compliance, and the estimated price point make the system state-of-the-art for microturbine engine systems. These goals will be met by designing a two stage microturbine engine identified as the low pressure spool and high pressure spool that are based on derivative hardware of Capstone’s current commercially available engines. The development and testing of the engine occurred in two phases. Phasemore » I focused on developing a higher power and more efficient engine, that would become the low pressure spool which is based on Capstone’s C200 (200kW) engine architecture. Phase II integrated the low pressure spool created in Phase I with the high pressure spool, which is based on Capstone’s C65 (65 kW) commercially available engine. Integration of the engines, based on preliminary research, would allow the dual spool engine to provide electrical power in excess of 370 kW, with electrical efficiency approaching 42%. If both of these targets were met coupled with the overall CHP target of 85% total combined heating and electrical efficiency California Air Resources Board (CARB) level emissions, and a price target of $600 per kW, the system would represent a step change in the currently available commercial generation technology. Phase I of the C370 program required the development of the C370 low pressure spool. The goal was to increase the C200 engine power by a minimum of 25% — 250 kW — and efficiency from 32% to 37%. These increases in the C200 engine output were imperative to meet the power requirements of the engine when both spools were integrated. An additional benefit of designing and testing the C370 low pressure spool was the possibility of developing a stand-alone product for possible commercialization. The low pressure spool design activity focused on an aeropath derivative of the current C200 engine. The aeropath derivative included changes to the compressor section —compressor and inducer — and to the turbine nozzle. The increased power also necessitated a larger, more powerful generator and generator controller to support the increased power requirements. These two major design changes were completed by utilizing both advanced 3D modeling and computational fluid dynamics modelling. After design, modeling, and analysis, the decision was made to acquire and integrate the components for testing. The second task of Phase I was to integrate and test the components of the low pressure spool to validate power and efficiency. Acquisition of the components for the low pressure spool was completed utilizing Capstone’s current supplier base. Utilization of Capstone’s supply base for integration of the test article would allow — if the decision was made —expedited commercialization of the product. After integration of the engine components, the engine was tested and evaluated for performance and emissions. Test data analysis confirmed that the engine met all power and efficiency requirements and did so while maintaining CARB level emissions. The emissions were met without the use of any post processing or catalyst. After testing was completed, the DOE authorized — via a milestone review — proceeding to Phase II: the development of the integrated C370 engine. The C370 high pressure spool design activity required significant changes to the C65 engine architecture. The engine required a high power density generator, completely redesigned compressor stage, turbine section, recuperator, controls architecture, and intercooler stage asThe two most critical design challenges were the turbine section (the nozzle and turbine) and the controls architecture. The design and analysis of all of the components was completed and integrated into a system model. The system model — after numerous iterations — indicated that, once integrated, the engine will meet or exceed all system requirements. Unfortunately, the turbine section’s life requirements remain a technical challenge and will require continued refinement of the bi-metallic turbine wheel design and manufacturing approach to meet the life requirement at theses high temperatures. The current controls architecture requires substantial effort to develop a system capable of handling the high-speed, near real-time controls requirement, but it was determined not to be a technical roadblock for the project. The C370 Program has been a significant effort with state-of-the-art technical targets. The targets have pushed Capstone’s designers to the limits of current technology. The program has been fortunate to see many successes: the successful testing of the low pressure spool (C250), the development of new material processes, and the implementation of new design practices. The technology and practices learned during the program will be utilized in Capstone’s current product lines and future products. The C370 Program has been a resounding success on many fronts for the DOE and for Capstone.« less

Delegate, Collaborate, or Consult? A Capstone Simulation for Senior Nursing Students.

PubMed

Nowell, Lorelli S

2016-01-01

Clinical experiences are educational and fulfilling for both students and faculty; however, challenges arise in providing students with a variety of experiences where the leadership skills of prioritizing, collaborating, consulting, and delegating care can be developed. This article reports on a capstone simulation created to develop and sustain the prioritization, organization, and delegation skills of fourth year nursing students. Through the introduction of a multipatient simulation prior to graduation, nursing students will have a better understanding of the high-level leadership skills practicing registered nurses must possess in today's demanding health care environment.

Reviving a medical wearable computer for teaching purposes.

PubMed

Frenger, Paul

2014-01-01

In 1978 the author constructed a medical wearable computer using an early CMOS microprocessor and support chips. This device was targeted for use by health-conscious consumers and other early adopters. Its expandable functions included weight management, blood pressure control, diabetes care, medication reminders, smoking cessation, pediatric growth and development, simple medical database, digital communication with a doctor’s office and emergency alert system. Various physiological sensors could be plugged-into the calculator-sized chassis. The device was shown to investor groups but funding was not obtained; by 1992 the author ceased pursuing it. The Computing and Mathematics Chair at a local University, a NASA acquaintance, approached the author to mentor a CS capstone course for Summer 2012. With the author’s guidance, five students proceeded to convert this medical wearable computer design to an iPhone-based implementation using the Apple Xcode Developer Kit and other utilities. The final student device contained a body mass index (BMI) calculator, an emergency alert for 911 or other first responders, a medication reminder, a Doctor’s appointment feature, a medical database, medical Internet links, and a pediatric growth & development guide. The students’ final imple-mentation was successfully demonstrated on an actual iPhone 4 at the CS capstone meeting in mid-Summer.

Promoting interdisciplinary project-based learning to build the skill sets for research and development of medical devices in academia.

PubMed

Krishnan, Shankar

2013-01-01

The worldwide need for rapid expansion and diversification of medical devices and the corresponding requirements in industry pose arduous challenges for educators to train undergraduate biomedical engineering (BME) students. Preparing BME students for working in the research and development (R&D) in medical device industry is not easily accomplished by adopting traditional pedagogical methods. Even with the inclusion of the design and development elements in capstone projects, medical device industry may be still experience a gap in fulfilling their needs in R&D. This paper proposes a new model based on interdisciplinary project-based learning (IDPBL) to address the requirements of building the necessary skill sets in academia for carrying out R&D in medical device industry. The proposed model incorporates IDPBL modules distributed in a stepwise fashion through the four years of a typical BME program. The proposed model involves buy-in and collaboration from faculty as well as students. The implementation of the proposed design in an undergraduate BME program is still in process. However, a variant of the proposed IDPBL method has been attempted at a limited scale at the postgraduate level and has shown some success. Extrapolating the previous results, the adoption of the IDPBL to BME training seems to suggest promising outcomes. Despite numerous implementation challenges, with continued efforts, the proposed IDPBL will be valuable n academia for skill sets building for medical device R&D.

Accessible Earth: An accessible study abroad capstone for the geoscience curriculum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bennett, R. A.; Lamb, D. A.

2017-12-01

International capstone field courses offer geoscience-students opportunities to reflect upon their knowledge, develop intercultural competence, appreciate diversity, and recognize themselves as geoscientists on a global scale. Such experiences are often described as pivotal to a geoscientist's education, a right of passage. However, field-based experiences present insurmountable barriers to many students, undermining the goal of inclusive excellence. Nevertheless, there remains a widespread belief that successful geoscientists are those able to traverse inaccessible terrain. One path forward from this apparent dilemma is emerging as we take steps to address a parallel challenge: as we move into the 21st century the geoscience workforce will require an ever increasing range of skills, including analysis, modeling, communication, and computational proficiency. Computer programing, laboratory experimentation, numerical simulation, etc, are inherently more accessible than fieldwork, yet equally valuable. Students interested in pursuing such avenues may be better served by capstone experiences that align more closely with their career goals. Moreover, many of the desirable learning outcomes attributed to field-based education are not unique to immersion in remote inaccessible locations. Affective and cognitive gains may also result from social bonding through extended time with peers and mentors, creative synthesis of knowledge, project-based learning, and intercultural experience. Developing an inclusive course for the geoscience curriculum requires considering all learners, including different genders, ages, physical abilities, familial dynamics, and a multitude of other attributes. The Accessible Earth Study Abroad Program endeavors to provide geoscience students an inclusive capstone experience focusing on modern geophysical observation systems (satellite based observations and permanent networks of ground-based instruments), computational thinking and methods of data science, scientific collaboration, and professional development. In this presentation, we will describe our thought process for creating the Accessible Earth curriculum, our successes to-date, and the anticipated challenges ahead.

NASA/USRA University Advanced Design Program Fourth Annual Summer Conference

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alred, John

1988-01-01

The study topics cover a broad range of potential space and aeronautics projects which could be undertaken during a 20-30 year period beginning with the Space Station Initial Operating Configuration scheduled for the mid 1990's. Both manned and unmanned endeavors are embraced, and the systems approach to the design problem is emphasized. The student teams pursue the chosen problem during their senior year in a one or two semester capstone design course and submit a comprehensive written report at the conclusion of the project. Finally, student representatives from each of the universities summarize their work in oral presentations at the annual Summer Conference, held at one of the NASA centers and attended by the university faculty, NASA and USRA personnel, and aerospace industry representatives.

Overview of the Capstone Depleted Uranium Study of Aerosols from Impact with Armored Vehicles: Test Setup and Aerosol Generation, Characterization, and Application in Assessing Dose and Risk

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Parkhurst, MaryAnn; Guilmette, Raymond A.

2009-03-01

The Capstone Depleted Uranium (DU) Aerosol Characterization and Risk Assessment Study was conducted to generate data about DU aerosols generated during the perforation of armored combat vehicles with large-caliber DU penetrators, and to apply the data in assessments of human health risks to personnel exposed to these aerosols, primarily through inhalation, during the 1991 Gulf War or in future military operations. The Capstone study consisted of two components: 1) generating, sampling and characterizing DU aerosols by firing at and perforating combat vehicles and 2) applying the source-term quantities and characteristics of the aerosols to the evaluation of doses and risks.more » This paper reviews the background of the study including the bases for the study, previous reviews of DU particles and health assessments from DU used by the U.S. military, the objectives of the study components, the participants and oversight teams, and the types of exposures it was intended to evaluate. It then discusses exposure scenarios used in the dose and risk assessment and provides an overview of how the field tests and dose and risk assessments were conducted.« less

Mars Rover Model Celebration: Using Planetary Exploration To Enrich STEM Teaching In Elementary And Middle School

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bering, E. A.; Ramsey, J.; Dominey, W.; Kapral, A.; Carlson, C.; Konstantinidis, I.; James, J.; Sweaney, S.; Mendez, R.

2011-12-01

The present aerospace engineering and science workforce is ageing. It is not clear that the US education system will produce enough qualified replacements to meet the need in the near future. Unfortunately, by the time many students get to high school, it is often too late to get them pointed toward an engineering or science career. Since some college programs require 6 units of high school mathematics for admission, students need to begin consciously preparing for a science or engineering curriculum as early as 6th or 7th grade. The challenge for educators is to convince elementary school students that science and engineering are both exciting, relevant and accessible career paths. The recent NASA Mars Rover missions capture the imagination of children, as NASA missions have done for decades. The University of Houston is in the process of developing a prototype of a flexible program that offers children an in-depth educational experience culminating in the design and construction of their own model rover. The existing prototype program is called the Mars Rover Model Celebration. It focuses on students, teachers and parents in grades 3-8. Students will design and build a model of a Mars rover to carry out a student selected science mission on the surface of Mars. The model will be a mock-up, constructed at a minimal cost from art supplies. The students will build the models as part of a project on Mars. The students will be given design criteria for a rover and will do basic research on Mars that will determine the objectives and features of their rover. This project may be used either informally as an after school club or youth group activity or formally as part of a class studying general science, earth science, solar system astronomy or robotics, or as a multi-disciplinary unit for a gifted and talented program. The program culminates in a capstone event held at the University of Houston (or other central location in the other communities that will be involved) where the best models from each school or group are brought together for a celebratory showcase exhibit and judging. The project's unique strength lies in engaging students in the process of spacecraft design and interesting them in aerospace engineering careers. The project is aimed at elementary and secondary education. Not only will these students learn about scientific fields relevant to the mission (space science, physics, geology, robotics, and more), they will gain an appreciation for how this knowledge is used to tackle complex problems. The low cost of the event makes it an ideal enrichment vehicle for low income schools. It provides activities that provide professional development to educators, curricular support resources using NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) content, and provides family opportunities for involvement in K-12 student learning.

Teaching Introductory Geoscience: A Cutting Edge Workshop Report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manduca, C.; Tewksbury, B.; Egger, A.; MacDonald, H.; Kirk, K.

2008-12-01

Introductory undergraduate courses play a pivotal role in the geosciences. They serve as recruiting grounds for majors and future professionals, provide relevant experiences in geoscience for pre-service teachers, and offer opportunities to influence future policy makers, business people, professionals, and citizens. An introductory course is also typically the only course in geoscience that most of our students will ever take. Because the role of introductory courses is pivotal in geoscience education, a workshop on Teaching Introductory Courses in the 21st Century was held in July 2008 as part of the On the Cutting Edge faculty development program. A website was also developed in conjunction with the workshop. One of the central themes of the workshop was the importance of considering the long-term impact a course should have on students. Ideally, courses can be designed with this impact in mind. Approaches include using the local geology to focus the course and illustrate concepts; designing a course for particular audience (such as Geology for Engineers); creating course features that help students understand and interpret geoscience in the news; and developing capstone projects to teach critical thinking and problem solving skills in a geologic context. Workshop participants also explored strategies for designing engaging activities including exploring with Google Earth, using real-world scenarios, connecting with popular media, or making use of campus features on local field trips. In addition, introductory courses can emphasize broad skills such as teaching the process of science, using quantitative reasoning and developing communication skills. Materials from the workshop as well as descriptions of more than 150 introductory courses and 350 introductory-level activities are available on the website: http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/intro/index.html.

Undergraduate optics program for the 21st Century

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palmer, James M.

2002-05-01

We have been offering a successful BS degree in optical engineering for the past ten years. We have produced more than 100 graduates, highly trained in basic optics and electronics. Our Industrial Affiliates, while very pleased with our graduates, requested that we produce some with greater mechanical engineering skills and knowledge. Our response was the creation of a new degree program, retaining the virtues of the previous one, but allowing a high degree of flexibility through the inclusion of minors within the program. The new program allows sufficient room for a variety of minors. Engineering minors identified include aerospace, computer, electrical, materials and mechanical. Science minors include astronomy, computer science, math and physics. Non-science minors accommodated include business, pre-health and pre-law. The new BSO program features: (1) Better structure and flow, more tightly coupling related classes; (2) New laboratory classes for juniors, linked to lecture classes; (3) Expanded optical deign, fabrication and testing classes; (4) New class in electronics for optics; (5) New classes in fiber optics and optical communications; (6) New capstone/senior project class for ABET compliance. This new BSO program will produce better entry-level optical scientists and engineers, and better candidates for graduate school. Our interactions with the external community will provide inputs concerning industrial needs, leading towards improved student counseling and program development. We will better serve national needs for skilled personnel in optics, and contribute even more to the optics workforce pipeline.

NASA's Suborbital Center of Excellence - reaching young minds and crafting the future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cathey, H.; Hottman, S.; Hansen, K.

The NASA Suborbital Center of Excellence is charting new territory. From an idea to promote science and engineering education and outreach, the Suborbital Center of Excellence is working toward the objective of increasing numbers of college graduates choosing a career in suborbital programs. Approaches to excite university students to want to pursue these careers through relevant and useful work experiences will be highlighted. Suborbital platforms include balloons, sounding rockets, research aircraft (manned and remotely piloted vehicles) and small satellites. Key components of this are the Suborbital Center of Excellence co-op program and the support of Engineering ``Capstone'' projects. A number of these projects and programs have been supported during the past year. Highlights of these student hands-on learning experiences will be presented. The projects have included diverse projects ranging from work on a power beaming demonstration and autonomous aircraft control logic to the development of light weight pressure vessels for balloon flights based on ULDB spin-off technology, and balloon drop sonde development. Preparing these future Scientists and Engineers involves the investment of time, energy, and resources. The Suborbital Center of Excellence is uniquely positioned to do this. Future programs and initiatives will be presented. The Suborbital Center of Excellence is evolving, meeting the needs to promote science and engineering education and outreach. Educational outreach initiatives for young children to university students will also be presented. These include hands-on experiments, demonstrations, and suborbital educational materials.

Learning by doing at the Colorado School of Mines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furtak, Thomas E.; Ruskell, Todd G.

2013-03-01

With over 260 majors, the undergraduate physics program at CSM is among the largest in the country. An underlying theme in this success is experiential learning, starting with a studio teaching method in the introductory calculus-based physics courses. After their second year students complete a 6-week full-time summer course devoted to hands-on practical knowledge and skills, including machine shop techniques, high-vacuum technology, applied optics, electronic control systems, and computational tools. This precedes a two-semester laboratory sequence that can be taught at an advanced level because of the students' experience. The required capstone senior course is a year-long open-ended challenge in which students partner with members of the faculty to work on authentic research projects, teaming with grad students or post-docs as contributing members to the department's externally funded scholarship. All of these features are important components of our B.S. degree, Engineering Physics, which is officially accredited by ABET.

Integration of Innovative Technologies for Enhancing Students' Motivation for Science Learning and Career

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Yichun; Reider, David

2014-06-01

This paper analyzes the outcomes of an innovative technology experience for students and teachers (ITEST) project, Mayor's Youth Technology Corps (MYTCs) in Detroit, MI, which was funded by the NSF ITEST program. The MYTC project offered an integration of two technologies, geographic information system (GIS) and information assurance (IA), to stimulate students' interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career pathways and learning opportunities among high schools in underserved communities of the City of Detroit. Pre- and post-surveys demonstrated that the MYTC students showed growth in nearly every area covered in the surveys, including dispositions about STEM career and learning. A STEM career goal measure showed that overall interest in having a career in STEM increased 9 % throughout the program, with an additional 10 % for those who participated in an internship experience, the capstone of the MYTC project.

Near Earth asteroid rendezvous

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

The Spacecraft Design Course is the capstone design class for the M.S. in astronautics at the Naval Postgraduate School. The Fall 92 class designed a spacecraft for the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Mission (NEAR). The NEAR mission uses a robotic spacecraft to conduct up-close reconnaissance of a near-earth asteroid. Such a mission will provide information on Solar System formation and possible space resources. The spacecraft is intended to complete a NEAR mission as a relatively low-budget program while striving to gather as much information about the target asteroid as possible. A complete mission analysis and detailed spacecraft design were completed. Mission analysis includes orbit comparison and selection, payload and telemetry requirements, spacecraft configuration, and launch vehicle selection. Spacecraft design includes all major subsystems: structure, electrical power, attitude control, propulsion, payload integration, and thermal control. The resulting spacecraft demonstrates the possibility to meet the NEAR mission requirements using existing technology, 'off-the-shelf' components, and a relatively low-cost launch vehicle.

KAPAO first light: the design, construction and operation of a low-cost natural guide star adaptive optics system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Severson, Scott A.; Choi, Philip I.; Badham, Katherine E.; Bolger, Dalton; Contreras, Daniel S.; Gilbreth, Blaine N.; Guerrero, Christian; Littleton, Erik; Long, Joseph; McGonigle, Lorcan P.; Morrison, William A.; Ortega, Fernando; Rudy, Alex R.; Wong, Jonathan R.; Spjut, Erik; Baranec, Christoph; Riddle, Reed

2014-07-01

We present the instrument design and first light observations of KAPAO, a natural guide star adaptive optics (AO) system for the Pomona College Table Mountain Observatory (TMO) 1-meter telescope. The KAPAO system has dual science channels with visible and near-infrared cameras, a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, and a commercially available 140-actuator MEMS deformable mirror. The pupil relays are two pairs of custom off-axis parabolas and the control system is based on a version of the Robo-AO control software. The AO system and telescope are remotely operable, and KAPAO is designed to share the Cassegrain focus with the existing TMO polarimeter. We discuss the extensive integration of undergraduate students in the program including the multiple senior theses/capstones and summer assistantships amongst our partner institutions. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0960343.

The Benefits of Peer Review and a Multisemester Capstone Writing Series on Inquiry and Analysis Skills in an Undergraduate Thesis.

PubMed

Weaver, K F; Morales, V; Nelson, M; Weaver, P F; Toledo, A; Godde, K

2016-01-01

This study examines the relationship between the introduction of a four-course writing-intensive capstone series and improvement in inquiry and analysis skills of biology senior undergraduates. To measure the impact of the multicourse write-to-learn and peer-review pedagogy on student performance, we used a modified Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education rubric for Inquiry and Analysis and Written Communication to score senior research theses from 2006 to 2008 (pretreatment) and 2009 to 2013 (intervention). A Fisher-Freeman-Halton test and a two-sample Student's t test were used to evaluate individual rubric dimensions and composite rubric scores, respectively, and a randomized complete block design analysis of variance was carried out on composite scores to examine the impact of the intervention across ethnicity, legacy (e.g., first-generation status), and research laboratory. The results show an increase in student performance in rubric scoring categories most closely associated with science literacy and critical-thinking skills, in addition to gains in students' writing abilities. © 2016 K. F. Weaver et al. CBE—Life Sciences Education © 2016 The American Society for Cell Biology. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). It is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Why Games Work and the Science of Learning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murphy, Curtiss

2012-01-01

In 2010, the Navy formally added the Damage Control Trainer (DCT) to the recruit training program at Great Lakes, Illinois. Despite the incredibly dense training schedule at the Navy's boot camp, the instructors were willing to set aside two hours of time for recruits to play a game. Why? Because it worked. Even with just one hour of play, research showed that recruits gained a 50-80% improvement in performance that transferred to Battle Stations 21 (B821), the Navy's capstone training event. This paper explores why games makes these kinds of results possible. It argues that the things that are known to improve learning are almost exactly the same reasons why games work: the time-honored laws of learning. It concludes that the traditional gulf between instructional design and game design is really an issue of perspective, rather than fundamentals.

The Business Policy Course: Multiple Methods for Multiple Goals.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomas, Anisya S.

1998-01-01

Outlines the objectives of a capstone business policy and strategy course; the use of case analysis, article critiques, storytelling, and computer simulation; and contextual factors in matching objectives and methods. (SK)

A capstone research experience for physics majors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, David

2013-03-01

Dickinson College is a small liberal arts college with a thriving physics program. For years, one of the key features of our program has been a year-long senior research project that was required for each student. Unfortunately, as our number of majors increased, it became more and more difficult to supervise such a large number of senior research projects. To deal with this growing challenge, we developed a capstone research experience that involves a larger number of students working together on an independent group project. In this talk I will give a broad overview of our new senior research model and provide a few examples of projects that have been carried out over the past few years. I will also briefly describe the positive and negative aspects of this model from the perspective of faculty and students.

Learning Science Communication Skills Using Improvisation, Video Recordings, and Practice, Practice, Practice †

PubMed Central

Ponzio, Nicholas M.; Alder, Janet; Nucci, Mary; Dannenfelser, David; Hilton, Holly; Linardopoulos, Nikolaos; Lutz, Carol

2018-01-01

Doctoral students in science disciplines spend countless hours learning how to conduct cutting-edge research but very little time learning to communicate the nature and significance of their science to people outside their field. To narrow this disparity, we created an unusual course titled Communicating Science for doctoral science trainees at Rutgers University. Our goal was to help students develop an advanced ability to communicate their research clearly and accurately and to emphasize its value and significance to diverse audiences. Course design included classroom instruction supplemented with improvisation, video recordings, and ample opportunity for students to practice and receive immediate, constructive feedback in a supportive environment. A multidisciplinary faculty with expertise in science, education, communication, and theater arts taught this course. PhD students came from diverse scientific disciplines, ranging from biology and chemistry to civil engineering. Students also completed a capstone project in which they worked with a professional in the academic or private sector to explore a possible career aspiration. Assessment was in the form of feedback on students’ oral and poster presentations, and written abstracts about their research. Student evaluations and comments about course format and content were mostly positive and also provided input for ways to improve the course. We discovered that the diversity of scientific backgrounds among our students enhanced their ability to learn how to communicate their science to others outside their disciplines. We are leveraging the success of our initial course offering to reach other student and faculty groups at Rutgers. PMID:29904514

Design and fabrication of self-assembled thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Topasna, Daniela M.; Topasna, Gregory A.

2015-10-01

Students experience the entire process of designing, fabricating and testing thin films during their capstone course. The films are fabricated by the ionic-self assembled monolayer (ISAM) technique, which is suited to a short class and is relatively rapid, inexpensive and environmentally friendly. The materials used are polymers, nanoparticles, and small organic molecules that, in various combinations, can create films with nanometer thickness and with specific properties. These films have various potential applications such as pH optical sensors or antibacterial coatings. This type of project offers students an opportunity to go beyond the standard lecture and labs and to experience firsthand the design and fabrication processes. They learn new techniques and procedures, as well as familiarize themselves with new instruments and optical equipment. For example, students learn how to characterize the films by using UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometry and in the process learn how the instruments operate. This work compliments a previous exercise that we introduced where students use MATHCAD to numerically model the transmission and reflection of light from thin films.

Using implementation science as the core of the doctor of nursing practice inquiry project.

PubMed

Riner, Mary E

2015-01-01

New knowledge in health care needs to be implemented for continuous practice improvement. Doctor of nursing practice (DNP) programs are designed to increase clinical practice knowledge and leadership skills of graduates. This article describes an implementation science course developed in a DNP program focused on advancing graduates' capacity for health systems leadership. Curriculum and course development are presented, and the course is mapped to depict how the course objectives and assignments were aligned with DNP Essentials. Course modules with rational are described, and examples of how students implemented assignments are provided. The challenges of integrating this course into the life of the school are discussed as well as steps taken to develop faculty for this capstone learning experience. This article describes a model of using implementation science to provide DNP students an experience in designing and managing an evidence-based practice change project. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Improving evidence based practice in postgraduate nursing programs: A systematic review: Bridging the evidence practice gap (BRIDGE project).

PubMed

Hickman, Louise D; DiGiacomo, Michelle; Phillips, Jane; Rao, Angela; Newton, Phillip J; Jackson, Debra; Ferguson, Caleb

2018-04-01

The nursing profession has a significant evidence to practice gap in an increasingly complex and dynamic health care environment. To evaluate effectiveness of teaching and learning strategies related to a capstone project within a Masters of Nursing program that encourage the development of evidence based practice capabilities. Systematic review that conforms to the PRISMA statement. Master's Nursing programs that include elements of a capstone project within a university setting. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, ERIC and PsycInfo were used to search for RCT's or quasi experimental studies conducted between 1979 and 9 June 2017, published in a peer reviewed journal in English. Of 1592 studies, no RCT's specifically addressed the development of evidence based practice capabilities within the university teaching environment. Five quasi-experimental studies integrated blended learning, guided design processes, small group work, role play and structured debate into Masters of Nursing research courses. All five studies demonstrated some improvements in evidence based practice skills and/or research knowledge translation, with three out of five studies demonstrating significant improvements. There is a paucity of empirical evidence supporting the best strategies to use in developing evidence based practice skills and/or research knowledge translation skills for Master's Nursing students. As a profession, nursing requires methodologically robust studies that are discipline specific to identify the best approaches for developing evidence-based practice skills and/or research knowledge translation skills within the university teaching environment. Provision of these strategies will enable the nursing profession to integrate the best empirical evidence into nursing practice. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

USEPA CAPSTONE REPORT: DISINFECTION

EPA Science Inventory

Wet-weather flow (WWF), including combined-sewer overflow (CSO), sanitary-sewer overflow, and stormwater (SW) is a significant contributor of microbial contamination to surface water and ground water. Contamination with human-origin fecal coliform (FC) is of great concern for san...

8. VIEW NORTH DURING CONSTRUCTION, DECEMBER 1995, FACE OF ORIGINAL ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

8. VIEW NORTH DURING CONSTRUCTION, DECEMBER 1995, FACE OF ORIGINAL 1882 MASONRY DAM WITH CAPSTONES - Norwich Water Power Company, Dam, West bank of Shetucket River opposite Fourteenth Street, Greenville section, Norwich, New London County, CT

MANAGEMENT OF COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW: RESEARCH PROGRAM CAPSTONE

EPA Science Inventory

Combined-sewer overflow (CSO) is a mixture of urban storm drainage, municipal-industrial wastewater, and subterranean infiltration. Untreated discharges of CSOs have caused substantial pollution impacts on the quality of receiving-water bodies. Problem constituents include visi...

MANAGEMENT OF COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW RESEARCH PROGRAM CAPSTONE

EPA Science Inventory

Combined-sewer overflow (CSO) is a mixture of urban storm drainage, municipal-industrial wastewater, and subterranean infiltration. Untreated discharges of CSOs have caused substantial pollution impacts on the quality of receiving-water bodies. Problem constituents include ...

An Interprofessional Rural Health Education Program

PubMed Central

MacDowell, Martin; Schriever, Allison E.; Glasser, Michael; Schoen, Marieke D.

2012-01-01

Objectives. To develop, implement, and assess an interprofessional rural health professions program for pharmacy and medical students. Design. A recruitment and admissions process was developed that targeted students likely to practice in rural areas. Pharmacy students participated alongside medical students in completing the Rural Health Professions program curriculum, which included monthly lecture sessions and assignments, and a capstone clinical requirement in the final year. Assessment. Fourteen pharmacy students and 33 medical students were accepted into the program during the first 2 years of the Rural Health Professions program. Approximately 90% of the rural health professions students were originally from rural areas. Conclusions. The rural health professions program is an interprofessional approach to preparing healthcare providers to practice in rural communities. PMID:23275664

Using business plan development as a capstone project for MPH programs in Canada: validation through the student perspective.

PubMed

Papadopoulos, Andrew; Britten, Nicole; Hatcher, Meghan; Rainville, Keira

2013-10-01

Master of Public Health (MPH) programs have been developed across Canada as a response to the need for adequately trained individuals to work in the public health sector. Educational institutions that deliver MPH programs have a responsibility to ensure that graduates of their program have the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes to begin a successful career in public health. The Public Health Agency of Canada has created the core competencies for public health to guide the development, delivery and evaluation of MPH programs. In Canada, a capstone project is the recommended method of evaluating the MPH graduate's ability to demonstrate proficiency in the public health core competencies. A business plan that develops the framework for a public health program is an ideal capstone project currently used in practice within the University of Guelph MPH program. This group assignment incorporates all 36 of the public health core competencies while providing students with a real-world public health experience, and should be considered for inclusion within MPH programs across Canada. Business planning provides students the opportunity to engage in practice-based learning, applying theoretical knowledge to practice. Further, the ability to develop realistic but financially feasible public health problems is an invaluable skill for MPH graduates. As the development of programs becomes more restricted and the continuation of other programs are under constant threat, the ability to develop a sound business plan is a required skill for individuals entering the public health sector, and will ensure students are able to maximize outcomes given tight fiscal budgets and limited resources.

Capstone Depleted Uranium Aerosol Biokinetics, Concentrations, and Doses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guilmette, Raymond A.; Miller, Guthrie; Parkhurst, MaryAnn

2009-02-26

One of the principal goals of the Capstone Depleted Uranium (DU) Aerosol Study was to quantify and characterize DU aerosols generated inside armored vehicles by perforation with a DU penetrator. This study consequently produced a database in which the DU aerosol source terms were specified both physically and chemically for a variety of penetrator-impact geometries and conditions. These source terms were used to calculate radiation doses and uranium concentrations for various scenarios as part of the Capstone DU Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA). This paper describes the scenario-related biokinetics of uranium, and summarizes intakes, chemical concentrations to the organs, andmore » E(50) and HT(50) for organs and tissues based on exposure scenarios for personnel in vehicles at the time of perforation as well as for first responders. For a given exposure scenario (duration time and breathing rates), the range of DU intakes among the target vehicles and shots was not large, about a factor of 10, with the lowest being from a ventilated operational Abrams tank and the highest being for an unventilated Abrams with DU penetrator perforating DU armor. The ranges of committed effective doses were more scenario-dependent than were intakes. For example, the largest range, a factor of 20, was shown for scenario A, a 1-min exposure, whereas, the range was only a factor of two for the first-responder scenario (E). In general, the committed effective doses were found to be in the tens of mSv. The risks ascribed to these doses are discussed separately.« less

Radiological risk assessment of Capstone depleted uranium aerosols.

PubMed

Hahn, Fletcher F; Roszell, Laurie E; Daxon, Eric G; Guilmette, Raymond A; Parkhurst, Mary Ann

2009-03-01

Assessment of the health risk from exposure to aerosols of depleted uranium (DU) is an important outcome of the Capstone aerosol studies that established exposure ranges to personnel in armored combat vehicles perforated by DU munitions. Although the radiation exposure from DU is low, there is concern that DU deposited in the body may increase cancer rates. Radiation doses to various organs of the body resulting from the inhalation of DU aerosols measured in the Capstone studies were calculated using International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) models. Organs and tissues with the highest calculated committed equivalent 50-y doses were lung and extrathoracic tissues (nose and nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, mouth, and thoracic lymph nodes). Doses to the bone surface and kidney were about 5 to 10% of the doses to the extrathoracic tissues. Organ-specific risks were estimated using ICRP and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methodologies. Risks for crewmembers and first responders were determined for selected scenarios based on the time interval of exposure and for vehicle and armor type. The lung was the organ with the highest cancer mortality risk, accounting for about 97% of the risks summed from all organs. The highest mean lifetime risk for lung cancer for the scenario with the longest exposure time interval (2 h) was 0.42%. This risk is low compared with the natural or background risk of 7.35%. These risks can be significantly reduced by using an existing ventilation system (if operable) and by reducing personnel time in the vehicle immediately after perforation.

Internationalizing the Business Communication Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sturges, David L.

1992-01-01

Proposes a course in business communication that includes international or global perspectives in its philosophy, content, and assignments. Includes a syllabus, a scheme describing how the course is taught, a communication audit plan, a capstone project, and a sample reading list. (SR)

Modeling, Simulation, and Gaming: Student Capstone Conference

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, Catherine

2008-01-01

Highlights student research and student projects focused on MS&G. Competitive presentations - Volunteer judges from industry, government, military and academic institutions across America. - Evaluate research, presentation expertise, . and ability to answer questions. - Judges also facilitate their assigned conference tracks

U.S. EPA CSO CAPSTONE REPORT: CONTROL SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION

EPA Science Inventory

An optimized combined sewer overflow (CSO) requires a storage treatment system because storm flow in the combined sewer system is intermittent and highly variable in both pollutant concentration and flow rate. Storage and treatment alternatives are strongly influenced by input...

USEPA CAPSTONE REPORT: CONTROL AND TREATMENT

EPA Science Inventory

Combined-sewer overflows (CSOs), sanitary-sewer overflows and stormwater (SW) are significant contributors of contamination to surface waters. During a rain event, the flow in a combined sewer system may exceed the capacity of the intercepting sewer leading to the wastewater trea...

76 FR 74784 - Minto Explorations Ltd. v. Pacific and Arctic Railway and Navigation Company; Notice of Filing of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-01

... Capstone Mining Corp.'' Complainant alleges that Respondent is an Alaska corporation which operates as a... full text of the complaint can be found in the Commission's Electronic Reading Room at http://www.fmc...

US EPA CSO CAPSTONE REPORT: THE CSO PROBLEM

EPA Science Inventory

The history of combined sewer systems (CSS) and combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the US provides unique insights into the complex challenge faced in reducing and eliminating their adverse environmental effects. The evolution of the "modern" CSS shows how early urban drainag sys...

Multicultural Supervision: What Difference Does Difference Make?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eklund, Katie; Aros-O'Malley, Megan; Murrieta, Imelda

2014-01-01

Multicultural sensitivity and competency represent critical components to contemporary practice and supervision in school psychology. Internship and supervision experiences are a capstone experience for many new school psychologists; however, few receive formal training and supervision in multicultural competencies. As an increased number of…

Servant Leadership: Teaching the Helping Professional

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fields, Joyce W.; Thompson, Karen C.; Hawkins, Julie R.

2015-01-01

Robert Greenleaf's principles of servant leadership are relevant to the helping professions, including empowerment and development of others, service to others, and open and participatory leadership. The study of servant leadership was infused into an undergraduate senior capstone experience (an internship) for emerging helping professionals…

Comprehensive Education Portfolio with a Career Focus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kruger, Evonne J.; Holtzman, Diane M.; Dagavarian, Debra A.

2013-01-01

There are many types of student portfolios used within academia: the prior learning portfolio, credentialing portfolio, developmental portfolio, capstone portfolio, individual course portfolio, and the comprehensive education portfolio. The comprehensive education portfolio (CEP), as used by the authors, is a student portfolio, developed over…

Deployment of FlexCHP System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cygan, David

The Gas Technology Institute (GTI), along with its partner Integrated CHP Systems Corporation, has developed and demonstrated an Ultra-Low-Nitrogen Oxide (ULN) Flexible Combined Heat and Power (FlexCHP) system that packages a state-of-the-art Capstone C65 gas microturbine and Johnston PFXX100 boiler with an innovative natural gas-fired supplemental burner. Supplemental burners add heat as needed in response to facility demand, which increases energy efficiency, but typically raises exhaust NOx levels, degrading local air quality unless a costly and complicated catalytic treatment system is added. The FlexCHP system increases energy efficiency and achieves the 2007 California Air Resource Board (CARB) distributed generation emissionsmore » standards for Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Total Hydrocarbons (THC) without catalytic exhaust gas treatment. The key to this breakthrough performance is a simple and reliable burner design which utilizes staged combustion with engineered internal recirculation. This ULN burner system successfully uses turbine exhaust as an oxidizer, while achieving high efficiencies and low emissions. In tests at its laboratory facilities in Des Plaines, Illinois, GTI validated the ability of the system to achieve emissions of NOx, CO, and THC below the CARB criteria of 0.07, 0.10, and 0.02 lb/MW-h respectively. The FlexCHP system was installed at the field demonstration site, Inland Empire Foods, in Riverside, California to verify performance of the technology in an applied environment. The resulting Combined Heat and Power (CHP) package promises to make CHP implementation more attractive, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the reliability of electricity supply.« less

Inhalation and Ingestion Intakes with Associated Dose Estimates for Level II and Level III Personnel Using Capstone Study Data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Szrom, Fran; Falo, Gerald A.; Lodde, Gordon M.

2009-03-01

Depleted uranium (DU) intake rates and subsequent dose rates were estimated for personnel entering armored combat vehicles perforated with DU penetrators (level II and level III personnel) using data generated during the Capstone Depleted Uranium (DU) Aerosol Study. Inhalation intake rates and associated dose rates were estimated from cascade impactors worn by sample recovery personnel and from cascade impactors that served as area monitors. Ingestion intake rates and associated dose rates were estimated from cotton gloves worn by sample recovery personnel and from wipe test samples from the interior of vehicles perforated with large caliber DU munitions. The mean DUmore » inhalation intake rate for level II personnel ranged from 0.447 mg h-1 based on breathing zone monitor data (in and around a perforated vehicle) to 14.5 mg h-1 based on area monitor data (in a perforated vehicle). The mean DU ingestion intake rate for level II ranged from 4.8 mg h-1 to 38.9 mg h-1 based on the wipe test data including surface to glove transfer factors derived from the Capstone data. Based on glove contamination data, the mean DU ingestion intake rates for level II and level III personnel were 10.6 mg h-1 was and 1.78 mg h-1, respectively. Effective dose rates and peak kidney uranium concentration rates were calculated based on the intake rates. The peak kidney uranium concentration rate cannot be multiplied by the total exposure duration when multiple intakes occur because uranium will clear from the kidney between the exposures.« less

Radiological Risk Assessment of Capstone Depleted Uranium Aerosols

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hahn, Fletcher; Roszell, Laurie E.; Daxon, Eric G.

2009-02-26

Assessment of the health risk from exposure to aerosols of depleted uranium (DU) is an important outcome of the Capstone aerosol studies that established exposure ranges to personnel in armored combat vehicles perforated by DU munitions. Although the radiation exposure from DU is low, there is concern that DU deposited in the body may increase cancer rates. Radiation doses to various organs of the body resulting from the inhalation of DU aerosols measured in the Capstone studies were calculated using International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) models. Organs and tissues with the highest calculated committed equivalent 50-yr doses were lungmore » and extrathoracic tissues (nose and nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, mouth and thoracic lymph nodes). Doses to the bone surface and kidney were about 5 to 10% of the doses to the extrathoracic tissues. The methodologies of the ICRP International Steering Committee on Radiation Standards (ISCORS) were used for determining the whole body cancer risk. Organ-specific risks were estimated using ICRP and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methodologies. Risks for crewmembers and first responders were determined for selected scenarios based on the time interval of exposure and for vehicle and armor type. The lung was the organ with the highest cancer mortality risk, accounting for about 97% of the risks summed from all organs. The highest mean lifetime risk for lung cancer for the scenario with the longest exposure time interval (2 h) was 0.42%. This risk is low compared with the natural or background risk of 7.35%. These risks can be significantly reduced by using an existing ventilation system (if operable) and by reducing personnel time in the vehicle immediately after perforation.« less

RCTA capstone assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lennon, Craig; Bodt, Barry; Childers, Marshal; Dean, Robert; Oh, Jean; DiBerardino, Chip; Keegan, Terence

2015-05-01

The Army Research Laboratory's Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance (RCTA) is a program intended to change robots from tools that soldiers use into teammates with which soldiers can work. This requires the integration of fundamental and applied research in perception, artificial intelligence, and human-robot interaction. In October of 2014, the RCTA assessed progress towards integrating this research. This assessment was designed to evaluate the robot's performance when it used new capabilities to perform selected aspects of a mission. The assessed capabilities included the ability of the robot to: navigate semantically outdoors with respect to structures and landmarks, identify doors in the facades of buildings, and identify and track persons emerging from those doors. We present details of the mission-based vignettes that constituted the assessment, and evaluations of the robot's performance in these vignettes.

75 FR 9007 - National Science and Technology Council, Committee on Technology Capstone Workshop Risk...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-26

... Nanotechnology: Public Meeting ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: The National Nanotechnology... and Ethical, Legal, and Societal Implications (ELSI) of Nanotechnology. Risk Management Methods is one... document Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety Research ( http://www.nano...

Multiplication Fact Fluency Using Doubles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flowers, Judith M.; Rubenstein, Rheta N.

2010-01-01

Not knowing multiplication facts creates a gap in a student's mathematics development and undermines confidence and disposition toward further mathematical learning. Learning multiplication facts is a first step in proportional reasoning, "the capstone of elementary arithmetic and the gateway to higher mathematics" (NRC 2001, p. 242). Proportional…

Undergraduate Coursework in Economics: A Survey Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Siegfried, John J.; Walstad, William B.

2014-01-01

Survey results from a large sample of economics departments describe offerings for principles courses, coursework requirements for economics majors, and program augmentations such as capstone courses, senior seminars, and honors programs. Findings are reported for all institutions, and institutions are subdivided into six different categories…

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT, MARIAH ENERGY CORPORATION HEAT PLUS POWER SYSTEM

EPA Science Inventory

The Greenhouse Gas Technology Center (GHG Center) has recently evaluated the performance of the Heat PlusPower(TM) System (Mariah CDP System), which integrates microturbine technology with a heat recovery system. Electric power is generated with a Capstone MicroTurbine(TM) Model ...

Teaching Business Management at the Secondary Level

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Betty J.

1978-01-01

A suggested secondary business curriculum for future entrepreneurs should include a foundations course in the private enterprise system and courses in accounting, distributive education, data processing, and perhaps business law, leading to a capstone course in small business management. Some career possibilities are also noted. (MF)

Reviews Equipment: BioLite Camp Stove Game: Burnout Paradise Equipment: 850 Universal interface and Capstone software Equipment: xllogger Book: Science Magic Tricks and Puzzles Equipment: Spinthariscope Equipment: DC Power Supply HY5002 Web Watch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2013-05-01

WE RECOMMEND BioLite CampStove Robust and multifaceted stove illuminates physics concepts 850 Universal interface and Capstone software Powerful data-acquisition system offers many options for student experiments and demonstrations xllogger Obtaining results is far from an uphill struggle with this easy-to-use datalogger Science Magic Tricks and Puzzles Small but perfectly formed and inexpensive book packed with 'magic-of-science' demonstrations Spinthariscope Kit for older students to have the memorable experience of 'seeing' radioactivity WORTH A LOOK DC Power Supply HY5002 Solid and effective, but noisy and lacks portability HANDLE WITH CARE Burnout Paradise Car computer game may be quick off the mark, but goes nowhere fast when it comes to lab use WEB WATCH 'Live' tube map and free apps would be a useful addition to school physics, but maths-questions website of no more use than a textbook

The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project: Results of a Summer High-School Student, Teacher, University Scientist Partnership Using a Capstone Research Experience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shell, Duane F.; Snow, Gregory R.; Claes, Daniel R.

2011-04-01

This paper reports results from evaluation of the Cosmic Ray Observatory Project (CROP), a student, teacher, scientist partnership to engage high-school students and teachers in school based cosmic ray research. Specifically, this study examined whether an intensive summer workshop experience could effectively prepare teacher—student teams to engage in cutting edge high-energy physics research. Results showed that teachers and students could acquire enough knowledge about cosmic ray physics and self-efficacy for conducting cosmic ray research during a summer workshop to be full participants in an SSP conducting research in their schools, and a capstone anchoring approach using an authentic research activity was effective for motivating student engagement in didactic classroom learning. CROP demonstrated "proof of concept" that setting up cosmic ray detector arrays in schools run by teachers and students was feasible, but found that set-up and operation in a high-school was technically difficult.

Design and Testing of an Educational Water Tunnel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosaraju, Srinivas

2017-11-01

A new water tunnel is designed and tested for educational and research purposes at Northern Arizona University. The university currently owns an educational wind tunnel with a test section of 12in X 12in X 24in. However, due to limited size of test section and range of Reynolds numbers, its application is currently limited to very few experiments. In an effort to expand the educational and research capabilities, a student team is tasked to design, build and test a water tunnel as a Capstone Senior Design project. The water tunnel is designed to have a test section of 8in X 8in X 36in. and be able to test up to Re = 50E3. Multiple numerical models are used to optimize the flow field inside the test section before building the physical apparatus. The water tunnel is designed to accommodate multiple experiments for drag and lift studies. The built-in die system can deliver up to three different colors to study the streamlines and vortex shedding from the surfaces. During the first phase, a low discharge pump is used to achieve Re = 4E3 to test laminar flows. In the second phase, a high discharge pump will be used to achieve targeted Re = 50E3 to study turbulent flows.

Using Online Project-Based Capstone Experiences to Enhance Soft Skills Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Britton, Gwendolyn Suzanne

2013-01-01

Employers of newly minted information technology graduates are concerned that students graduating with information technology degrees offered in online environments are lacking critical noncomputing skills (soft skills). Further, it is unclear whether online environments have the capacity to foster the "soft skills" necessary for…

Improved Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Effectiveness MSSE Capstone Project

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-01

9 - Barrier System RMA Data Component MTBF MTTR Source Buoy 9,600 Hours Not Repairable During Mission [Ref 70, Lumpkin and Pazos , 2004...and Mayra Pazos , “Lifetime Statistics of Most Recent Drifter Deployments (2002-2003),” Global Drifter Program/ Drifter Data Assembly Center, NOAA

From Capstones to Touchstones: Preparative Assessment and Its Use in Teacher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brock, Patricia Ann

2004-01-01

Assessment of teacher competence follows current educational trends in rubrics, standards, and high-stakes testing. Simultaneously, the traditional preservice education classroom is expanding into cyberspace; many teacher preparation programs are being offered through distance learning. As preservice education students complete required courses…

A Case Study of a Co-Instructed Multidisciplinary Senior Capstone Project in Sustainability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rhee, Jinny; Oyamot, Clifton; Parent, David; Speer, Leslie; Basu, Anuradha; Gerston, Larry

2014-01-01

As societal challenges involving sustainable development increase, the need to effectively integrate this inherently multidisciplinary topic into existing curricula becomes more pressing. Multidisciplinary, team-taught, project-based instruction has shown effectiveness in teaching teamwork, communication, and life-long learning skills, and…

University Extension and Urban Planning Programs: An Efficient Partnership.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kotval, Zenia

2003-01-01

The Urban Planning Practicum is a capstone course engaging Michigan State students in urban outreach, working with community organizations on neighborhood revitalization. It facilitates the experiential learning needs of urban planning students while assisting Extension staff in capacity building. Faculty-extension agent partnerships make it…

Measuring Quality in High-Impact Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zilvinskis, John

2017-01-01

High-Impact Practices (HIPs), such as participating in undergraduate research, completing an internship, and creating a senior-capstone project, are becoming prominent within the academy. Scholars have surmised that aspects of HIP quality (e.g., student effort, peer collaboration, and faculty interaction) lead to greater desired outcomes for…

Conflict from Teamwork in Project-Based Collaborative Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chan, Lim Ha; Chen, Ching-Huei

2010-01-01

This study investigated the conflict occurring during teamwork among college seniors in project-based collaborative learning in a capstone course. It found that conflict emerged with poor communication, task management, and work allocation; unequal treatments among classmates; egocentricity; a clash of values; and lack of responsibility and…

A National Comparison of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Capstone Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aguanno, Ann; Mertz, Pamela; Martin, Debra; Bell, Ellis

2015-01-01

Recognizing the increasingly integrative nature of the molecular life sciences, the "American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology" (ASBMB) recommends that Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) programs develop curricula based on concepts, content, topics, and expected student outcomes, rather than courses. To that end,…

An Environmentally Focused General Chemistry Laboratory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mihok, Morgan; Keiser, Joseph T.; Bortiatynski, Jacqueline M.; Mallouk, Thomas E.

2006-01-01

The environmentally focused general chemistry laboratory provides a format for teaching the concepts of the mainstream laboratory within an environmental context. The capstone integrated exercise emerged as the overwhelming favorite part of this laboratory and the experiment gave students an opportunity to do a self-directed project, using the…

Team Culture and Business Strategy Simulation Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ritchie, William J.; Fornaciari, Charles J.; Drew, Stephen A. W.; Marlin, Dan

2013-01-01

Many capstone strategic management courses use computer-based simulations as core pedagogical tools. Simulations are touted as assisting students in developing much-valued skills in strategy formation, implementation, and team management in the pursuit of superior strategic performance. However, despite their rich nature, little is known regarding…

LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE OF PERMEABLE REACTIVE BARRIERS: LESSONS LEARNED, FUTURE DIRECTIONS

EPA Science Inventory

Recently, a synthesis of research findings by EPA has been prepared and presented in an EPA report titled Capstone Report on the Application, Monitoring, and Performance of Permeable Reactive Barriers for Ground-Water Remediation (EPA/600/R-03/045 a,b). Another report has also be...

Teaching Teamwork to Public Relations Students: Does It Matter?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker-Schena, Lori

2011-01-01

Purpose: The first purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which students in university capstone public relations classes who receive teamwork training demonstrate effective team behaviors, produce quality work, experience satisfaction in the teamwork process, and engender client satisfaction. The second purpose was to determine the…

The Road Less Travelled? Pathways from Passivity to Agency in Student Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frost, Gail; Connolly, Maureen

2015-01-01

This qualitative study examined fourth-year undergraduate students' responses to reflective writing prompts and journal entries related to their practical experiences in two capstone courses, both based in SBL/PBL pedagogies. We examined their "strategic" approaches to learning that make engagement with subject matter and learning…

Orchestrating Authorship: Teaching Writing across the Psychology Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Soysa, Champika K.; Dunn, Dana S.; Dottolo, Andrea L.; Burns-Glover, Alyson L.; Gurung, Regan A. R.

2013-01-01

This article describes the kinds of writing that could be introduced at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced course levels in the psychology major. We present exemplars of writing assignments across three institutions, including textual analysis, integrating intratext and intertext writing, and a capstone thesis project, where the skills…

76 FR 34215 - Notice of Department of Energy-Quadrennial Technology Review Capstone Workshop

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-13

... Council of Advisors on Science & Technology. This Administration's national energy goals are to: Reduce..., 2011)], the Department requested public comment on the questions related to the DOE-QTR and the framing... framing document: In the mobile sector, these are vehicle efficiency, electrification, and advanced fuels...

Learning as a Dissonant Act

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kutnowski, Martin

2005-01-01

In this article, the author recounts his experience teaching MU-241, Music Harmony and Counterpoint, which is a capstone course for the music electronics program--a two-year associate of arts and sciences degree--at Queensborough Community College, City University of New York. The class, a difficult one, combines harmony, counterpoint, and piano,…

Material Feminist Practices in a Body Politics Seminar

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stein, Rachel

2014-01-01

In this article, Rachel Stein focuses on two course projects in which students apply materialist feminist practices within a capstone women's studies seminar entitled Body Politics. Undertaking these projects, students become more critically aware of gendered materialities that they had previously taken for granted as they deconstruct material…

Addressing Problems Encountered in Case-Based Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turgeon, A. J.

2007-01-01

TURF 436 (Case Studies in Turfgrass Management) is the capstone course for turfgrass science majors at the Pennsylvania State University. Students are introduced to problems and complex problematic situations encountered in the management of golf and sports turf and in professional lawn-care operations. Following completion of the orientation case…

Piloting a Web-Based Homework System in Developmental Mathematics Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dass, Wendi E.

2012-01-01

This Capstone project studied a pilot of the web-based homework system "Hawkes" in developmental mathematics classes at a mid-sized community college. The purpose of the study was to investigate how three instructors of developmental mathematics courses incorporated "Hawkes" in their classes, what obstacles they encountered,…

Scope Management: A Core Information System Implementation Project Pedagogy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Léger, Pierre-Majorique; Lyle, Derick; Babin, Gilbert; Charland, Patrick; Pellerin, Robert

2013-01-01

This article describes an initiative to provide IS management a capstone course that builds on the zone of proximal development concept, oriented towards developing prioritization and critical reasoning skills, and to promote self-learning. Request for proposal business cases appear to offer effective mechanisms for retaining context, while…

Leadership Learning through Student-Centered and Inquiry-Focused Approaches to Teaching Adaptive Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haber-Curran, Paige; Tillapaugh, Daniel

2013-01-01

This qualitative study examines student learning about leadership across three sections of a capstone course in an undergraduate leadership minor. Qualitative methods were informed by exploratory case study analysis and phenomenology. Student-centered and inquiry-focused pedagogical approaches, including case-in-point, action inquiry, and…

Writing in the Senior Capstone: Theory and Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Masiello, Lea; Skipper, Tracy L.

2013-01-01

Surveys of employers continually highlight the need for better communication skills among recent college graduates. Yet, writing instruction in higher education serves far more than a transactional purpose. Writing facilitates learning, helps students gain skills in analysis and synthesis, and supports a range of other personal and intellectual…

A Cross-Functional Systems Project in an IS Capstone Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maloni, Michael; Dembla, Pamila; Swaim, J. Anthony

2012-01-01

Information systems (IS) practitioners must regularly work cross-functionally with business users when implementing enterprise systems. However, most IS higher education is not truly cross-functional in nature with students typically relying on instructors or even themselves to represent user requirements. To address this gap, we describe an…

The MPA Capstone Course: Multifaceted Uses and Potentialities in Program Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahmed, Shamima

2015-01-01

In the United States, Master of Public Administration Program (MPA) accreditations come through fulfilling the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and administration (NASPAA) accreditation standards. In 2009, NASPAA made some significant revisions to its accreditation standards. One of the major revisions is the requirement for programs…

Friday Forum and the AICPA Core Competency Framework: Honing Students' Personal Competencies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Grace F.

2013-01-01

This paper shares one learning technique for honing undergraduate students' personal competencies. The senior accounting capstone course at a small Midwestern private liberal college includes a weekly seminar series, called the Friday Forum, where students and practitioners meet to discuss a current professional accounting article. Since Spring…

The Ohio Schools Pest Management Survey: A Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

2001

In 2001, the Environmental Studies Senior Capstone Seminar class at Denison University helped the state of Ohio work to prevent harmful pesticide use in schools. In cooperation with Ohio State University's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Schools Program, Denison conducted a statewide survey of school districts to determine current pest…

Making Molecular Borromean Rings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pentecost, Cari D.; Tangchaivang, Nichol; Cantrill, Stuart J.; Chichak, Kelly S.; Peters, Andrea J.; Stoddart, Fraser J.

2007-01-01

A procedure that requires seven 4-hour blocks of time to allow undergraduate students to prepare the molecular Borromean rings (BRs) on a gram-scale in 90% yield is described. The experiment would serve as a nice capstone project to culminate any comprehensive organic laboratory course and expose students to fundamental concepts, symmetry point…

The Cyber Military Revolution and the Need for a New Framework of War

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-04-16

upon a better ability to discover and synthesize linkages and relationships between the variables and factors observed, one’s genetic heritage, social...system. The inclusion of the proposed revised framework of war in the capstone joint doctrine guidance document would provide a rubric of warfare

A Framework for Teaching Software Development Methods

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dubinsky, Yael; Hazzan, Orit

2005-01-01

This article presents a study that aims at constructing a teaching framework for software development methods in higher education. The research field is a capstone project-based course, offered by the Technion's Department of Computer Science, in which Extreme Programming is introduced. The research paradigm is an Action Research that involves…

Diagnostic and Value-Added Assessment of Business Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fraser, Linda; Harich, Katrin; Norby, Joni; Brzovic, Kathy; Rizkallah, Teeanna; Loewy, Dana

2005-01-01

To assess students' business writing abilities upon entry into the business program and exit from the capstone course, a multitiered assessment package was developed that measures students' achievement of specific learning outcomes and provides "value-added" scores. The online segment of the test measures five competencies across three process…

Nondisparagement Clauses in Severance Agreements: A Capstone Contracts Exercise

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murphy, Tonia Hap

2017-01-01

Nondisparagement clauses are common in severance agreements. They are "boilerplate," "routine." They are "used across all industries, in companies of all sizes and with employees at any position within the organization, although they are more common with higher-ranking employees or when mass layoffs occur. Companies may be…

Mathematical Modeling Projects: Success for All Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shelton, Therese

2018-01-01

Mathematical modeling allows flexibility for a project-based experience. We share details of our regular capstone course, successful for virtually 100% of our math majors for almost two decades. Our research-like approach in this course accommodates a variety of student backgrounds and interests, and has produced some award-winning student…

Re-Envisioning the Honors Senior Project: Experience as Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gustafson, Kevin; Cureton, Zachary

2014-01-01

One of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) Basic Characteristics of a Fully Developed Honors Program is that it creates opportunities for undergraduate research, opportunities that frequently culminate in a senior thesis or capstone project. This article describes how the University of Texas at Arlington Honors College integrated…

Two Demonstrations with a New Data-Acquisition System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kraftmakher, Yaakov

2014-01-01

Nowadays, the use of data-acquisition systems in undergraduate laboratories is routine. Many computer-assisted experiments became possible with the PASCO scientific data-acquisition system based on the 750 Interface and DataStudio software. A new data-acquisition system developed by PASCO includes the 850 Universal Interface and Capstone software.…

Breaking the Sound Barrier

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Tom; Boehringer, Kim

2007-01-01

Students in a fourth-grade class participated in a series of dynamic sound learning centers followed by a dramatic capstone event--an exploration of the amazing Trashcan Whoosh Waves. It's a notoriously difficult subject to teach, but this hands-on, exploratory approach ignited student interest in sound, promoted language acquisition, and built…

Are Future Teachers Ready to Embrace Mathematical Inquiry?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Acosta, Daniel

2014-01-01

This article describes a project inspired by Liping Ma's "Exploring New Knowledge" in which future 7-12 grade mathematics teachers enrolled in a fall 2013 capstone course at a typical regional state university were assigned fictitious student conjectures. These future teachers (all current high school mathematics teachers) were…

Using Technology to Engage Preservice Elementary Teachers in Learning about Scientific Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Loretta L.; MacArthur, James R.; Akaygün, Sevil

2011-01-01

Elementary teachers are often required to teach inquiry in their classrooms despite having had little exposure to inquiry learning themselves. In a capstone undergraduate science course preservice elementary teachers experience scientific inquiry through the completion of group projects, activities, readings and discussion, in order to develop a…

Multimedia Teacher Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leaman, Heather; DiLucchio, Connie

2015-01-01

In this qualitative study, two teacher educators and course instructors in a Masters of Education (M.Ed.) program explored beginning teacher researchers' use of multimedia to support action research. Fifty-eight teachers (36 in spring 2010 and 22 in spring 2011) completed teacher research as the capstone in their M.Ed. program. Teachers utilized…

Robert's Rules for Optimal Learning: Model Development, Field Testing, Implications!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGinty, Robert L.

The value of accelerated learning techniques developed by the national organization for Suggestive Accelerated Learning Techniques (SALT) was tested in a study using Administrative Policy students taking the capstone course in the Eastern Washington University School of Business. Educators have linked the brain and how it functions to various…

Forest Resource Management Plans: A Sustainability Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pile, Lauren S.; Watts, Christine M.; Straka, Thomas J.

2012-01-01

Forest Resource Management Plans is the capstone course in many forestry and natural resource management curricula. The management plans are developed by senior forestry students. Early management plans courses were commonly technical exercises, often performed on contrived forest "tracts" on university-owned or other public lands, with a goal of…

Management of Classroom Behaviors: Perceived Readiness of Education Interns

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garland, Dennis; Garland, Krista Vince; Vasquez, Eleazar, III

2013-01-01

Education students at a large research university participated in internships during their final semesters as part of their respective programs of study as a capstone experience. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect data on the perceptions of interns' readiness and knowledge of evidence-based practices to manage classroom…

Preliminary human factors findings from the FAA Capstone 3 electronic flight bag : airport surface moving map operational evaluation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-05-02

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Runway Safety is interested in understanding the impact of an airport moving map with ownship position on operational usability and safety. To gather data on the use of this technology, the FAA is s...

Identification and Triage of Compromised Virtual Machines

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA APPLIED CYBER OPERATIONS CAPSTONE PROJECT REPORT Approved for public release...ADDRESS(ES) Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CA 93943-5000 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S...IN APPLIED CYBER OPERATIONS from the NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL September 2014 Authors: John Paulenich Chukwuemeka Agbedo

Eportfolios: Proving Competency and Building a Network

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kryder, LeeAnne G.

2011-01-01

Use of eportfolios for business communication students in an advanced two-quarter capstone brought an unexpected networking opportunity, in addition to their conventional use as a showcase for student writing and research. This article discusses how students developed their eportfolios. Then, through use of a course website providing an optional…

Improving Student Engagement of Health Services Management Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trowers, LaToya L.

2016-01-01

This capstone provides readers with an analysis of the role student engagement has in higher education. Student engagement has been studied extensively by many authors, and each has provided a framework for understanding the various approaches to increasing engagement of students. This paper approaches the topic of student engagement by examining…

Unpacking Personal Identities for Teaching Mathematics within the Context of Prospective Teacher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hodges, Thomas E.; Hodge, Lynn Liao

2017-01-01

This article explores the personal identities of two prospective elementary teachers as they progressed from mathematics methods coursework into their capstone student teaching semester. Results indicate that both prospective teachers perceived contrasting obligations of effective mathematics teaching in the teacher education and student teaching…

Improving Student Commitment to Healthcare-Related Design Practice by Improving the Studio Learning Experience.

PubMed

Tan, Lindsay; Hong, Miyoung; Albert, Taneshia West

2017-10-01

This case study explores the influence of the healthcare design studio experience on students' short-term professional goals as measured through rates of healthcare-related certification and internship/employment. The value and relevance of interior design is evident in the healthcare design sector. However, interior design students may not perceive this value if it is not communicated through their design education. Students' experience in the design studio plays a crucial role in determining career choices, and students may be more committed to career goals when there is clear connection between major coursework and professional practice. The authors compared healthcare-related certification and internship/employment levels between two student cohorts in a capstone undergraduate interior design healthcare design studio course. The first cohort was led by the existing curriculum. The second cohort was led by the revised curriculum that specifically aimed at encouraging students to commit to healthcare-related design practice. When measured at 3 months from graduation, the second cohort, led by the revised curriculum, saw a 30% increase in Evidence-based Design Accreditation and Certification exam pass rates and a 40% increase in healthcare-related internship/employment. The challenge of interior design education is to instill in emerging professionals not only professional competence but also those professional attitudes that will make them better prepared to design spaces that improve quality of life, particularly in healthcare environments. The results exceeded the project goals, and so this could be considered a promising practice for courses focused on healthcare design education.

Fluid Mechanics Experiments as a Unifying Theme in the Physics Instrumentation Laboratory Course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borrero-Echeverry, Daniel

2017-11-01

We discuss the transformation of a junior-level instrumentation laboratory course from a sequence of cookbook lab exercises to a semester-long, project-based course. In the original course, students conducted a series of activities covering the usual electronics topics (amplifiers, filters, oscillators, logic gates, etc.) and learned basic LabVIEW programming for data acquisition and analysis. Students complained that these topics seemed disconnected and not immediately applicable to ``real'' laboratory work. To provide a unifying theme, we restructured the course around the design, construction, instrumentation of a low-cost Taylor-Couette cell where fluid is sheared between rotating coaxial cylinders. The electronics labs were reworked to guide students from fundamental electronics through the design and construction of a stepper motor driver, which was used to actuate the cylinders. Some of the legacy labs were replaced with a module on computer-aided design (CAD) in which students designed parts for the apparatus, which they then built in the departmental machine shop. Signal processing topics like spectral analysis were introduced in the context of time-series analysis of video data acquired from flow visualization. The course culminated with a capstone project in which students conducted experiments of their own design on a variety of topics in rheology and nonlinear dynamics.

The intersection of discipline and roles: Dr. Pauline Mack's story as an instrumental case study with implications for leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Younkin, Winnifred Gail

Widespread concerns currently exist regarding our nation's ability to attract, educate, and retain talented, diverse individuals in STEM fields. These concerns are exacerbated by globalized competition and critical economic conditions. With these issues in mind, this instrumental case study was designed to examine the life story of Dr. Pauline Beery Mack in order to inform secondary and tertiary educational leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Dr. Mack's life story was written from the interpretive view and analyzed through a number of theoretical frameworks appropriate to understanding the complexity of an individual in time and place: the psychobiosocial model, constructivism, creativity, perspective of the field, and the capstone framework of leadership. Data for the construction of Dr. Mack's life story were obtained from Pennsylvania State University Archives, The Women's Collection at Texas Woman's University (TWU), original publications, news media archives, and other sources. Interviews conducted for TWU's archives and interviews conducted by the author provided personal insight into Dr. Mack's life and work. Dr. Mack (1891-1974) lived, learned, created, and taught in a STEM arena that was predominately male. She pursued research with zeal, and was highly adept in attracting jobs, funding, students, and the right people to get the jobs done. Her longitudinal nutrition research, based on a methodology she invented, was innovative in its scope and scale. She served as an advocate for consumers, the undernourished, women, and minorities. Along the way, she changed perceptions of what women could accomplish. Bone density, school lunches, Victory Gardens, flammability, textile industry scandal, and space travel. Dr. Mack with her insatiable need to know was involved in it all. Her multiplicity of roles and contexts yielded a rich and complex life from which to draw implications for educational leadership in secondary and tertiary STEM fields. Implications for educational leadership in secondary and tertiary STEM fields that emerged from this study, relating to both affective and academic spheres, range from STEM valuing, discipline-related expertise, divergence value modeling, and expectations. Among the other implications addressed are levels of thinking, scaffolding for attribute development, and working on the work.

Interactive Virtual Suturing Simulations: Enhancement of Student Learning in Veterinary Medicine

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Staton, Amy J.; Boyd, Christine B.

2013-01-01

This capstone addresses an instructional gap in the Morehead State University Veterinary Technology Program and in other similar programs around the globe. Students do not retain the knowledge needed to proficiently complete suture patterns nor do students receive sufficient instructional time during the year to master each suture pattern that is…

Assessing Graduate Student Work: An Emotional and Relational Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwartz, Harriet L.; Holloway, Elizabeth L.

2017-01-01

Assessment is a critical activity in the life of a professor. The authors' interest in professors' internal experiences of assessment led them to conduct a grounded theory study in which they interviewed 16 faculty teaching in social science and pre-professional programs, asking them to reflect on assessing master's thesis and capstone projects.…

Using a Web GIS Plate Tectonics Simulation to Promote Geospatial Thinking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bodzin, Alec M.; Anastasio, David; Sharif, Rajhida; Rutzmoser, Scott

2016-01-01

Learning with Web-based geographic information system (Web GIS) can promote geospatial thinking and analysis of georeferenced data. Web GIS can enable learners to analyze rich data sets to understand spatial relationships that are managed in georeferenced data visualizations. We developed a Web GIS plate tectonics simulation as a capstone learning…

Electronic Portfolios as Capstone Experiences in a Graduate Program in Organizational Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goertzen, Brent J.; McRay, Jeni; Klaus, Kaley

2016-01-01

Assessment of student learning in graduate education often takes the form of a summative measure by way of written comprehensive exams. However, written examinations, while suitable for evaluating cognitive knowledge, may not fully capture students' abilities to transfer and apply leadership related knowledge and skills into real-world practice.…

Beyond Academics: Conquering Senioritis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rehage, Larry; Dreis, Janice

2009-01-01

Many educators complain that the blight of senioritis and the absence of rigor and relevance prevent the final year of high school from being the capstone year it should be. Helping seniors focus on the life-changing transition they are about to experience is an effective strategy for engaging seniors and infusing relevance and rigor in a profound…

Addressing Problems of Professional Competence: Collaborating with University Training Programs to Support Struggling Supervisees

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guiney, Meaghan C.

2018-01-01

As a university-based supervisor (UBS) for school psychology interns, one of the highlights of the author's job is seeing students complete their capstone training experiences and move on to become credentialed, practicing school psychologists. This requires that students demonstrate competence, or the academic, assessment, clinical, ethical, and…

The Development of an ePortfolio as a Capstone in a Holistic Health Minor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perks, Joan M.; Galantino, Mary Lou

2013-01-01

Use of electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) has been advocated to highlight student accomplishments as well as to document program and course outcomes. This use of ePortfolios incorporates information technology, thus aligning the educational process in degree programs to twenty-first-century teaching, learning, and information literacy. Here we…

Preservice Teachers' Perspective Transformations as Social Change Agents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woodrow, Kelli; Caruana, Vicki

2017-01-01

In this article, we investigate whether, and in what ways, the learning experiences in a capstone course in reflective teaching impact the perspective transformations (PT) of preservice teachers toward a diverse K-12 student population and the plans of preservice teachers to take future action as change agents. Using an adaptation of the Learning…

Abstract of Capstone

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pack, Della F.

2013-01-01

At the end of the Fall 2011 semester at Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) a comparison of grade patterns in multiple CIS 100-Introduction to Computers courses was analyzed. This analysis found online courses returned a higher failure rate than those taught in a classroom setting. Why was there a difference? Is the platform of…

Developing the Skills of Principals in Low-Performing Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jenkins, Stephen R.; Peffer, Randall D.

2017-01-01

Lewis Carroll famously noted that "if you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there". This capstone project joins the dialogue of the importance of adapting the principal preparation programs at colleges and universities to adequately provide aspiring principals the skills needed to lead the work in low-performing…

Structuring a Competency-Based Accounting Communication Course at the Graduate Level

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharifi, Mohsen; McCombs, Gary B.; Fraser, Linda Lussy; McCabe, Robert K.

2009-01-01

The authors describe a graduate capstone accounting class as a basis for building communication skills desired by both accounting practitioners and accounting faculty. An academic service-learning (ASL) component is included. Adopted as a required class for a master of science degree in accounting at two universities, this course supports…

Building Reflective Practice through an Online Diversity Simulation in an Undergraduate Teacher Education Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Manburg, Jamie; Moore, Rashid; Griffin, David; Seperson, Marvin

2017-01-01

This paper discusses preservice teachers' perceptions of an online, in-house diversity simulation in an undergraduate teacher education program conducted over a 3-year period. The diversity simulation was a nontraditional capstone experience for 193 preservice teachers in majors ranging from early childhood to secondary education. The diversity…

The Comprehensive Business Exam: Usefulness for Assessing Instructional and Student Performance Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hahn, William; Leslie, Beth

2017-01-01

The authors explore the results of the Comprehensive Business Exam (CBE) administered to business majors during their senior-year business capstone course. The study results identified students' SAT and grade point average as a predictor of CBE performance, and variables that explain the correlation between CBE performance, SAT score, and grade…

Consumer Education, Materials for an Elective Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bregman, Henry; And Others

An interdisciplinary course to be offered in grade 12 to serve as a capstone to the efforts of social studies, business education, home economics, health education, and industrial arts, in preparing citizens to be wise consumers, was developed by a team of teacher consultants and curriculum specialists. The materials were tested and revised after…

Changes in Teachers' Attitudes toward Instructional Technology Attributed to Completing the ISTE NETS*T Certificate of Proficiency Capstone Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Overbaugh, Richard C.; Lu, Ruiling; Diacopoulos, Mark

2015-01-01

An evaluation was conducted of teachers' attitudinal perceptions of their confidence for implementation, stages of innovation adoption, and satisfaction, as a result of participating in the International Society for Technology in Education's National Educational Technology Standards-Teachers (ISTE NETS*T) Certificate of Proficiency Capstone…

Enhancing Student Teacher Supervision through Hybridization: Adding E-Supervision to the Mix

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paulsen, Thomas H.; Schmidt-Crawford, Denise A.

2017-01-01

Student teaching is a critical component of the preservice teacher preparation program which has a major role in preparing novices to teach. This capstone experience has been frequently examined and the subject of numerous reform measures. Clinical experiences for preservice teachers have recently seen new recommendations for increased supervisor…

Fostering Experiential Learning and Service through Client Projects in Graduate Business Courses Offered Online

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hagan, Linda M.

2012-01-01

Undergraduate marketing and public relations capstone courses utilize client projects to allow students to apply their knowledge and encourage collaboration. Yet, at the graduate level, especially with courses offered in an online modality, experiential service learning in the form of client project assignments presents unique challenges. However,…

Capstone Teaching Models: Combining Simulation, Analytical Intuitive Learning Processes, History and Effectiveness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reid, Maurice; Brown, Steve; Tabibzadeh, Kambiz

2012-01-01

For the past decade teaching models have been changing, reflecting the dynamics, complexities, and uncertainties of today's organizations. The traditional and the more current active models of learning have disadvantages. Simulation provides a platform to combine the best aspects of both types of teaching practices. This research explores the…

The Genre of Instructor Feedback in Doctoral Programs: A Corpus Linguistic Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walters, Kelley Jo; Henry, Patricia; Vinella, Michael; Wells, Steve; Shaw, Melanie; Miller, James

2015-01-01

Providing transparent written feedback to doctoral students is essential to the learning process and preparation for the capstone. The purpose of this study was to conduct a qualitative exploration of faculty feedback on benchmark written assignments across multiple, online doctoral programs. The Corpus for this analysis included 236 doctoral…

A Combination Course and Lab-Based Approach to Teaching Research Skills to Undergraduates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Danowitz, Amy M.; Brown, Ronald C.; Jones, Clinton D.; Diegelman-Parente, Amy; Taylor, Christopher E.

2016-01-01

Undergraduate research is an important capstone experience that provides students with the conceptual and technical aptitude for graduate or industrial research. However, this experience is often compressed into a single term in a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) or run by individual faculty members for select students on an…

Training Head Start Coordinators for Workplace Preparedness. NCCU Head Start Monograph, October 1995.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Carolina Central Univ., Durham.

This monograph summarizes results from academic capstone activities of graduate students and faculty advisors regarding issues consistent with Head Start national priorities and practice needs. The following theses are summarized: (1) "Multicultural Education in Head Start Programs in North Carolina" (S.K. Gant); (2) "The Impact of…

Information Systems Administration. Course Seven. Information Systems Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Neil, Sharon Lund; Everett, Donna R.

This course is the seventh of seven in the Information Systems curriculum. The purpose of this capstone course is to build on skills acquired in the earlier courses. Emphasis is placed on realistic situations and challenges that exist in the automated office and for which information systems technology and skills are pertinent. These components…

How Does Completing a Dissertation Transform Undergraduate Students' Understandings of Disciplinary Knowledge?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ashwin, Paul; Abbas, Andrea; McLean, Monica

2017-01-01

Dissertations are positioned as the capstone of an undergraduate degree, bringing together what students have previously learned from their programmes through a piece of independent research. However, there is limited research into the ways in which engaging in a dissertation has an impact on students' understandings of disciplinary knowledge. In…

Bioreactors in Everyday Life: Ethanol and the Maize Craze

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bowman, Silas

2010-01-01

This project served as a capstone event for the United States Military Academy sophomore Calculus II course. This multi-disciplinary problem-solving exercise motivated the link between math and biology and many other fields of study. The seven-lesson block of instruction was developed to show students how mathematics play a role in every…

In Search of Coherence: "Inquiring" at Multiple Levels of a Teacher Education System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McQuillan, Patrick J.; Welch, Matthew James; Barnatt, Joan

2012-01-01

Inquiry-into-practice represents a valuable disposition for teachers; reflecting on one's teaching to derive insights for subsequent practice can enhance professional efficacy and promote student achievement. To support this disposition among teacher candidates (TCs), Lynch School of Education faculty at Boston College created a capstone course,…

A Study of Leadership and Continuous Improvement at Leadership Preparatory Academy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Medina Araujo, Jacqueline

2013-01-01

This capstone project examines how an elementary school principal and her leadership team transformed Leadership Prep Academy in Capital City into a collaborative, high performing community school. This five-year process of continuous improvement involved engaging students, staff, parents, and members of the community in developing a culture of…

The 21st Century Physics Flexbook

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Batterson, Jim; Nugent, Lan

2010-01-01

Two panels of practicing chemists and physicists met in summer 2007 to review Virginia's content standards in the high school capstone courses of chemistry and physics. Those panels were sponsored by the Virginia secretary of education and NASA, and the findings and recommendations were meant to help inform the 2010 septennial review of Virginia's…

CAPSTONE REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STANDARD TEST METHOD FOR VOC EMISSIONS FROM INTERIOR LATEX PAINT AND ALKYD PAINTS

EPA Science Inventory

The report gives details of a small-chamber test method developed by the EPA for characterizing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from interior latex and alkyd paints. Current knowledge about VOC, including hazardous air pollutant, emissions from interior paints generated...

Building Bridges: Using the Office Consultation Project to Connect Students to Theory and Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wawrzynski, Korine Steinke; Jessup-Anger, Jody E.

2014-01-01

The Office Consultation Project is an innovative capstone project that partners graduate students in student affairs preparation programs with academic and student affairs practitioners. It provides an opportunity for students to apply research and scholarship to practical settings, while giving practitioners new insight into their units,…

Capstone and Building Block: Helping Students Manage Ambiguity about their Futures through Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Love, Brad; Mackert, Michael

2013-01-01

Encouraging students to engage with principles and ideas is one way to address ambiguity with consistent, effective approaches in situations made up of "gray area." This includes the looming post-college world where students may be unsure about choosing between job offers, geographic locations, or even communication fields. Such…

Helping Undergraduates Think Like a CEO: The APPLE Analysis as a Teaching Tool for Strategic Management

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Domke-Damonte, Darla J.; Keels, J. Kay; Black, Janice A.

2013-01-01

This paper presents a class assignment, entitled the APPLE Analysis, for developing pre-analysis comprehension about company conditions, resources and challenges as a part of the undergraduate strategic management capstone course. Because undergraduate students lack the causal maps of seasoned executives, this assignment helps students to develop…

Investigating the Challenges of Developing Business Education Student Teachers: Perspectives from University Supervisors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fletcher, Edward C., Jr.

2013-01-01

Student teaching is considered to be the most critical event and capstone experience of teacher preparation programs. However, within the discipline of business education, very few studies have investigated the challenges and issues of developing future business teachers within the student teaching internship. This study examined the perspectives…

A Pollutant Transformation Laboratory Exercise for Environmental Chemistry: The Reduction of Nitrobenzenes by Anaerobic Solutions of Humic Acid

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunnivant, Frank M.; Reynolds, Mark-Cody

2007-01-01

The laboratory experiment, which acts as a capstone, integrated lecture-laboratory exercise involving solution preparation, pH buffers, [E[subscript]H] (reduction potential) buffers, organic reaction mechanisms, reaction kinetics, and instrumental analysis is presented. The students completing the lecture and laboratory exercises could gain a…

The Development and Assessment of Particle Physics Summer Program for High School Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prefontaine, Brean; Kurahashi Neilson, Naoko, , Dr.; Love, Christina, , Dr.

2017-01-01

A four week immersive summer program for high school students was developed and implemented to promote awareness of university level research. The program was completely directed by an undergraduate physics major and included a hands-on and student-led capstone project for the high school students. The goal was to create an adaptive and shareable curriculum in order to influence high school students' views of university level research and what it means to be a scientist. The program was assessed through various methods including a survey developed for this program, a scientific attitudes survey, weekly blog posts, and an oral exit interview. The curriculum included visits to local laboratories, an introduction to particle physics and the IceCube collaboration, an introduction to electronics and computer programming, and their capstone project: planning and building a scale model of the IceCube detector. At the conclusion of the program, the students participated an informal outreach event for the general public and gave an oral presentation to the Department of Physics at Drexel University. Assessment results and details concerning the curriculum and its development will be discussed.

Improvement of medical content in the curriculum of biomedical engineering based on assessment of students outcomes.

PubMed

Abdulhay, Enas; Khnouf, Ruba; Haddad, Shireen; Al-Bashir, Areen

2017-08-04

Improvement of medical content in Biomedical Engineering curricula based on a qualitative assessment process or on a comparison with another high-standard program has been approached by a number of studies. However, the quantitative assessment tools have not been emphasized. The quantitative assessment tools can be more accurate and robust in cases of challenging multidisciplinary fields like that of Biomedical Engineering which includes biomedicine elements mixed with technology aspects. The major limitations of the previous research are the high dependence on surveys or pure qualitative approaches as well as the absence of strong focus on medical outcomes without implicit confusion with the technical ones. The proposed work presents the development and evaluation of an accurate/robust quantitative approach to the improvement of the medical content in the challenging multidisciplinary BME curriculum. The work presents quantitative assessment tools and subsequent improvement of curriculum medical content applied, as example for explanation, to the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, USA) accredited biomedical engineering BME department at Jordan University of Science and Technology. The quantitative results of assessment of curriculum/course, capstone, exit exam, course assessment by student (CAS) as well as of surveys filled by alumni, seniors, employers and training supervisors were, first, mapped to the expected students' outcomes related to the medical field (SOsM). The collected data were then analyzed and discussed to find curriculum weakness points by tracking shortcomings in every outcome degree of achievement. Finally, actions were taken to fill in the gaps of the curriculum. Actions were also mapped to the students' medical outcomes (SOsM). Weighted averages of obtained quantitative values, mapped to SOsM, indicated accurately the achievement levels of all outcomes as well as the necessary improvements to be performed in curriculum. Mapping the improvements to SOsM also helps in the assessment of the following cycle. The suggested assessment tools can be generalized and extended to any other BME department. Robust improvement of medical content in BME curriculum can subsequently be achieved.