Computer Aided Design in FE. Some Suggestions on the Inclusion of CAD Topics in Mechanical Engineering Courses. An Occasional Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ingham, P. C.

This report investigates the feasibility of including computer aided design (CAD) materials in engineering courses. Section 1 briefly discusses the inevitability of CAD being adopted widely by British industry and the consequent need for its inclusion in engineering syllabi at all levels. A short description of what is meant by CAD follows in…

Active and Collaborative Learning in an Introductory Electrical and Computer Engineering Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kotru, Sushma; Burkett, Susan L.; Jackson, David Jeff

2010-01-01

Active and collaborative learning instruments were introduced into an introductory electrical and computer engineering course. These instruments were designed to assess specific learning objectives and program outcomes. Results show that students developed an understanding comparable to that of more advanced students assessed later in the…

Professional Skills in the Engineering Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mohan, Ashwin; Merle, Dominike; Jackson, Christa; Lannin, John; Nair, Satish S.

2010-01-01

Faculty from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the College of Education at the University of Missouri (MU), Columbia, developed a novel course for engineering graduate students emphasizing pedagogy and professional skills. The two-semester course sequence, titled "Preparing Engineering Faculty and Professionals,"…

Project-Based Teaching-Learning Computer-Aided Engineering Tools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simoes, J. A.; Relvas, C.; Moreira, R.

2004-01-01

Computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, computer-aided analysis, reverse engineering and rapid prototyping are tools that play an important key role within product design. These are areas of technical knowledge that must be part of engineering and industrial design courses' curricula. This paper describes our teaching experience of…

Incorporating Computational Chemistry into the Chemical Engineering Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilcox, Jennifer

2006-01-01

A graduate-level computational chemistry course was designed and developed and carried out in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the Fall of 2005. The thrust of the course was a reaction assignment that led students through a series of steps, beginning with energetic predictions based upon fundamental…

Introducing Creativity in a Design Laboratory for a Freshman Level Electrical and Computer Engineering Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burkett, Susan L.; Kotru, Sushma; Lusth, John C.; McCallum, Debra; Dunlap, Sarah

2014-01-01

Dunlap, The University of Alabama, USA ABSTRACT In the electrical and computer engineering (ECE) curriculum at The University of Alabama, freshmen are introduced to fundamental electrical concepts and units, DC circuit analysis techniques, operational amplifiers, circuit simulation, design, and professional ethics. The two credit course has both…

Designing computer learning environments for engineering and computer science: The scaffolded knowledge integration framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Linn, Marcia C.

1995-06-01

Designing effective curricula for complex topics and incorporating technological tools is an evolving process. One important way to foster effective design is to synthesize successful practices. This paper describes a framework called scaffolded knowledge integration and illustrates how it guided the design of two successful course enhancements in the field of computer science and engineering. One course enhancement, the LISP Knowledge Integration Environment, improved learning and resulted in more gender-equitable outcomes. The second course enhancement, the spatial reasoning environment, addressed spatial reasoning in an introductory engineering course. This enhancement minimized the importance of prior knowledge of spatial reasoning and helped students develop a more comprehensive repertoire of spatial reasoning strategies. Taken together, the instructional research programs reinforce the value of the scaffolded knowledge integration framework and suggest directions for future curriculum reformers.

Peer-Led Team Learning in Mathematics Courses for Freshmen Engineering and Computer Science Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reisel, John R.; Jablonski, Marissa R.; Munson, Ethan; Hosseini, Hossein

2014-01-01

Peer-led Team Learning (PLTL) is an instructional method reported to increase student learning in STEM courses. As mathematics is a significant hurdle for many freshmen engineering students, a PLTL program was implemented for students to attempt to improve their course performance. Here, an analysis of PLTL for freshmen engineering students in…

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…

An Assessment of the "Diploma in Computer Engineering" Course in the Technical Education System in Nepal

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Basnet, Kul Bahadur; Kim, Jinsoo

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the Diploma in Computer Engineering (DCE) courses offered at affiliated schools of the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) with a focus on the goals of the curriculum and employment opportunities. Document analysis, questionnaires, focus group discussions and semi-structured…

A Triangulated Study of Academic Language Needs of Iranian Students of Computer Engineering: Are the Courses on Track?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atai, Mahmood Reza; Shoja, Leila

2011-01-01

Even though English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) courses constitute a significant part of the Iranian university curriculum, curriculum developers have generally developed the programs based on intuition. This study assessed the present and target situation academic language needs of undergraduate students of computer engineering. To this…

The Effects of Cooperative and Individualistic Learning Structures on Achievement in a College-Level Computer-Aided Drafting Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swab, A. Geoffrey

2012-01-01

This study of cooperative learning in post-secondary engineering education investigated achievement of engineering students enrolled in two intact sections of a computer-aided drafting (CAD) course. Quasi-experimental and qualitative methods were employed in comparing student achievement resulting from out-of-class cooperative and individualistic…

THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENTATION OF FOUR COLLEGE COURSES BY COMPUTER TELEPROCESSING. FINAL REPORT.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MITZEL, HAROLD E.

THIS IS A FINAL REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENTATION OF FOUR COLLEGE COURSES BY COMPUTER TELEPROCESSING FROM APRIL 1964 TO JUNE 1967. IT OUTLINES THE PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS THE PREPARATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND EVALUATION OF MATERIALS FOR COMPUTER PRESENTATION OF COURSES IN AUDIOLOGY, MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING, ENGINEERING ECONOMICS, AND MODERN…

Integrating Computational Science Tools into a Thermodynamics Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vieira, Camilo; Magana, Alejandra J.; García, R. Edwin; Jana, Aniruddha; Krafcik, Matthew

2018-01-01

Computational tools and methods have permeated multiple science and engineering disciplines, because they enable scientists and engineers to process large amounts of data, represent abstract phenomena, and to model and simulate complex concepts. In order to prepare future engineers with the ability to use computational tools in the context of…

Teaching CAD on the Apple Computer.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Norton, Robert L.

1984-01-01

Describes a course designed to teach engineers how to accomplish computer graphics techniques on a limited scale with the Apple computer. The same mathematics and program code will also function for larger and more complex computers. Course content, instructional strategies, student evaluation, and recommendations are considered. (JN)

Computer Education for Engineers, Part III.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCullough, Earl S.; Lofy, Frank J.

1989-01-01

Reports the results of the third survey of computer use in engineering education conducted in the fall of 1987 in comparing with 1981 and 1984 results. Summarizes survey data on computer course credits, languages, equipment use, CAD/CAM instruction, faculty access, and computer graphics. (YP)

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.…

The Use of Engineering Design Concept for Computer Programming Course: A Model of Blended Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tritrakan, Kasame; Kidrakarn, Pachoen; Asanok, Manit

2016-01-01

The aim of this research is to develop a learning model which blends factors from learning environment and engineering design concept for learning in computer programming course. The usage of the model was also analyzed. This study presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of the model. The research methodology is divided into three…

The Role of Gender in Students' Ratings of Teaching Quality in Computer Science and Environmental Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Price, Linda; Svensson, Ingrid; Borell, Jonas; Richardson, John T. E.

2017-01-01

Students' ratings of teaching quality on course units in a computer science program and an environmental engineering program at a large Swedish university were obtained using the Course Experience Questionnaire; 8888 sets of ratings were obtained from men and 4280 sets were obtained from women over ten academic years. These student ratings from…

A Survey and Evaluation of Simulators Suitable for Teaching Courses in Computer Architecture and Organization

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nikolic, B.; Radivojevic, Z.; Djordjevic, J.; Milutinovic, V.

2009-01-01

Courses in Computer Architecture and Organization are regularly included in Computer Engineering curricula. These courses are usually organized in such a way that students obtain not only a purely theoretical experience, but also a practical understanding of the topics lectured. This practical work is usually done in a laboratory using simulators…

A Project-Based Learning Approach to Programmable Logic Design and Computer Architecture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kellett, C. M.

2012-01-01

This paper describes a course in programmable logic design and computer architecture as it is taught at the University of Newcastle, Australia. The course is designed around a major design project and has two supplemental assessment tasks that are also described. The context of the Computer Engineering degree program within which the course is…

The Effects of Computer-Aided Design Software on Engineering Students' Spatial Visualisation Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kösa, Temel; Karakus, Fatih

2018-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of computer-aided design (CAD) software-based instruction on the spatial visualisation skills of freshman engineering students in a computer-aided engineering drawing course. A quasi-experimental design was applied, using the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test-Visualization of Rotations…

Engineering Students' Use of Computer Assisted Learning (CAL)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huczynski, Andrzej; Johnston, Scott Paul

2005-01-01

This study examines the use of Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) by undergraduate engineering students studying a business and management course. Discussing both the relationship between management and engineering and CAL applied to engineering education, this study is based on a survey of 82 undergraduates and adopts a quantitative research…

An Interactive Simulator-Based Pedagogical (ISP) Approach for Teaching Microcontrollers in Engineering Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tang, Shensheng

2014-01-01

Microcontrollers is a required course in most Electrical, Computer, and Mechanic Engineering (Technology) programs at U.S. universities. Most engineering courses (e.g., microcontrollers), by nature, introduce abstract concepts, definitions, and models, and use primarily lectures and readings (words, symbols) to transmit information. This…

Efficient Optoelectronics Teaching in Undergraduate Engineering Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matin, M. A.

2005-01-01

The Engineering Department's vision for undergraduate education for the next century is to develop a set of laboratory experiences that are thoughtfully sequenced and integrated to promote the full development of students in all courses. Optoelectronics is one of the most important and most demanding courses in Electrical and Computer Engineering.…

A Course for All Students: Foundations of Modern Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Best, Charles L.

1971-01-01

Describes a course for non-engineering students at Lafayette College which includes the design process in a project. Also included are the study of modeling, optimization, simulation, computer application, and simple feedback controls. (Author/TS)

Integrating a Single Tablet PC in Chemistry, Engineering, and Physics Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rogers, James W.; Cox, James R.

2008-01-01

A tablet PC is a versatile computer that combines the computing power of a notebook with the pen functionality of a PDA (Cox and Rogers 2005b). The authors adopted tablet PC technology in order to improve the process and product of the lecture format in their chemistry, engineering, and physics courses. In this high-tech model, a single tablet PC…

The Effects of Computer Simulation and Animation (CSA) on Students' Cognitive Processes: A Comparative Case Study in an Undergraduate Engineering Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fang, N.; Tajvidi, M.

2018-01-01

This study focuses on the investigation of the effects of computer simulation and animation (CSA) on students' cognitive processes in an undergraduate engineering course. The revised Bloom's taxonomy, which consists of six categories in the cognitive process domain, was employed in this study. Five of the six categories were investigated,…

Switching from computer to microcomputer architecture education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bolanakis, Dimosthenis E.; Kotsis, Konstantinos T.; Laopoulos, Theodore

2010-03-01

In the last decades, the technological and scientific evolution of the computing discipline has been widely affecting research in software engineering education, which nowadays advocates more enlightened and liberal ideas. This article reviews cross-disciplinary research on a computer architecture class in consideration of its switching to microcomputer architecture. The authors present their strategies towards a successful crossing of boundaries between engineering disciplines. This communication aims at providing a different aspect on professional courses that are, nowadays, addressed at the expense of traditional courses.

Survey: Computer Usage in Design Courses.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henley, Ernest J.

1983-01-01

Presents results of a survey of chemical engineering departments regarding computer usage in senior design courses. Results are categorized according to: computer usage (use of process simulators, student-written programs, faculty-written or "canned" programs; costs (hard and soft money); and available software. Programs offered are…

An eLearning Standard Approach for Supporting PBL in Computer Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garcia-Robles, R.; Diaz-del-Rio, F.; Vicente-Diaz, S.; Linares-Barranco, A.

2009-01-01

Problem-based learning (PBL) has proved to be a highly successful pedagogical model in many fields, although it is not that common in computer engineering. PBL goes beyond the typical teaching methodology by promoting student interaction. This paper presents a PBL trial applied to a course in a computer engineering degree at the University of…

Some Experience with Interactive Computing in Teaching Introductory Statistics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diegert, Carl

Students in two biostatistics courses at the Cornell Medical College and in a course in applications of computer science given in Cornell's School of Industrial Engineering were given access to an interactive package of computer programs enabling them to perform statistical analysis without the burden of hand computation. After a general…

Training in software used by practising engineers should be included in university curricula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silveira, A.; Perdigones, A.; García, J. L.

2009-04-01

Deally, an engineering education should prepare students, i.e., emerging engineers, to use problem-solving processes that synergistically combine creativity and imagination with rigour and discipline. Recently, pressures on curricula have resulted in the development of software-specific courses, often to the detriment of the understanding of theory [1]. However, it is also true that there is a demand for information technology courses by students other than computer science majors [2]. The emphasis on training engineers may be best placed on answering the needs of industry; indeed, many proposals are now being made to try to reduce the gap between the educational and industrial communities [3]. Training in the use of certain computer programs may be one way of better preparing engineering undergraduates for eventual employment in industry. However, industry's needs in this respect must first be known. The aim of this work was to determine which computer programs are used by practising agricultural engineers with the aim of incorporating training in their use into our department's teaching curriculum. The results showed that 72% of their working hours involved the use computer programs. The software packages most commonly used were Microsoft Office (used by 79% of respondents) and CAD (56%), as well as budgeting (27%), statistical (21%), engineering (15%) and GIS (13%) programs. As a result of this survey our university department opened an additional computer suite in order to provide students practical experience in the use of Microsoft Excel, budgeting and engineering software. The results of this survey underline the importance of computer software training in this and perhaps other fields of engineering. [1] D. J. Moore, and D. R. Voltmer, "Curriculum for an engineering renaissance," IEEE Trans. Educ., vol. 46, pp. 452-455, Nov. 2003. [2] N. Kock, R. Aiken, and C. Sandas, "Using complex IT in specific domains: developing and assessing a course for nonmajors," IEEE Trans. Educ., vol. 45, pp. 50- 56, Feb. 2002. [3] I. Vélez, and J. F. Sevillano, "A course to train digital hardware designers for industry," IEEE Trans. Educ., vol. 50, pp. 236-243, Aug. 2007. Acknowledgement: This work was supported in part by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain.

Dragonfly: strengthening programming skills by building a game engine from scratch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Claypool, Mark

2013-06-01

Computer game development has been shown to be an effective hook for motivating students to learn both introductory and advanced computer science topics. While games can be made from scratch, to simplify the programming required game development often uses game engines that handle complicated or frequently used components of the game. These game engines present the opportunity to strengthen programming skills and expose students to a range of fundamental computer science topics. While educational efforts have been effective in using game engines to improve computer science education, there have been no published papers describing and evaluating students building a game engine from scratch as part of their course work. This paper presents the Dragonfly-approach in which students build a fully functional game engine from scratch and make a game using their engine as part of a junior-level course. Details on the programming projects are presented, as well as an evaluation of the results from two offerings that used Dragonfly. Student performance on the projects as well as student assessments demonstrates the efficacy of having students build a game engine from scratch in strengthening their programming skills.

A Thermal Management of Electronics Course and Laboratory for Undergraduates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Okamoto, Nicole; Hsu, Tai-Ran; Bash, Cullen E.

2009-01-01

A novel thermal management of electronics course with an associated laboratory has been developed for mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering students. The lecture topics, term project, computer modeling project, and six associated experiments that were built from scratch are described. Over half of the course lectures as well as all lab…

System Expertise Training Courses in Private Sector: Can They Be Given Online?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Balci Demirci, Birim

2014-01-01

It is widely known that there are many schools in the private sector offering courses in Computer Technology, Computer Engineering, Information Systems and similar disciplines in addition to Universities presenting such courses. The private sector programs are extremely popular with students already studying at university as well as being of great…

Educational Impact of Digital Visualization Tools on Digital Character Production Computer Science Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Langeveld, Mark Christensen

2009-01-01

Digital character production courses have traditionally been taught in art departments. The digital character production course at the University of Utah is centered, drawing uniformly from art and engineering disciplines. Its design has evolved to include a synergy of computer science, functional art and human anatomy. It gives students an…

Shaping Software Engineering Curricula Using Open Source Communities: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bowring, James; Burke, Quinn

2016-01-01

This paper documents four years of a novel approach to teaching a two-course sequence in software engineering as part of the ABET-accredited computer science curriculum at the College of Charleston. This approach is team-based and centers on learning software engineering in the context of open source software projects. In the first course, teams…

Designing Computer Learning Environments for Engineering and Computer Science: The Scaffolded Knowledge Integration Framework.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Linn, Marcia C.

1995-01-01

Describes a framework called scaffolded knowledge integration and illustrates how it guided the design of two successful course enhancements in the field of computer science and engineering: the LISP Knowledge Integration Environment and the spatial reasoning environment. (101 references) (Author/MKR)

Computational materials science and engineering education: A survey of trends and needs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thornton, K.; Nola, Samanthule; Edwin Garcia, R.; Asta, Mark; Olson, G. B.

2009-10-01

Results from a recent reassessment of the state of computational materials science and engineering (CMSE) education are reported. Surveys were distributed to the chairs and heads of materials programs, faculty members engaged in computational research, and employers of materials scientists and engineers, mainly in the United States. The data was compiled to assess current course offerings related to CMSE, the general climate for introducing computational methods in MSE curricula, and the requirements from the employers’ viewpoint. Furthermore, the available educational resources and their utilization by the community are examined. The surveys show a general support for integrating computational content into MSE education. However, they also reflect remaining issues with implementation, as well as a gap between the tools being taught in courses and those that are used by employers. Overall, the results suggest the necessity for a comprehensively developed vision and plans to further the integration of computational methods into MSE curricula.

Cardiovascular system simulation in biomedical engineering education.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rideout, V. C.

1972-01-01

Use of complex cardiovascular system models, in conjunction with a large hybrid computer, in biomedical engineering courses. A cardiovascular blood pressure-flow model, driving a compartment model for the study of dye transport, was set up on the computer for use as a laboratory exercise by students who did not have the computer experience or skill to be able to easily set up such a simulation involving some 27 differential equations running at 'real time' rate. The students were given detailed instructions regarding the model, and were then able to study effects such as those due to septal and valve defects upon the pressure, flow, and dye dilution curves. The success of this experiment in the use of involved models in engineering courses was such that it seems that this type of laboratory exercise might be considered for use in physiology courses as an adjunct to animal experiments.

Master Plan: The Introduction of Computer Science and Computer Related Instructional Programs, 1982-1985. Office of Instruction Publication Report No. 82-07.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Veley, Victor F.; And Others

This report presents a master plan for the development of computer science and computer-related programs at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College for 1982 through 1985. Introductory material outlines the main elements of the plan: to analyze existing computer courses, to create new courses in Laser Technology, Genetic Engineering, and Robotics; and…

A High School Level Course On Robot Design And Construction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadler, Paul M.; Crandall, Jack L.

1984-02-01

The Robotics Design and Construction Class at Sehome High School was developed to offer gifted and/or highly motivated students an in-depth introduction to a modern engineering topic. The course includes instruction in basic electronics, digital and radio electronics, construction skills, robotics literacy, construction of the HERO 1 Heathkit Robot, computer/ robot programming, and voice synthesis. A key element which leads to the success of the course is the involvement of various community assets including manpower and financial assistance. The instructors included a physics/electronics teacher, a computer science teacher, two retired engineers, and an electronics technician.

The Development of Computational Thinking in a High School Chemistry Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matsumoto, Paul S.; Cao, Jiankang

2017-01-01

Computational thinking is a component of the Science and Engineering Practices in the Next Generation Science Standards, which were adopted by some states. We describe the activities in a high school chemistry course that may develop students' computational thinking skills by primarily using Excel, a widely available spreadsheet software. These…

An Innovative Improvement of Engineering Learning System Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Concept

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hung, T. C.; Wang, S. K.; Tai, S. W.; Hung, C. T.

2007-01-01

An innovative concept of an electronic learning system has been established in an attempt to achieve a technology that provides engineering students with an instructive and affordable framework for learning engineering-related courses. This system utilizes an existing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) package, Active Server Pages programming,…

Design and Configuration of a Medical Imaging Systems Computer Laboratory Syllabus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Selver, M. Alper

2016-01-01

Medical imaging systems (MIS) constitute an important emergent subdiscipline of engineering studies. In the context of electrical and electronics engineering (EEE) education, MIS courses cover physics, instrumentation, data acquisition, image formation, modeling, and quality assessment of various modalities. Many well-structured MIS courses are…

HI-TIE: The University, the High School, and Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ward, Robert C.; Maxwell, Lee M.

1975-01-01

Describes four years experience at Colorado State University with courses introducing high school students to engineering, including a Fortran IV computer programming course in which tapings of actual campus classroom sessions, supplemented with homework assignments, class roles, quizzes, and examinations were used. Benefits of the transitional…

A paperless course on structural engineering programming: investing in educational technology in the times of the Greek financial recession

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sextos, Anastasios G.

2014-01-01

This paper presents the structure of an undergraduate course entitled 'programming techniques and the use of specialised software in structural engineering' which is offered to the fifth (final) year students of the Civil Engineering Department of Aristotle University Thessaloniki in Greece. The aim of this course is to demonstrate the use of new information technologies in the field of structural engineering and to teach modern programming and finite element simulation techniques that the students can in turn apply in both research and everyday design of structures. The course also focuses on the physical interpretation of structural engineering problems, in a way that the students become familiar with the concept of computational tools without losing perspective from the engineering problem studied. For this purpose, a wide variety of structural engineering problems are studied in class, involving structural statics, dynamics, earthquake engineering, design of reinforced concrete and steel structures as well as data and information management. The main novelty of the course is that it is taught and examined solely in the computer laboratory ensuring that each student can accomplish the prescribed 'hands-on' training on a dedicated computer, strictly on a 1:1 student over hardware ratio. Significant effort has also been put so that modern educational techniques and tools are utilised to offer the course in an essentially paperless mode. This involves electronic educational material, video tutorials, student information in real time and exams given and assessed electronically through an ad hoc developed, personalised, electronic system. The positive feedback received from the students reveals that the concept of a paperless course is not only applicable in real academic conditions but is also a promising approach that significantly increases student productivity and engagement. The question, however, is whether such an investment in educational technology is indeed timely during economic recession, where the academic priorities are rapidly changing. In the light of this unfavourable and unstable financial environment, a critical overview of the strengths, the weaknesses, the opportunities and the threats of this effort is presented herein, hopefully contributing to the discussion on the future of higher education in the time of crisis.

Analysis of Introducing Active Learning Methodologies in a Basic Computer Architecture Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arbelaitz, Olatz; José I. Martín; Muguerza, Javier

2015-01-01

This paper presents an analysis of introducing active methodologies in the Computer Architecture course taught in the second year of the Computer Engineering Bachelor's degree program at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain. The paper reports the experience from three academic years, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and 2013-2014, in which…

Interactive Computing and Graphics in Undergraduate Digital Signal Processing. Microcomputing Working Paper Series F 84-9.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Onaral, Banu; And Others

This report describes the development of a Drexel University electrical and computer engineering course on digital filter design that used interactive computing and graphics, and was one of three courses in a senior-level sequence on digital signal processing (DSP). Interactive and digital analysis/design routines and the interconnection of these…

Optoelectronics for electrical and computer engineering students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chua, Soo-Jin; Jalil, Mansoor

2002-05-01

We describe the contents of an advanced undergraduate course on Optoelectronics at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore. The emphasis has changed over the years to keep abreast of the development in the field but the broad features remain the same. A multidisciplinary approach is taken, incorporating physics, materials science and engineering concepts to explain the operation of optoelectronic components, and their application in display, communications and consumer electronics. The course comprises of 36 hours of lectures and two experiments, and covers basic radiometry and photometry, photoemitters (LEDs and lasers), photodetectors, and liquid crystal displays. The main aim of the course is to equip the student with the requisite theoretical and practical knowledge for participation in the photonics industry and for postgraduate research for students who are so inclined.

COED Transactions, Vol. X, No. 4, April 1978. An Experience in Teaching "COBOL?" to Graduate Engineers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bremmer, Dale; Childs, Bart

This document discusses the importance of computing knowledge and experience in the techniques of fast data retrieval for today's engineer. It describes a course designed to teach the engineer the COBOL Language structure. One of the projects of the course, a report generator (REGE) written in COBOL which is used to alter, sort and print selected…

Computational and Genomic Analysis of Mycobacteriophage: A Longitudinal Study of Technology Engineered Biology Courses That Implemented an Inquiry Based Laboratory Practice Designed to Enhance, Encourage, and Empower Student Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hollowell, Gail P.; Osler, James E.; Hester, April L.

2015-01-01

This paper provides an applied research rational for a longitudinal investigation that involved teaching a "Technology Engineered Science Education Course" via an Interactive Laboratory Based Genomics Curriculum. The Technology st Engineering [TE] methodology was first introduced at the SAPES: South Atlantic Philosophy of Education…

Curriculum optimization of College of Optical Science and Engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiaoping; Zheng, Zhenrong; Wang, Kaiwei; Zheng, Xiaodong; Ye, Song; Zhu, Yuhui

2017-08-01

The optimized curriculum of College of Optical Science and Engineering is accomplished at Zhejiang University, based on new trends from both research and industry. The curriculum includes general courses, foundation courses such as mathematics and physics, major core courses, laboratory courses and several module courses. Module courses include optical system designing, optical telecommunication, imaging and vision, electronics and computer science, optoelectronic sensing and metrology, optical mechanics and materials, basics and extension. These curricula reflect the direction of latest researches and relates closely with optoelectronics. Therefore, students may combine flexibly compulsory courses with elective courses, and establish the personalized curriculum of "optoelectronics + X", according to their individual strengths and preferences.

From Archi Torture to Architecture: Undergraduate Students Design and Implement Computers Using the Multimedia Logic Emulator

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stanley, Timothy D.; Wong, Lap Kei; Prigmore, Daniel; Benson, Justin; Fishler, Nathan; Fife, Leslie; Colton, Don

2007-01-01

Students learn better when they both hear and do. In computer architecture courses "doing" can be difficult in small schools without hardware laboratories hosted by computer engineering, electrical engineering, or similar departments. Software solutions exist. Our success with George Mills' Multimedia Logic (MML) is the focus of this paper. MML…

Preliminary Assessment of the Emporium Model in a Redesigned Engineering Mechanics Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rais-Rohani, Masoud; Walters, Andrew

2014-01-01

A lecture-based engineering mechanics course (Statics) is redesigned using the Emporium model. Whereas students study the material outside of class via asynchronous online delivery of the content and instructional videos, they do all the other activities (e.g., assignments, tests) either individually or in groups inside the classroom. Computer-…

The CAN Microcluster: Parallel Processing over the Controller Area Network

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuban, Paul A.; Ragade, Rammohan K.

2005-01-01

Most electrical engineering and computer science undergraduate programs include at least one course on microcontrollers and assembly language programming. Some departments offer legacy courses in C programming, but few include C programming from an embedded systems perspective, where it is still regularly used. Distributed computing and parallel…

Designing Online Courses To Discourage Dishonesty.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christe, Barbara

2003-01-01

Presents techniques used within one university's Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology department to develop online courses that discourage student dishonesty, focusing on: academic dishonesty; course design focus area (syllabus design, content presentation, student-teacher relationship, assessment design, and monitoring tools); and…

Development of a Graduate Course in Computer-Aided Geometric Design.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ault, Holly K.

1991-01-01

Described is a course that focuses on theory and techniques for ideation and refinement of geometric models used in mechanical engineering design applications. The course objectives, course outline, a description of the facilities, sample exercises, and a discussion of final projects are included. (KR)

Mechatronic system design course for undergraduate programmes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saleem, A.; Tutunji, T.; Al-Sharif, L.

2011-08-01

Technology advancement and human needs have led to integration among many engineering disciplines. Mechatronics engineering is an integrated discipline that focuses on the design and analysis of complete engineering systems. These systems include mechanical, electrical, computer and control subsystems. In this paper, the importance of teaching mechatronic system design to undergraduate engineering students is emphasised. The paper offers the collaborative experience in preparing and delivering the course material for two universities in Jordan. A detailed description of such a course is provided and a case study is presented. The case study used is a final year project, where students applied a six-stage design procedure that is described in the paper.

An Undergraduate Course in Modeling and Simulation of Multiphysics Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ortiz-Rodriguez, Estanislao; Vazquez-Arenas, Jorge; Ricardez-Sandoval, Luis A.

2010-01-01

An overview of a course on modeling and simulation offered at the Nanotechnology Engineering undergraduate program at the University of Waterloo. The motivation for having this course in the undergraduate nanotechnology curriculum, the course structure, and its learning objectives are discussed. Further, one of the computational laboratories…

Imprinting Community College Computer Science Education with Software Engineering Principles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hundley, Jacqueline Holliday

2012-01-01

Although the two-year curriculum guide includes coverage of all eight software engineering core topics, the computer science courses taught in Alabama community colleges limit student exposure to the programming, or coding, phase of the software development lifecycle and offer little experience in requirements analysis, design, testing, and…

Aspects on Teaching/Learning with Object Oriented Programming for Entry Level Courses of Engineering.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Oliveira, Clara Amelia; Conte, Marcos Fernando; Riso, Bernardo Goncalves

This work presents a proposal for Teaching/Learning, on Object Oriented Programming for Entry Level Courses of Engineering and Computer Science, on University. The philosophy of Object Oriented Programming comes as a new pattern of solution for problems, where flexibility and reusability appears over the simple data structure and sequential…

Relating Engineering Technology Students' Experiences in Electromagnetics with Performance in Communications Coursework: A Mixed-Methods Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richards, Grant P.

2009-01-01

This study presents the results of a multi-year mixed-methods study of students' performance (n = 94) and experiences (n = 28) with electromagnetics in an elective Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology RF communications course. Data sources used in this study include academic transcripts, course exams, interviews, a learning styles…

Classroom Experiences in an Engineering Design Graphics Course with a CAD/CAM Extension.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barr, Ronald E.; Juricic, Davor

1997-01-01

Reports on the development of a new CAD/CAM laboratory experience for an Engineering Design Graphics (EDG) course. The EDG curriculum included freehand sketching, introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD), and emphasized 3-D solid modeling. Reviews the project and reports on the testing of the new laboratory components which were…

What Do Engineers Want? Examining Engineering Education through Bloom's Taxonomy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goel, Sanjay; Sharda, Nalin

2004-01-01

Using Bloom's taxonomy as the basis for an empirical investigation, this paper examines what engineering students and professionals want from engineering education. Fifty engineering students, from Computer Science and Information Technology courses, were asked to rank activity verbs in order of their impression about frequency of their occurrence…

Students' explanations in complex learning of disciplinary programming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vieira, Camilo

Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) has been denominated as the third pillar of science and as a set of important skills to solve the problems of a global society. Along with the theoretical and the experimental approaches, computation offers a third alternative to solve complex problems that require processing large amounts of data, or representing complex phenomena that are not easy to experiment with. Despite the relevance of CSE, current professionals and scientists are not well prepared to take advantage of this set of tools and methods. Computation is usually taught in an isolated way from engineering disciplines, and therefore, engineers do not know how to exploit CSE affordances. This dissertation intends to introduce computational tools and methods contextualized within the Materials Science and Engineering curriculum. Considering that learning how to program is a complex task, the dissertation explores effective pedagogical practices that can support student disciplinary and computational learning. Two case studies will be evaluated to identify the characteristics of effective worked examples in the context of CSE. Specifically, this dissertation explores students explanations of these worked examples in two engineering courses with different levels of transparency: a programming course in materials science and engineering glass box and a thermodynamics course involving computational representations black box. Results from this study suggest that students benefit in different ways from writing in-code comments. These benefits include but are not limited to: connecting xv individual lines of code to the overall problem, getting familiar with the syntax, learning effective algorithm design strategies, and connecting computation with their discipline. Students in the glass box context generate higher quality explanations than students in the black box context. These explanations are related to students prior experiences. Specifically, students with low ability to do programming engage in a more thorough explanation process than students with high ability. This dissertation concludes proposing an adaptation to the instructional principles of worked-examples for the context of CSE education.

English Education for Engineers in the World of Globalization : A Report of an Undergraduate and Graduate English Program with an Emphasis on Writing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimazu, Nobuko

In an increasingly globalized world, demand for engineers well versed in English remains strong. As a professor of English in the Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering at the Kyushu Institute of Technology, I have sought with the aid of two associate professors to improve the English program for our engineering students together to help meet that very demand. In order to assist other English teachers in similar situations to improve their own English programs, I would like to report on the ideas and methods presently used in our undergraduate English program, specifically the first-year compulsory and common course with its emphasis on paragraph writing which students from each of the five departments within the Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering are required to take. In addition, I would also like to report my ideas and teaching methods for a graduate research paper writing course. The objective of this course is to teach graduate students how to write presentations for conferences and papers for journals at the international level.

a Study of Women Engineering Students and Time to Completion of First-Year Required Courses at Texas A&M University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kimball, Jorja; Cole, Bryan; Hobson, Margaret; Watson, Karan; Stanley, Christine

This paper reports findings on gender that were part of a larger study reviewing time to completion of course work that includes the first two semesters of calculus, chemistry, and physics, which are often considered the stumbling points or "barrier courses" to an engineering baccalaureate degree. Texas A&M University terms these courses core body of knowledge (CBK), and statistical analysis was conducted on two cohorts of first-year enrolling engineering students at the institution. Findings indicate that gender is statistically significantly related to completion of CBK with female engineering students completing required courses faster than males at the .01 level (p = 0.008). Statistical significance for gender and ethnicity was found between white male and white female students at the .01 level (p = 0.008). Descriptive analysis indicated that of the five majors studied (chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering), women completed CBK faster than men, and African American and Hispanic women completed CBK faster than males of the same ethnicity.

The Chemical Engineer's Toolbox: A Glass Box Approach to Numerical Problem Solving

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coronell, Daniel G.; Hariri, M. Hossein

2009-01-01

Computer programming in undergraduate engineering education all too often begins and ends with the freshman programming course. Improvements in computer technology and curriculum revision have improved this situation, but often at the expense of the students' learning due to the use of commercial "black box" software. This paper describes the…

Chemical Engineering and Instructional Computing: Are They in Step? (Part 2).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seider, Warren D.

1988-01-01

Describes the use of "CACHE IBM PC Lessons for Courses Other than Design and Control" as open-ended design oriented problems. Presents graphics from some of the software and discusses high-resolution graphics workstations. Concludes that computing tools are in line with design and control practice in chemical engineering. (MVL)

Incorporating Computer-Aided Software in the Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Core Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alnaizy, Raafat; Abdel-Jabbar, Nabil; Ibrahim, Taleb H.; Husseini, Ghaleb A.

2014-01-01

Introductions of computer-aided software and simulators are implemented during the sophomore-year of the chemical engineering (ChE) curriculum at the American University of Sharjah (AUS). Our faculty concurs that software integration within the curriculum is beneficial to our students, as evidenced by the positive feedback received from industry…

An Undergraduate Course on Operating Systems Principles.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Academy of Engineering, Washington, DC. Commission on Education.

This report is from Task Force VIII of the COSINE Committee of the Commission on Education of the National Academy of Engineering. The task force was established to formulate subject matter for an elective undergraduate subject on computer operating systems principles for students whose major interest is in the engineering of computer systems and…

Using Articulate Virtual Laboratories in Teaching Energy Conversion at the U.S. Naval Academy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wu, C.

1998-01-01

The Mechanical Engineering Department at the U.S. Naval Academy is currently evaluating a new teaching method which uses computer software. Utilizing the thermodynamic-based software CyclePad, Intelligent Computer Aided Instruction is incorporated in an advanced energy conversion course for Mechanical Engineering students. The CyclePad software…

Assessment of Factors Impacting Success for Incoming College Engineering Students in a Summer Bridge Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reisel, John R.; Jablonski, Marissa; Hosseini, Hossein; Munson, Ethan

2012-01-01

A summer bridge program for incoming engineering and computer science freshmen has been used at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 2007 to 2010. The primary purpose of this program has been to improve the mathematics course placement for incoming students who initially place into a course below Calculus I on the math placement examination.…

The Impact of the Pre-Instructional Cognitive Profile on Learning Gain and Final Exam of Physics Courses: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Capizzo, Maria Concetta; Nuzzo, Silvana; Zarcone, Michelangelo

2006-01-01

The case study described in this paper investigates the relationship among some pre-instructional knowledge, the learning gain and the final physics performance of computing engineering students in the introductory physics course. The results of the entrance engineering test (EET) have been used as a measurement of reading comprehension, logic and…

Use of a New "Moodle" Module for Improving the Teaching of a Basic Course on Computer Architecture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trenas, M. A.; Ramos, J.; Gutierrez, E. D.; Romero, S.; Corbera, F.

2011-01-01

This paper describes how a new "Moodle" module, called "CTPracticals", is applied to the teaching of the practical content of a basic computer organization course. In the core of the module, an automatic verification engine enables it to process the VHDL designs automatically as they are submitted. Moreover, a straightforward…

Transforming an Introductory Programming Course: From Lectures to Active Learning via Wireless Laptops

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barak, Miri; Harward, Judson; Kocur, George; Lerman, Steven

2007-01-01

Within the framework of MIT's course 1.00: Introduction to Computers and Engineering Problem Solving, this paper describes an innovative project entitled: "Studio 1.00" that integrates lectures with in-class demonstrations, active learning sessions, and on-task feedback, through the use of wireless laptop computers. This paper also describes a…

Distributed Training for the Reserve Component: Remote Delivery Using Asynchronous Computer Conferencing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hahn, H. A.; And Others

The purposes of this research were to evaluate the cost effectiveness of using Asynchronous Computer Conferencing (ACC) and to develop guidelines for effectively conducting high quality military training using ACC. The evaluation used a portion of the Engineer Officer Advanced Course (EOAC) as a test bed. Course materials which taught the same…

ERM TLB Teaching-Learning Behavior News

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LeBold, William K., Ed.

1978-01-01

Describes a graduate electrical engineering mini-course, computer graphics gaming and simulation, classroom management and student progress records, student reaction to instruction, and computer graphics in undergraduate education. (SL)

Software Engineering Frameworks: Textbooks vs. Student Perceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McMaster, Kirby; Hadfield, Steven; Wolthuis, Stuart; Sambasivam, Samuel

2012-01-01

This research examines the frameworks used by Computer Science and Information Systems students at the conclusion of their first semester of study of Software Engineering. A questionnaire listing 64 Software Engineering concepts was given to students upon completion of their first Software Engineering course. This survey was given to samples of…

Computer Education with "Retired" Industrial Systems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nesin, Dan; And Others

1980-01-01

Describes a student-directed computer system revival project in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at California State Polytechnic University, which originated when an obsolete computer was donated to the department. Discusses resulting effects in undergraduate course offerings, in student extracurricular activities, and in…

Using an Instructional LAN to Teach a Statistics Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barnes, J. Wesley; And Others

1988-01-01

Discusses a computer assisted learning system for engineering statistics based on personalized system of instruction methods. Describes the system's network, development, course structure, programing, and security. Lists the benefits of the system. (MVL)

Developing a Technology Enhanced CS0 Course for Engineering Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lokkila, Erno; Kaila, Erkki; Lindén, Rolf; Laakso, Mikko-Jussi; Sutinen, Erkki

2016-01-01

The CS0 course in the curriculum typically has the role of introducing students into basic concepts and terminology of computer science. Hence, it is used to form a base on which the subsequent programming courses can build on. However, much of the effort to build better methodologies for courses is spent on introductory programming courses…

Effects of a Problem-Based Learning Program on Engineering Students' Academic Achievements, Skills Development and Attitudes in a Mexican University.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Polanco, Rodrigo; Calderon, Patricia; Delgado, Franciso

A 3-year follow-up evaluation was conducted of an experimental problem-based learning (PBL) integrated curriculum directed to students of the first 2 years of engineering. The PBL curriculum brought together the contents of physics, mathematics, and computer science courses in a single course in which students worked on real-life problems. In…

Interactive Computer Simulation and Animation for Improving Student Learning of Particle Kinetics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fang, N.; Guo, Y.

2016-01-01

Computer simulation and animation (CSA) has been receiving growing attention and wide application in engineering education in recent years. A new interactive CSA module was developed in the present study to improve student learning of particle kinetics in an undergraduate engineering dynamics course. The unique feature of this CSA module is that…

Computer-Assisted Instruction in Engineering Dynamics. CAI-Systems Memo Number 18.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sheldon, John W.

A 90-minute computer-assisted instruction (CAI) unit course supplemented by a 1-hour lecture on the dynamic nature of three-dimensional rotations and Euler angles was given to 29 undergraduate engineering students. The area of Euler angles was selected because it is essential to problem-working in three-dimensional rotations of a rigid body, yet…

Mechatronic System Design Course for Undergraduate Programmes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saleem, A.; Tutunji, T.; Al-Sharif, L.

2011-01-01

Technology advancement and human needs have led to integration among many engineering disciplines. Mechatronics engineering is an integrated discipline that focuses on the design and analysis of complete engineering systems. These systems include mechanical, electrical, computer and control subsystems. In this paper, the importance of teaching…

Engineering Students for the 21st Century: Student Development through the Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheville, Alan; Bunting, Chuck

2011-01-01

Through support of the National Science Foundation's Department Level Reform program, "Engineering Students for the 21st Century" (ES21C) has implemented a ten-course sequence designed to help students develop into engineers. Spread across the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) curriculum at Oklahoma State University, these…

Reliability Evaluation of Computer Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-04-01

detection mechanisms. The model rrvided values for the system availa bility, mean time before failure (VITBF) , and the proportion of time that the 4 system...Stanford University Comm~iuter Science 311, (also Electrical Engineering 482), Advanced Computer Organization. Graduate course in computer architeture

Research-oriented teaching in optical design course and its function in education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cen, Zhaofeng; Li, Xiaotong; Liu, Xiangdong; Deng, Shitao

2008-03-01

The principles and operation plans of research-oriented teaching in the course of computer aided optical design are presented, especially the mode of research in practice course. This program includes contract definition phase, project organization and execution, post project evaluation and discussion. Modes of academic organization are used in the practice course of computer aided optical design. In this course the students complete their design projects in research teams by autonomous group approach and cooperative exploration. In this research process they experience the interpersonal relationship in modern society, the importance of cooperation in team, the functions of each individual, the relationships between team members, the competition and cooperation in one academic group and with other groups, and know themselves objectively. In the design practice the knowledge of many academic fields is applied including applied optics, computer programming, engineering software and etc. The characteristic of interdisciplinary is very useful for academic research and makes the students be ready for innovation by integrating the knowledge of interdisciplinary field. As shown by the practice that this teaching mode has taken very important part in bringing up the abilities of engineering, cooperation, digesting the knowledge at a high level and problem analyzing and solving.

Remote sensing programs and courses in engineering and water resources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kiefer, R. W.

1981-01-01

The content of typical basic and advanced remote sensing and image interpretation courses are described and typical remote sensing graduate programs of study in civil engineering and in interdisciplinary environmental remote sensing and water resources management programs are outlined. Ideally, graduate programs with an emphasis on remote sensing and image interpretation should be built around a core of five courses: (1) a basic course in fundamentals of remote sensing upon which the more specialized advanced remote sensing courses can build; (2) a course dealing with visual image interpretation; (3) a course dealing with quantitative (computer-based) image interpretation; (4) a basic photogrammetry course; and (5) a basic surveying course. These five courses comprise up to one-half of the course work required for the M.S. degree. The nature of other course work and thesis requirements vary greatly, depending on the department in which the degree is being awarded.

Mathematical Education of Engineers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris (France).

The seminar reported in this document examined the university mathematics courses which should be available to future engineers, and was especially concerned with the introduction of computer science education. There are four major sections. The first reports a survey of electrical engineers in the United Kingdom which investigated how often they…

Investigating the Language of Engineering Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Variawa, Chirag

A significant part of professional communication development in engineering is the ability to learn and understand technical vocabulary. Mastering such vocabulary is often a desired learning outcome of engineering education. In promoting this goal, this research investigates the development of a tool that creates wordlists of characteristic discipline-specific vocabulary for a given course. These wordlists explicitly highlight requisite vocabulary learning and, when used as a teaching aid, can promote greater accessibility in the learning environment. Literature, including work in higher education, diversity and language learning, suggest that designing accessible learning environments can increase the quality of instruction and learning for all students. Studying the student/instructor interface using the framework of Universal Instructional Design identified vocabulary learning as an invisible barrier in engineering education. A preliminary investigation of this barrier suggested that students have difficulty assessing their understanding of technical vocabulary. Subsequently, computing word frequency on engineering course material was investigated as an approach for characterizing this barrier. However, it was concluded that a more nuanced method was necessary. This research program was built on previous work in the fields of linguistics and computer science, and lead to the design of an algorithm. The developed algorithm is based on a statistical technique called, Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency. Comparator sets of documents are used to hierarchically identify characteristic terms on a target document, such as course materials from a previous term of study. The approach draws on a standardized artifact of the engineering learning environment as its dataset; a repository of 2254 engineering final exams from the University of Toronto, to process the target material. After producing wordlists for ten courses, with the goal of highlighting characteristic discipline-specific terms, the effectiveness of the approach was evaluated by comparing the computed results to the judgment of subject-matter experts. The overall data show a good correlation between the program and the subject-matter experts. The results indicated a balance between accuracy and feasibility, and suggested that this approach could mimic subject-matter expertise to create a list discipline-specific vocabulary from course materials.

Experiential Learning of Electronics Subject Matter in Middle School Robotics Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rihtaršic, David; Avsec, Stanislav; Kocijancic, Slavko

2016-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the experiential learning of electronics subject matter is effective in the middle school open learning of robotics. Electronics is often ignored in robotics courses. Since robotics courses are typically comprised of computer-related subjects, and mechanical and electrical engineering, these…

An Undergraduate Survey Course on Asynchronous Sequential Logic, Ladder Logic, and Fuzzy Logic

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Foster, D. L.

2012-01-01

For a basic foundation in computer engineering, universities traditionally teach synchronous sequential circuit design, using discrete gates or field programmable gate arrays, and a microcomputers course that includes basic I/O processing. These courses, though critical, expose students to only a small subset of tools. At co-op schools like…

The Process of Updating Engineering Management Science in an Australian Regional University Excellence in Developing E-Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ku, H.; Fulcher, R.

2007-01-01

The aim of the current paper is to share the processes in revising the courseware of the course of "Engineering Management Science" coded as ENG4004, in the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical, Mechatronics, Electrical and Electronic, Computer Systems, Instrumentation and Control), Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Mechanical, Building…

Photonics education development for electrical engineering students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Yang; Luo, Yuan; Liu, Yu; Hu, ZhangFang; Cai, Xuemei

2017-08-01

We describe the contents of an advanced undergraduate course on photonics at School of Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications. The main goal of the course is to equip the student with the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to participate in photonics-related industry and further graduate level study and research if they choose. The prerequisites include college-level physics and higher mathematics which a general engineering student has already had in his/her first and second year college study. Although applications of photonics are ubiquitous such as telecommunications, photonic computing, spectroscopy, military technology, and biophotonics etc. Telecommunication information system application is more emphasized in our course considering about the potential job chances for our students.

Using CASE Software to Teach Undergraduates Systems Analysis and Design.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilcox, Russell E.

1988-01-01

Describes the design and delivery of a college course for information system students utilizing a Computer-Aided Software Engineering program. Discusses class assignments, cooperative learning, student attitudes, and the advantages of using this software in the course. (CW)

Insights on Supporting Learning during Computing Science and Engineering Students' Transition to University: A Design-Oriented, Mixed Methods Exploration of Instructor and Student Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guloy, Sheryl; Salimi, Farimah; Cukierman, Diana; McGee Thompson, Donna

2017-01-01

Using a design-based orientation, this mixed-method study explored ways to support computing science and engineering students whose study strategies may be inadequate to meet coursework expectations. Learning support workshops, paired with university courses, have been found to assist students as they transition to university learning, thereby…

Student Activity and Profile Datasets from an Online Video-Based Collaborative Learning Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martín, Estefanía; Gértrudix, Manuel; Urquiza-Fuentes, Jaime; Haya, Pablo A.

2015-01-01

This paper describes two datasets extracted from a video-based educational experience using a social and collaborative platform. The length of the trial was 3 months. It involved 111 students from two different courses. Twenty-nine came from Computer Engineering (CE) course and 82 from Media and Communication (M&C) course. They were organised…

Computing Whether She Belongs: Stereotypes Undermine Girls' Interest and Sense of Belonging in Computer Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Master, Allison; Cheryan, Sapna; Meltzoff, Andrew N.

2016-01-01

Computer science has one of the largest gender disparities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. An important reason for this disparity is that girls are less likely than boys to enroll in necessary "pipeline courses," such as introductory computer science. Two experiments investigated whether high-school girls' lower…

User Participation and Participatory Design: Topics in Computing Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kautz, Karlheinz

1996-01-01

Discusses user participation and participatory design in the context of formal education for computing professionals. Topics include the current curriculum debate; mathematical- and engineering-based education; traditional system-development training; and an example of a course program that includes computers and society, and prototyping. (53…

JPRS Report, Science & Technology, Europe & Latin America

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-04-06

courses and in polytechnics a growing number of undergraduate research theses [ tesi di laurea] are increasingly coming to resemble authentic feasibility...Information Science Eleven Priorities Research Priority Actions — Microbiological engineering —Enzyme engineering —Biotechnological engineering —Food...Foodstuffs Medicine Human and social sciences Technology, computer-integrated manufacturing Electronics, data processing Microbiological

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.

Implementing Computer Based Laboratories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peterson, David

2001-11-01

Physics students at Francis Marion University will complete several required laboratory exercises utilizing computer-based Vernier probes. The simple pendulum, the acceleration due to gravity, simple harmonic motion, radioactive half lives, and radiation inverse square law experiments will be incorporated into calculus-based and algebra-based physics courses. Assessment of student learning and faculty satisfaction will be carried out by surveys and test results. Cost effectiveness and time effectiveness assessments will be presented. Majors in Computational Physics, Health Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology take these courses, and assessments will be categorized by major. To enhance the computer skills of students enrolled in the courses, MAPLE will be used for further analysis of the data acquired during the experiments. Assessment of these enhancement exercises will also be presented.

What a Chemist Needs to Know--Other than Chemistry.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chemical and Engineering News, 1980

1980-01-01

Recommends a range of courses of study which may be important for one pursuing a career in chemistry. Discusses courses in computer science, statistics, public speaking, technical writing, mathematics, physics, economics, market research, psychology, chemical engineering, toxicology, history, foreign language, and science history. (CS)

Analysis of Five Instructional Methods for Teaching Sketchpad to Junior High Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wright, Geoffrey; Shumway, Steve; Terry, Ronald; Bartholomew, Scott

2012-01-01

This manuscript addresses a problem teachers of computer software applications face today: What is an effective method for teaching new computer software? Technology and engineering teachers, specifically those with communications and other related courses that involve computer software applications, face this problem when teaching computer…

Learning Motivation in E-Learning Facilitated Computer Programming Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Law, Kris M. Y.; Lee, Victor C. S.; Yu, Y. T.

2010-01-01

Computer programming skills constitute one of the core competencies that graduates from many disciplines, such as engineering and computer science, are expected to possess. Developing good programming skills typically requires students to do a lot of practice, which cannot sustain unless they are adequately motivated. This paper reports a…

Development of a special topics course on intelligent transportation systems for the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering of Texas A&M University.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-08-31

With Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), engineers and system integrators blend emerging : detection/surveillance, communications, and computer technologies with transportation management and : control concepts to improve the safety and mobilit...

Integrating Emerging Topics through Online Team Design in a Hybrid Communication Networks Course: Interaction Patterns and Impact of Prior Knowledge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reisslein, Jana; Seeling, Patrick; Reisslein, Martin

2005-01-01

An important challenge in the introductory communication networks course in electrical and computer engineering curricula is to integrate emerging topics, such as wireless Internet access and network security, into the already content-intensive course. At the same time it is essential to provide students with experiences in online collaboration,…

The Role of Applied Engineering and Computer Science Courses in the Production of Math Achievement in High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gottfried, Michael; Bozick, Robert

2012-01-01

Academic math and science courses have been long shown to increase learning and educational attainment, but are they sufficient on their own to prepare youth for the challenges and rigor of the STEM workforce? Or, are there distinctive benefits to complementing these traditional academic courses with applied ones? Answers to these questions are…

Using Screencasts in ChE Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Falconer, John L.; deGrazia, Janet; Medlin, J. Will; Holmberg, Michael P.

2009-01-01

Screencasts are digital recordings of the output from a computer monitor, including narration. Their use was piloted in five chemical engineering courses and the feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive. The screencasts were produced on Tablet PCs using Camtasia Studio software and were posted to the Blackboard classroom management…

The Use of Physical and Virtual Manipulatives in an Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering (Dynamics) Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pan, Edward A.

2013-01-01

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is a national focus. Engineering education, as part of STEM education, needs to adapt to meet the needs of the nation in a rapidly changing world. Using computer-based visualization tools and corresponding 3D printed physical objects may help nontraditional students succeed in…

Enhancing the Programming Experience for First-Year Engineering Students through Hands-On Integrated Computer Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Canfield, Stephen L.; Ghafoor, Sheikh; Abdelrahman, Mohamed

2012-01-01

This paper describes the redesign and implementation of the course, "Introduction to Programming for Engineers" using microcontroller (MCU) hardware as the programming target. The objective of this effort is to improve the programming competency for engineering students by more closely relating the initial programming experience to the student's…

A New Computer-Based Examination System.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Los Arcos, J. M.; Vano, E.

1978-01-01

Describes a computer-managed instructional system used to formulate, print, and evaluate true-false questions for testing purposes. The design of the system and its application in medical and nuclear engineering courses in two Spanish institutions of higher learning are detailed. (RAO)

Performance, throughput, and cost of in-home training for the Army Reserve: Using asynchronous computer conferencing as an alternative to resident training

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

Hahn, H.A.; Ashworth, R.L. Jr.; Phelps, R.H.

1990-01-01

Asynchronous computer conferencing (ACC) was investigated as an alternative to resident training for the Army Reserve Component (RC). Specifically, the goals were to (1) evaluate the performance and throughput of ACC as compared with traditional Resident School instruction and (2) determine the cost-effectiveness of developing and implementing ACC. Fourteen RC students took a module of the Army Engineer Officer Advanced Course (EOAC) via ACC. Course topics included Army doctrine, technical engineering subjects, leadership, and presentation skills. Resident content was adapted for presentation via ACC. The programs of instruction for ACC and the equivalent resident course were identical; only the mediamore » used for presentation were changed. Performance on tests, homework, and practical exercises; self-assessments of learning; throughput; and cost data wee the measures of interest. Comparison data were collected on RC students taking the course in residence. Results indicated that there were no performance differences between the two groups. Students taking the course via ACC perceived greater learning benefit than did students taking the course in residence. Resident throughput was superior to ACC throughput, both in terms of numbers of students completing and time to complete the course. In spite of this fact, however, ACC was more cost-effective than resident training.« less

Computer-based, Jeopardy™-like game in general chemistry for engineering majors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ling, S. S.; Saffre, F.; Kadadha, M.; Gater, D. L.; Isakovic, A. F.

2013-03-01

We report on the design of Jeopardy™-like computer game for enhancement of learning of general chemistry for engineering majors. While we examine several parameters of student achievement and attitude, our primary concern is addressing the motivation of students, which tends to be low in a traditionally run chemistry lectures. The effect of the game-playing is tested by comparing paper-based game quiz, which constitutes a control group, and computer-based game quiz, constituting a treatment group. Computer-based game quizzes are Java™-based applications that students run once a week in the second part of the last lecture of the week. Overall effectiveness of the semester-long program is measured through pretest-postest conceptual testing of general chemistry. The objective of this research is to determine to what extent this ``gamification'' of the course delivery and course evaluation processes may be beneficial to the undergraduates' learning of science in general, and chemistry in particular. We present data addressing gender-specific difference in performance, as well as background (pre-college) level of general science and chemistry preparation. We outline the plan how to extend such approach to general physics courses and to modern science driven electives, and we offer live, in-lectures examples of our computer gaming experience. We acknowledge support from Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi

Learning Mechanisms in Multidisciplinary Teamwork with Real Customers and Open-Ended Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heikkinen, Juho; Isomöttönen, Ville

2015-01-01

Recently, there has been a trend towards adding a multidisciplinary or multicultural element to traditional monodisciplinary project courses in computing and engineering. In this article, we examine the implications of multidisciplinarity for students' learning experiences during a one-semester project course for real customers. We use a…

Teaching Advanced Vehicle Dynamics Using a Project Based Learning (PBL) Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Redkar, Sangram

2012-01-01

This paper presents an interesting teaching experiment carried out at XXX University. The author offered a new course in computational/analytical vehicle dynamics to senior undergraduate students, graduate students and practicing engineers. The objective of the course was to present vehicle dynamics theory with practical applications using…

An Overview of Clarkson's Technical Communications Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barkman, Patricia R.

The technical communications program at Clarkson College (New York) offers students 23 courses in subjects ranging from interpersonal behavior to engineering and scientific report writing to computer documentation and the development of technical manuals. With the help of an advisor, each student works out a course of study appropriate to his or…

Stateless Programming as a Motif for Teaching Computer Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Avi

2004-01-01

With the development of XML Web Services, the Internet could become an integral part of and the basis for teaching computer science and software engineering. The approach has been applied to a university course for students studying introduction to computer science from the point of view of software development in a stateless, Internet…

Teaching Computer-Aided Design of Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer Engineering Equipment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gosman, A. D.; And Others

1979-01-01

Describes a teaching program for fluid mechanics and heat transfer which contains both computer aided learning (CAL) and computer aided design (CAD) components and argues that the understanding of the physical and numerical modeling taught in the CAL course is essential to the proper implementation of CAD. (Author/CMV)

Computer Graphics Instruction in VizClass

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grimes, Douglas; Warschauer, Mark; Hutchinson, Tara; Kuester, Falko

2005-01-01

"VizClass" is a university classroom environment designed to offer students in computer graphics and engineering courses up-to-date visualization technologies. Three digital whiteboards and a three-dimensional stereoscopic display provide complementary display surfaces. Input devices include touchscreens on the digital whiteboards, remote…

An Evaluation of Micro PLATO Fortran 77 Instruction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Funk, Kenneth; And Others

1986-01-01

Evaluated the use of computer assisted instruction in teaching Fortran 77 in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University. Also investigated the effect of such factors as mathematics and computer programming background on student performance in an introductory programming course sequence. (JN)

A Simple Explanation of Complexation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elliott, J. Richard

2010-01-01

The topics of solution thermodynamics, activity coefficients, and complex formation are introduced through computational exercises and sample applications. The presentation is designed to be accessible to freshmen in a chemical engineering computations course. The MOSCED model is simplified to explain complex formation in terms of hydrogen…

Using Blogging and Laptop Computers to Improve Writing Skills on a Vocational Training Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marsden, Nick; Piggot-Irvine, Eileen

2012-01-01

The action research project described in this paper was part of an initiative to bring about change in the way courses are delivered in the vocational trades area at UNITEC New Zealand. We decided to focus on students' writing on a new Level 3 course--the Certificate in Automotive and Mechanical Engineering (C.A.M.E.) in which all participants had…

Effects of In-Class Hands-On Laboratories in a Large Enrollment, Multiple Section Blended Linear Circuits Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferri, Bonni H.; Ferri, Aldo A.; Majerich, David M.; Madden, Amanda G.

2016-01-01

This paper examines the effects of hands-on learning in an undergraduate circuits class that is taught to non-majors; i.e., students outside of electrical and computing engineering. The course, ECE3710, is taught in a blended format facilitated by the video lectures prepared for two Massive Open Online Courses developed for the Coursera Platform.…

Enhancement of Teaching and Learning of the Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering Using Multimedia Courseware.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keyvan, Shahla A.; Pickard, Rodney; Song, Xiaolong

1997-01-01

Computer-aided instruction incorporating interactive multimedia and network technologies can boost teaching effectiveness and student learning. This article describes the development and implementation of network server-based interactive multimedia courseware for a fundamental course in nuclear engineering. A student survey determined that 80% of…

OJPOT: Online Judge & Practice Oriented Teaching Idea in Programming Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Gui Ping; Chen, Shu Yu; Yang, Xin; Feng, Rui

2016-01-01

Practical abilities are important for students from majors including Computer Science and Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Along with the popularity of ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ACM/ICPC) and other programming contests, online judge (OJ) websites achieve rapid development, thus providing a new kind of programming…

You and Technology, A High School Case Study Text.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Damaskos, Nickander J., Ed.; Smyth, Michael P., Ed.

This second draft of a manuscript for a high school engineering and technology course uses case studies as its format. The principles associated with various engineering problems are presented along with their effects on daily life. Topics include the computer, the automotive power system, satellite communications, the petroleum industry, water…

Introducing Programmable Logic to Undergraduate Engineering Students in a Digital Electronics Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Todorovich, E.; Marone, J. A.; Vazquez, M.

2012-01-01

Due to significant technological advances and industry requirements, many universities have introduced programmable logic and hardware description languages into undergraduate engineering curricula. This has led to a number of logistical and didactical challenges, in particular for computer science students. In this paper, the integration of some…

An Empirical Study on Students' Ability to Comprehend Design Patterns

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chatzigeorgiou, Alexander; Tsantalis, Nikolaos; Deligiannis, Ignatios

2008-01-01

Design patterns have become a widely acknowledged software engineering practice and therefore have been incorporated in the curricula of most computer science departments. This paper presents an observational study on students' ability to understand and apply design patterns. Within the context of a postgraduate software engineering course,…

Teaching Embedded System Concepts for Technological Literacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winzker, M.; Schwandt, A.

2011-01-01

A basic understanding of technology is recognized as important knowledge even for students not connected with engineering and computer science. This paper shows that embedded system concepts can be taught in a technological literacy course. An embedded system teaching block that has been used in an electronics module for non-engineers is…

Operation of Grid-tied 5 kWDC solar array to develop Laboratory Experiments for Solar PV Energy System courses

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

Ramos, Jaime

2012-12-14

To unlock the potential of micro grids we plan to build, commission and operate a 5 kWDC PV array and integrate it to the UTPA Engineering building low voltage network, as a micro grid; and promote community awareness. Assisted by a solar radiation tracker providing on-line information of its measurements and performing analysis for the use by the scientific and engineering community, we will write, perform and operate a set of Laboratory experiments and computer simulations supporting Electrical Engineering (graduate and undergraduate) courses on Renewable Energy, as well as Senior Design projects.

Computer-Based Mathematics Instructions for Engineering Students

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khan, Mustaq A.; Wall, Curtiss E.

1996-01-01

Almost every engineering course involves mathematics in one form or another. The analytical process of developing mathematical models is very important for engineering students. However, the computational process involved in the solution of some mathematical problems may be very tedious and time consuming. There is a significant amount of mathematical software such as Mathematica, Mathcad, and Maple designed to aid in the solution of these instructional problems. The use of these packages in classroom teaching can greatly enhance understanding, and save time. Integration of computer technology in mathematics classes, without de-emphasizing the traditional analytical aspects of teaching, has proven very successful and is becoming almost essential. Sample computer laboratory modules are developed for presentation in the classroom setting. This is accomplished through the use of overhead projectors linked to graphing calculators and computers. Model problems are carefully selected from different areas.

THE MAN MADE WORLD, LABORATORY MANUAL.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Commission on Engineering Education, Washington, DC.

THIS LABORATORY MANUAL, THE COMPANION VOLUME TO THE STUDENT'S TEXT FOR THE "MAN MADE WORLD" HIGH SCHOOL COURSE, CONTAINS 31 EXPERIMENTS DEALING WITH THE THEORY, CIRCUITRY, AND OPERATION OF COMPUTERS, AND RELATED TECHNOLOGY. THE COURSE WAS WRITTEN BY SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND EDUCATORS, AND IS INTENDED AS A PART OF THE CULTURAL CURRICULUM FOR ALL…

The Playful and Reflective Game Designer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Majgaard, Gunver

2014-01-01

A group of first-semester engineering students participated in a game design course. The aim of the course was to learn how to design computer games and programming skills by creating their own games, thereby applying their game-playing experiences to gain knowledge about game design. The aim was for students to develop a more critically…

Ideas in Practice (3): A Simulated Laboratory Experience in Digital Design.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cleaver, Thomas G.

1988-01-01

Gives an example of the use of a simplified logic simulator in a logic design course. Discusses some problems in logic design classes, commercially available software, and software problems. Describes computer-aided engineering (CAE) software. Lists 14 experiments in the simulated laboratory and presents students' evaluation of the course. (YP)

Implementation and Evaluation of a Course Concept Based on Reusable Learning Objects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Zele, Els; Vandaele, Pieter; Botteldooren, Dick; Lenaerts, Josephina

2003-01-01

This article describes the implementation and evaluation of a learning objects based computer aided system for an advanced engineering course at Ghent University, Belgium. A new syllabus concept was introduced: students had access to a Web-delivered component and received an identical printed component as two sources of information additional to…

A Two-Tier Test-Based Approach to Improving Students' Computer-Programming Skills in a Web-Based Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yang, Tzu-Chi; Hwang, Gwo-Jen; Yang, Stephen J. H.; Hwang, Gwo-Haur

2015-01-01

Computer programming is an important skill for engineering and computer science students. However, teaching and learning programming concepts and skills has been recognized as a great challenge to both teachers and students. Therefore, the development of effective learning strategies and environments for programming courses has become an important…

BioMEMS and Lab-on-a-Chip Course Education at West Virginia University

PubMed Central

Liu, Yuxin

2011-01-01

With the rapid growth of Biological/Biomedical MicroElectroMechanical Systems (BioMEMS) and microfluidic-based lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology to biological and biomedical research and applications, demands for educated and trained researchers and technicians in these fields are rapidly expanding. Universities are expected to develop educational plans to address these specialized needs in BioMEMS, microfluidic and LOC science and technology. A course entitled BioMEMS and Lab-on-a-Chip was taught recently at the senior undergraduate and graduate levels in the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at West Virginia University (WVU). The course focused on the basic principles and applications of BioMEMS and LOC technology to the areas of biomedicine, biology, and biotechnology. The course was well received and the enrolled students had diverse backgrounds in electrical engineering, material science, biology, mechanical engineering, and chemistry. Student feedback and a review of the course evaluations indicated that the course was effective in achieving its objectives. Student presentations at the end of the course were a highlight and a valuable experience for all involved. The course proved successful and will continue to be offered regularly. This paper provides an overview of the course as well as some development and future improvements. PMID:25586697

System-on-Chip Design and Implementation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brackenbury, L. E. M.; Plana, L. A.; Pepper, J.

2010-01-01

The system-on-chip module described here builds on a grounding in digital hardware and system architecture. It is thus appropriate for third-year undergraduate computer science and computer engineering students, for post-graduate students, and as a training opportunity for post-graduate research students. The course incorporates significant…

Computing Logarithms by Hand

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reed, Cameron

2016-01-01

How can old-fashioned tables of logarithms be computed without technology? Today, of course, no practicing mathematician, scientist, or engineer would actually use logarithms to carry out a calculation, let alone worry about deriving them from scratch. But high school students may be curious about the process. This article develops a…

Catalog of Resources for Education in Ada (Trade Name) and Software Engineering (CREASE). Version 5.0.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-04-01

are eligible to participate in this course. This course is not offered for graduate credit. This course is taught by Timothy J. Fullam. For more...information on this course, contact Timothy J. Fullman at the above address and phone number. University of Alaska Southeast CREASE Version 5.0 13 CS 202...259 DATA STRUCTURES USING Ada University Offeror: Gallaudet University Department of Math/Computer Science Washington, DC 20002 (202) 651-5315 The

Blending an Android Development Course with Software Engineering Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chatzigeorgiou, Alexander; Theodorou, Tryfon L.; Violettas, George E.; Xinogalos, Stelios

2016-01-01

The tremendous popularity of mobile computing and Android in particular has attracted millions of developers who see opportunities for building their own start-ups. As a consequence Computer Science students express an increasing interest into the related technology of Java development for Android applications. Android projects are complex by…

Does Computer-Aided Formative Assessment Improve Learning Outcomes?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hannah, John; James, Alex; Williams, Phillipa

2014-01-01

Two first-year engineering mathematics courses used computer-aided assessment (CAA) to provide students with opportunities for formative assessment via a series of weekly quizzes. Most students used the assessment until they achieved very high (>90%) quiz scores. Although there is a positive correlation between these quiz marks and the final…

Instruction Using Experiments in a Computer. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fulton, John P.; Hazeltine, Barrett

Included are four computer programs which simulate experiments suitable for freshman engineering and physics courses. The subjects of the programs are ballistic trajectories, variable mass systems, trajectory of a particle under various forces, and design of an electronic emplifier. The report includes the problem statement, its objectives, the…

Using Pair Programming to Teach CAD Based Engineering Graphics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leland, Robert P.

2010-01-01

Pair programming was introduced into a course in engineering graphics that emphasizes solid modeling using SolidWorks. In pair programming, two students work at a single computer, and periodically trade off roles as driver (hands on the keyboard and mouse) and navigator (discuss strategy and design issues). Pair programming was used in a design…

Centrifugal Pump Experiment for Chemical Engineering Undergraduates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vanderslice, Nicholas; Oberto, Richard; Marrero, Thomas R.

2012-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to describe a Centrifugal Pump Experiment that provided an experiential learning experience to chemical engineering undergraduates at the University of Missouri in the spring of 2010 in the Unit Operations Laboratory course. Lab equipment was used by senior students with computer-based data and control technology. In…

An Interactive Computer Aided Electrical Engineering Education Package.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cavati, Cicero Romao

This paper describes an educational package to help the learning process. A case study is presented of an energy distribution course in the Electrical Engineering Department at the Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES). The advantages of the developed package are shown by comparing it with the traditional academic book. This package presents…

A new course and textbook on Physical Models of Living Systems, for science and engineering undergraduates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, Philip

2015-03-01

I'll describe an intermediate-level course on ``Physical Models of Living Systems.'' The only prerequisite is first-year university physics and calculus. The course is a response to rapidly growing interest among undergraduates in a broad range of science and engineering majors. Students acquire several research skills that are often not addressed in traditional courses: Basic modeling skills Probabilistic modeling skills Data analysis methods Computer programming using a general-purpose platform like MATLAB or Python Dynamical systems, particularly feedback control. These basic skills, which are relevant to nearly any field of science or engineering, are presented in the context of case studies from living systems, including: Virus dynamics Bacterial genetics and evolution of drug resistance Statistical inference Superresolution microscopy Synthetic biology Naturally evolved cellular circuits. Work supported by NSF Grants EF-0928048 and DMR-0832802.

No User Left behind: Including Accessibility in Student Projects and the Impact on CS Students' Attitudes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Poor, G. Michael; Leventhal, Laura M.; Barnes, Julie; Hutchings, Duke R.; Albee, Paul; Campbell, Laura

2012-01-01

Usability and accessibility have become increasingly important in computing curricula. This article briefly reviews how these concepts may be included in existing courses. The authors conducted a survey of student attitudes toward these issues at the start and end of a usability engineering course that included a group project with an…

Improvement of Spatial Ability Using Innovative Tools: Alternative View Screen and Physical Model Rotator

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kinsey, Brad L.; Towle, Erick; Onyancha, Richard M.

2008-01-01

Spatial ability, which is positively correlated with retention and achievement in engineering, mathematics, and science disciplines, has been shown to improve over the course of a Computer-Aided Design course or through targeted training. However, which type of training provides the most beneficial improvements to spatial ability and whether other…

A pilot biomedical engineering course in rapid prototyping for mobile health.

PubMed

Stokes, Todd H; Venugopalan, Janani; Hubbard, Elena N; Wang, May D

2013-01-01

Rapid prototyping of medically assistive mobile devices promises to fuel innovation and provides opportunity for hands-on engineering training in biomedical engineering curricula. This paper presents the design and outcomes of a course offered during a 16-week semester in Fall 2011 with 11 students enrolled. The syllabus covered a mobile health design process from end-to-end, including storyboarding, non-functional prototypes, integrated circuit programming, 3D modeling, 3D printing, cloud computing database programming, and developing patient engagement through animated videos describing the benefits of a new device. Most technologies presented in this class are open source and thus provide unlimited "hackability". They are also cost-effective and easily transferrable to other departments.

Cultivation of students' engineering designing ability based on optoelectronic system course project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Danhua; Wu, Yubin; Li, Jingping

2017-08-01

We carry out teaching based on optoelectronic related course group, aiming at junior students majored in Optoelectronic Information Science and Engineering. " Optoelectronic System Course Project " is product-designing-oriented and lasts for a whole semester. It provides a chance for students to experience the whole process of product designing, and improve their abilities to search literature, proof schemes, design and implement their schemes. In teaching process, each project topic is carefully selected and repeatedly refined to guarantee the projects with the knowledge integrity, engineering meanings and enjoyment. Moreover, we set up a top team with professional and experienced teachers, and build up learning community. Meanwhile, the communication between students and teachers as well as the interaction among students are taken seriously in order to improve their team-work ability and communicational skills. Therefore, students are not only able to have a chance to review the knowledge hierarchy of optics, electronics, and computer sciences, but also are able to improve their engineering mindset and innovation consciousness.

Conception and development of the Second Life® Embryo Physics Course.

PubMed

Gordon, Richard

2013-06-01

The study of embryos with the tools and mindset of physics, started by Wilhelm His in the 1880s, has resumed after a hiatus of a century. The Embryo Physics Course convenes online allowing interested researchers and students, who are scattered around the world, to gather weekly in one place, the virtual world of Second Life®. It attracts people from a wide variety of disciplines and walks of life: applied mathematics, artificial life, bioengineering, biophysics, cancer biology, cellular automata, civil engineering, computer science, embryology, electrical engineering, evolution, finite element methods, history of biology, human genetics, mathematics, molecular developmental biology, molecular biology, nanotechnology, philosophy of biology, phycology, physics, self-reproducing systems, stem cells, tensegrity structures, theoretical biology, and tissue engineering. Now in its fifth year, the Embryo Physics Course provides a focus for research on the central question of how an embryo builds itself.

Exploiting the On-Campus Boiler House.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woods, Donald R.; And Others

1986-01-01

Shows how a university utility building ("boiler house") is used in a chemical engineering course for computer simulations, mathematical modeling and process problem exercises. Student projects involving the facility are also discussed. (JN)

Applying ``intelligent`` materials for materials education: The Labless Lab{trademark}

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

Andrade, J.D.; Scheer, R.

1994-12-31

A very large number of science and engineering courses taught in colleges and universities today do not involve laboratories. Although good instructors incorporate class demonstrations, hands on homework, and various teaching aids, including computer simulations, the fact is that students in such courses often accept key concepts and experimental results without discovering them for themselves. The only partial solution to this problem has been increasing use of class demonstrations and computer simulations. The authors feel strongly that many complex concepts can be observed and assimilated through experimentation with properly designed materials. They propose the development of materials and specimens designedmore » specifically for education purposes. Intelligent and communicative materials are ideal for this purpose. Specimens which respond in an observable fashion to new environments and situations provided by the students/experimenter provide a far more effective materials science and engineering experience than readouts and data generated by complex and expensive machines, particularly in an introductory course. Modern materials can be designed to literally communicate with the observer. The authors embarked on a project to develop a series of Labless Labs{trademark} utilizing various degrees and levels of intelligence in materials. It is expected that such Labless Labs{trademark} would be complementary to textbooks and computer simulations and to be used to provide a reality for students in courses and other learning situations where access to a laboratory is non-existent or limited.« less

Elevating Learner Achievement Using Formative Electronic Lab Assessments in the Engineering Laboratory: A Viable Alternative to Weekly Lab Reports

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Baiyun; DeMara, Ronald F.; Salehi, Soheil; Hartshorne, Richard

2018-01-01

A laboratory pedagogy interweaving weekly student portfolios with onsite formative electronic laboratory assessments (ELAs) is developed and assessed within the laboratory component of a required core course of the electrical and computer engineering (ECE) undergraduate curriculum. The approach acts to promote student outcomes, and neutralize…

Vertical Stream Curricula Integration of Problem-Based Learning Using an Autonomous Vacuum Robot in a Mechatronics Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chin, Cheng; Yue, Keng

2011-01-01

Difficulties in teaching a multi-disciplinary subject such as the mechatronics system design module in Departments of Mechatronics Engineering at Temasek Polytechnic arise from the gap in experience and skill among staff and students who have different backgrounds in mechanical, computer and electrical engineering within the Mechatronics…

Culture and Workplace Communications: A Comparison of the Technical Communications Practices of Japanese and U.S. Aerospace Engineers and Scientists.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pinelli, Thomas E.; Sato, Yuko; Barclay, Rebecca O.; Kennedy, John M.

1997-01-01

Japanese (n=94) and U.S. (n=340) aerospace scientists/engineers described time spent communicating information, collaborative writing, importance of technical communication courses, and the use of libraries, computer networks, and technical reports. Japanese respondents had greater language fluency; U.S. respondents spent more time with…

Experiences in Digital Circuit Design Courses: A Self-Study Platform for Learning Support

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bañeres, David; Clarisó, Robert; Jorba, Josep; Serra, Montse

2014-01-01

The synthesis of digital circuits is a basic skill in all the bachelor programmes around the ICT area of knowledge, such as Computer Science, Telecommunication Engineering or Electrical Engineering. An important hindrance in the learning process of this skill is that the existing educational tools for the design of circuits do not allow the…

Localization of Mobile Robots Using an Extended Kalman Filter in a LEGO NXT

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pinto, M.; Moreira, A. P.; Matos, A.

2012-01-01

The inspiration for this paper comes from a successful experiment conducted with students in the "Mobile Robots" course in the fifth year of the integrated Master's program in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP), Porto, Portugal. One of the topics in this Mobile Robots…

Observing Engineering Student Teams from the Organization Behavior Perspective Using Linguistic Analysis of Student Reflections and Focus Group Interviews

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kearney, Kerri S.; Damron, Rebecca; Sohoni, Sohum

2015-01-01

This paper investigates group/team development in computer engineering courses at a University in the Central USA from the perspective of organization behavior theory, specifically Tuckman's model of the stages of group development. The investigation, conducted through linguistic analysis of student reflection essays, and through focus group…

A Comparative Evaluation of Computer-Managed and Instructor-Managed Instruction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ellis, John A.

This study compares an instructor-managed (IMI) and a computer-managed (CMI) version of a modularized, individualized Navy Training course; the main difference between groups was in testing and remediation. Subjects were 240 students enrolled in the Propulsion Engineering School at Great Lakes, Illinois, who were divided into three groups: CMI…

Communication for Scientists and Engineers: A "Computer Model" in the Basic Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haynes, W. Lance

Successful speech should rest not on prepared notes and outlines but on genuine oral discourse based on "data" fed into the "software" in the computer which already exists within each person. Writing cannot speak for itself, nor can it continually adjust itself to accommodate diverse response. Moreover, no matter how skillfully…

Integrating Computational Thinking into Technology and Engineering Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hacker, Michael

2018-01-01

Computational Thinking (CT) is being promoted as "a fundamental skill used by everyone in the world by the middle of the 21st Century" (Wing, 2006). CT has been effectively integrated into history, ELA, mathematics, art, and science courses (Settle, et al., 2012). However, there has been no analogous effort to integrate CT into…

Computer-Aided Design in Further Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ingham, Peter, Ed.

This publication updates the 1982 occasional paper that was intended to foster staff awareness and assist colleges in Great Britain considering the use of computer-aided design (CAD) material in engineering courses. The paper begins by defining CAD and its place in the Integrated Business System with a brief discussion of the effect of CAD on the…

Program Fighter - An Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hull, David G.; Fowler, Wallace T.

Described is a computer program for the sizing of subsonic and supersonic fighters which has been adapted for use in an aerospace engineering design course. Following a description of the program, an evaluation of its use in the university is presented. It is concluded that computer programs for the conceptual design of aerospace vehicles can play…

An advanced teaching scheme for integrating problem-based learning in control education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juuso, Esko K.

2018-03-01

Engineering education needs to provide both theoretical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Many topics can be presented in lectures and computer exercises are good tools in teaching the skills. Learning by doing is combined with lectures to provide additional material and perspectives. The teaching scheme includes lectures, computer exercises, case studies, seminars and reports organized as a problem-based learning process. In the gradually refining learning material, each teaching method has its own role. The scheme, which has been used in teaching two 4th year courses, is beneficial for overall learning progress, especially in bilingual courses. The students become familiar with new perspectives and are ready to use the course material in application projects.

Exploration on the matching between Optical Comprehensive Design Experiment and Washington Accord

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Yiping; Chen, Wenjing; Zhang, Qican; Liu, Yuankun; Li, Dahai; Zhou, Xinzhi; Wei, Jun

2017-08-01

Common problems faced in optical comprehensive design experiment and going against the Washington Accord are pointed out. For resolving these problems, an instructional and innovative teaching scheme for Optics Comprehensive Design Experiment is proposed. We would like to understand the student that can improve the hands-on practical ability, theory knowledge understanding ability, complex problem solving ability, engineering application ability, cooperative ability after tracking and researching the student who have attended the class about Optical Comprehensive Design Experiment, We found that there are some problems on the course such as the experiment content vague, the student beginning less time, phase separation theory and engineering application, the experiment content lack of selectivity and so on. So we have made some improvements reference to the Washington Accord for the class teaching plan about Optical Comprehensive Design Experiment. This class must relevant to the engineering basic courses, professional foundation course and the major courses, so far as to the future study and work that which can play a role in inheriting and continuity to the students. The Optical Comprehensive Design Experiment teaching program requires students learning this course to have learnt basic courses like analog electronics technique, digital electronic technique, applied optics and computer and other related courses which students are required to comprehensively utilize. This teaching scheme contains six practical complex engineering problems which are respectively optical system design, light energy meter design, illuminometer design, material refractive index measuring system design, light intensity measuring system design and open design. Establishing the optional experiment and open experiment can provide students with a greater choice and enhance the students' creativity, vivid teaching experimental teachers and enriching contents of experiment can make the experiment more interesting, providing students with more opportunities to conduct experiment and improving students' practical ability with long learning time, putting emphasis on student's understanding of complex engineering problems and the cognitive of the process to solve complex engineering problems with actual engineering problems. Applying the scheme in other courses and improving accordingly will be able to ensure the quality of engineering education. Look forward to offering useful reference for the curriculum system construction in colleges and universities.

Using Dynamic Geometry and Computer Algebra Systems in Problem Based Courses for Future Engineers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tomiczková, Svetlana; Lávicka, Miroslav

2015-01-01

It is a modern trend today when formulating the curriculum of a geometric course at the technical universities to start from a real-life problem originated in technical praxis and subsequently to define which geometric theories and which skills are necessary for its solving. Nowadays, interactive and dynamic geometry software plays a more and more…

Adjustable Speed Drive Project for Teaching a Servo Systems Course Laboratory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodriguez-Resendiz, J.; Herrera-Ruiz, G.; Rivas-Araiza, E. A.

2011-01-01

This paper describes an adjustable speed drive for a three-phase motor, which has been implemented as a design for a servo system laboratory course in an engineering curriculum. The platform is controlled and analyzed in a LabVIEW environment and run on a PC. Theory is introduced in order to show the sensorless algorithms. These are computed by…

Enhanced Teaching and Student Learning through a Simulator-Based Course in Chemical Unit Operations Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ghasem, Nayef

2016-01-01

This paper illustrates a teaching technique used in computer applications in chemical engineering employed for designing various unit operation processes, where the students learn about unit operations by designing them. The aim of the course is not to teach design, but rather to teach the fundamentals and the function of unit operation processes…

Learning physical biology via modeling and simulation: A new course and textbook for science and engineering undergraduates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, Philip

To a large extent, undergraduate physical-science curricula remain firmly rooted in pencil-and-paper calculation, despite the fact that most research is done with computers. To a large extent, undergraduate life-science curricula remain firmly rooted in descriptive approaches, despite the fact that much current research involves quantitative modeling. Not only does our pedagogy not reflect current reality; it also creates a spurious barrier between the fields, reinforcing the narrow silos that prevent students from connecting them. I'll describe an intermediate-level course on ``Physical Models of Living Systems.'' The prerequisite is first-year university physics and calculus. The course is a response to rapidly growing interest among undergraduates in a broad range of science and engineering majors. Students acquire several research skills that are often not addressed in traditional undergraduate courses: •Basic modeling skills; •Probabilistic modeling skills; •Data analysis methods; •Computer programming using a general-purpose platform like MATLAB or Python; •Pulling datasets from the Web for analysis; •Data visualization; •Dynamical systems, particularly feedback control. Partially supported by the NSF under Grants EF-0928048 and DMR-0832802.

Inference Engine in an Intelligent Ship Course-Keeping System

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The article presents an original design of an expert system, whose function is to automatically stabilize ship's course. The focus is put on the inference engine, a mechanism that consists of two functional components. One is responsible for the construction of state space regions, implemented on the basis of properly processed signals recorded by sensors from the input and output of an object. The other component is responsible for generating a control decision based on the knowledge obtained in the first module. The computing experiments described herein prove the effective and correct operation of the proposed system. PMID:29317859

Research on Building Education & Workforce Capacity in Systems Engineering

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-10-31

product or prototype that addresses a real DoD need. Implemented as pilot courses in eight civilian and six military universities affiliated with...Engineering 1 1.1 Computer Engineering 1 1.1 Operations Research 1 1.1 Product Architecture 1 1.1 Total 93 100.0 Table 7: Breakdown of Student... product specifications, inattention to budget limits and safety issues, inattention to product life cycle, poor implementation of risk management plans

Project-based introduction to aerospace engineering course: A model rocket

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayaram, Sanjay; Boyer, Lawrence; George, John; Ravindra, K.; Mitchell, Kyle

2010-05-01

In this paper, a model rocket project suitable for sophomore aerospace engineering students is described. This project encompasses elements of drag estimation, thrust determination and analysis using digital data acquisition, statistical analysis of data, computer aided drafting, programming, team work and written communication skills. The student built rockets are launched in the university baseball field with the objective of carrying a specific amount of payload so that the rocket achieves a specific altitude before the parachute is deployed. During the course of the project, the students are introduced to real-world engineering practice through written report submission of their designs. Over the years, the project has proven to enhance the learning objectives, yet cost effective and has provided good outcome measures.

Introducing future engineers to sustainable ecology problems: a case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filipkowski, A.

2011-12-01

The problem of Earth environmental destruction by human activities is becoming dangerous. Engineers responsible for the production of any goods should be well aware of the negative influence of their activities on the state of the planet. This is why the understanding of ecological problems is essential for people responsible for production and industrial design. The energy, which they consume, is increasing the greenhouse effect and the waste poisons the environment. So far, most courses on ecology are offered to specialists in environmental engineering. These courses are filled with many details. The Warsaw Academy of Computer Science, Management and Administration teaches students in the direction of management and production engineering. Upon completion, the students receive the degree of 'engineer'. Their future work will mainly concern management of different types of industrial enterprises and they will be responsible for organising it in such a way as to avoid a dangerous contribution to environmental pollution and climate change. This is why it was decided to introduce a new course entitled 'Principles of Ecology and Environmental Management'. This course is quite broad, concerning almost all technical, law and organisational aspects of the problem. The presentation is made in a spectacular way, aiming to convince students that their future activity must be environmentally friendly. It contains information about international activities in ecology, legal aspects concerning pollution, technical and information methods of monitoring and, finally, the description of 'green' solutions. Altogether, 27 hours of lectures and 15 hours of discussions and students' presentations complete the course. Details of this course are described in this paper.

Implementation of the RS232 communication trainer using computers and the ATMEGA microcontroller for interface engineering Courses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amelia, Afritha; Julham; Viyata Sundawa, Bakti; Pardede, Morlan; Sutrisno, Wiwinta; Rusdi, Muhammad

2017-09-01

RS232 of serial communication is the communication system in the computer and microcontroller. This communication was studied in Department of Electrical Engineering and Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics Department at Politeknik Negeri Medan. Recently, an application of simulation was installed on the computer which used for teaching and learning process. The drawback of this system is not useful for communication method between learner and trainer. Therefore, this study was created method of 10 stage to which divided into 7 stages and 3 major phases. It can be namely the analysis of potential problems and data collection, trainer design, and empirical testing and revision. After that, the trainer and module were tested in order to get feedback from the learner. The result showed that 70.10% of feedback which wide reasonable from the learner of questionnaire.

Transforming an Introductory Programming Course: From Lectures to Active Learning via Wireless Laptops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barak, Miri; Harward, Judson; Kocur, George; Lerman, Steven

2007-08-01

Within the framework of MIT's course 1.00: Introduction to Computers and Engineering Problem Solving, this paper describes an innovative project entitled: Studio 1.00 that integrates lectures with in-class demonstrations, active learning sessions, and on-task feedback, through the use of wireless laptop computers. This paper also describes a related evaluation study that investigated the effectiveness of different instructional strategies, comparing traditional teaching with two models of the studio format. Students' learning outcomes, specifically, their final grades and conceptual understanding of computational methods and programming, were examined. Findings indicated that Studio-1.00, in both its extensive- and partial-active learning modes, enhanced students' learning outcomes in Java programming. Comparing to the traditional courses, more students in the studio courses received "A" as their final grade and less failed. Moreover, students who regularly attended the active learning sessions were able to conceptualize programming principles better than their peers. We have also found two weaknesses in the teaching format of Studio-1.00 that can guide future versions of the course.

Interdisciplinary Learning for Chemical Engineering Students from Organic Chemistry Synthesis Lab to Reactor Design to Separation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Armstrong, Matt; Comitz, Richard L.; Biaglow, Andrew; Lachance, Russ; Sloop, Joseph

2008-01-01

A novel approach to the Chemical Engineering curriculum sequence of courses at West Point enabled our students to experience a much more realistic design process, which more closely replicated a real world scenario. Students conduct the synthesis in the organic chemistry lab, then conduct computer modeling of the reaction with ChemCad and…

Incorporation of Data Analysis throughout the ChE Curriculum Made Easy with DataFit

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brenner, James R.

2007-01-01

At Florida Tech, we have incorporated DataFit from Oakdale Engineering throughout the entire curriculum, beginning with ChE 1102, an eight-week, one-day-per-week, two-hour, one-credit-hour, second-semester Introduction to Chemical Engineering course in a hands-on computer classroom. Our experience is that students retain data analysis concepts…

Robotic Design Studio: Exploring the Big Ideas of Engineering in a Liberal Arts Environment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turbak, Franklyn; Berg, Robbie

2002-01-01

Suggests that it is important to introduce liberal arts students to the essence of engineering. Describes Robotic Design Studio, a course in which students learn how to design, assemble, and program robots made out of LEGO parts, sensors, motors, and small embedded computers. Represents an alternative vision of how robot design can be used to…

Development of an Innovative Interactive Virtual Classroom System for K-12 Education Using Google App Engine

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mumba, Frackson; Zhu, Mengxia

2013-01-01

This paper presents a Simulation-based interactive Virtual ClassRoom web system (SVCR: www.vclasie.com) powered by the state-of-the-art cloud computing technology from Google SVCR integrates popular free open-source math, science and engineering simulations and provides functions such as secure user access control and management of courses,…

A Low-Cost Computer-Controlled Arduino-Based Educational Laboratory System for Teaching the Fundamentals of Photovoltaic Cells

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zachariadou, K.; Yiasemides, K.; Trougkakos, N.

2012-01-01

We present a low-cost, fully computer-controlled, Arduino-based, educational laboratory (SolarInsight) to be used in undergraduate university courses concerned with electrical engineering and physics. The major goal of the system is to provide students with the necessary instrumentation, software tools and methodology in order to learn fundamental…

Digital Youth Divas: Exploring Narrative-Driven Curriculum to Spark Middle School Girls' Interest in Computational Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pinkard, Nichole; Erete, Sheena; Martin, Caitlin K.; McKinney de Royston, Maxine

2017-01-01

Women use technology to mediate numerous aspects of their professional and personal lives. Yet, few design and create these technologies given that women, especially women of color, are grossly underrepresented in computer science and engineering courses. Decisions about participation in STEM are frequently made prior to high school, and these…

Laptops and the Gender Gap: An Investigation of a High School Core Curriculum Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wade, Melanie

2010-01-01

Girls and women continue to be underrepresented in high school Advanced Placement computer science courses, undergraduate and graduate computer science programs at colleges and universities, and engineering programs and related careers. This is not to suggest that public schools train students to fulfill specific job needs, yet it is evident that…

Understanding Calculus beyond Computations: A Descriptive Study of the Parallel Meanings and Expectations of Teachers and Users of Calculus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferguson, Leann J.

2012-01-01

Calculus is an important tool for building mathematical models of the world around us and is thus used in a variety of disciplines, such as physics and engineering. These disciplines rely on calculus courses to provide the mathematical foundation needed for success in their courses. Unfortunately, due to the basal conceptions of what it means to…

An undergraduate course, and new textbook, on ``Physical Models of Living Systems''

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, Philip

2015-03-01

I'll describe an intermediate-level course on ``Physical Models of Living Systems.'' The only prerequisite is first-year university physics and calculus. The course is a response to rapidly growing interest among undergraduates in several science and engineering departments. Students acquire several research skills that are often not addressed in traditional courses, including: basic modeling skills, probabilistic modeling skills, data analysis methods, computer programming using a general-purpose platform like MATLAB or Python, dynamical systems, particularly feedback control. These basic skills, which are relevant to nearly any field of science or engineering, are presented in the context of case studies from living systems, including: virus dynamics; bacterial genetics and evolution of drug resistance; statistical inference; superresolution microscopy; synthetic biology; naturally evolved cellular circuits. Publication of a new textbook by WH Freeman and Co. is scheduled for December 2014. Supported in part by EF-0928048 and DMR-0832802.

Educating and Training Accelerator Scientists and Technologists for Tomorrow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barletta, William; Chattopadhyay, Swapan; Seryi, Andrei

2012-01-01

Accelerator science and technology is inherently an integrative discipline that combines aspects of physics, computational science, electrical and mechanical engineering. As few universities offer full academic programs, the education of accelerator physicists and engineers for the future has primarily relied on a combination of on-the-job training supplemented with intensive courses at regional accelerator schools. This article describes the approaches being used to satisfy the educational curiosity of a growing number of interested physicists and engineers.

Educating and Training Accelerator Scientists and Technologists for Tomorrow

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

Barletta, William A.; Chattopadhyay, Swapan; Seryi, Andrei

2012-07-01

Accelerator science and technology is inherently an integrative discipline that combines aspects of physics, computational science, electrical and mechanical engineering. As few universities offer full academic programs, the education of accelerator physicists and engineers for the future has primarily relied on a combination of on-the-job training supplemented with intense courses at regional accelerator schools. This paper describes the approaches being used to satisfy the educational interests of a growing number of interested physicists and engineers.

The experiences of female high school students and interest in STEM: Factors leading to the selection of an engineering or computer science major

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genoways, Sharon K.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators, which leads to new products and processes that sustain our economy (Hossain & Robinson, 2012). We have been hearing the warnings for several years, that there simply are not enough young scientists entering into the STEM professional pathways to replace all of the retiring professionals (Brown, Brown, Reardon, & Merrill, 2011; Harsh, Maltese, & Tai, 2012; Heilbronner, 2011; Scott, 2012). The problem is not necessarily due to a lack of STEM skills and concept proficiency. There also appears to be a lack of interest in these fields. Recent evidence suggests that many of the most proficient students, especially minority students and women, have been gravitating away from science and engineering toward other professions. (President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, 2010). The purpose of this qualitative research study was an attempt to determine how high schools can best prepare and encourage young women for a career in engineering or computer science. This was accomplished by interviewing a pool of 21 women, 5 recent high school graduates planning to major in STEM, 5 college students who had completed at least one full year of coursework in an engineering or computer science major and 11 professional women who had been employed as an engineer or computer scientist for at least one full year. These women were asked to share the high school courses, activities, and experiences that best prepared them to pursue an engineering or computer science major. Five central themes emerged from this study; coursework in physics and calculus, promotion of STEM camps and clubs, teacher encouragement of STEM capabilities and careers, problem solving, critical thinking and confidence building activities in the classroom, and allowing students the opportunity to fail and ask questions in a safe environment. These themes may be implemented by any instructor, in any course, who wishes to provide students with the means to success in their quest for a STEM career.

Multiple Approaches to Design Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fox, Richard L.; And Others

1974-01-01

Discusses implementation of Sloan Foundation projects at the Case Western School of Engineering, including the development of a computer assisted mechanical structural design course, the establishment of a complex systems laboratory, and personnel views of industry-university design projects. (CC)

Seniors-on-line: introducing older people to technology.

PubMed

Irizarry, C; Downing, A; Elford, C

1997-03-01

Retired Engineers are playing an important role in ensuring that older people are not excluded from the benefits of technological advances. Technology is playing an increasingly important role in the lives of older people as it is incorporated into assistive devices, home security, access to health care, banking, communication and many other areas. However, if older people are unfamiliar with new technologies and find them daunting, they may not benefit fully from these advances. In order to minimize difficulties arising from unfamiliarity with technology, an introductory computer course was offered to people aged 55 and over. Teaching methods appropriate to the needs of older people were used: small classes, students and instructors from same age cohort, slow pace of presentation and ample opportunity to ask questions. Retired Engineers make up the majority of instructors. Three hundred and sixty nine older people have participated in the course and most plan to continue using a computer.

Integration of NASA Research into Undergraduate Education in Math, Science, Engineering and Technology at North Carolina A&T State University

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Monroe, Joseph; Kelkar, Ajit

2003-01-01

The NASA PAIR program incorporated the NASA-Sponsored research into the undergraduate environment at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. This program is designed to significantly improve undergraduate education in the areas of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology (MSET) by directly benefiting from the experiences of NASA field centers, affiliated industrial partners and academic institutions. The three basic goals of the program were enhancing core courses in MSET curriculum, upgrading core-engineering laboratories to compliment upgraded MSET curriculum, and conduct research training for undergraduates in MSET disciplines through a sophomore shadow program and through Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs. Since the inception of the program nine courses have been modified to include NASA related topics and research. These courses have impacted over 900 students in the first three years of the program. The Electrical Engineering circuit's lab is completely re-equipped to include Computer controlled and data acquisition equipment. The Physics lab is upgraded to implement better sensory data acquisition to enhance students understanding of course concepts. In addition a new instrumentation laboratory in the department of Mechanical Engineering is developed. Research training for A&T students was conducted through four different programs: Apprentice program, Developers program, Sophomore Shadow program and Independent Research program. These programs provided opportunities for an average of forty students per semester.

Collaborative and Multilingual Approach to Learn Database Topics Using Concept Maps

PubMed Central

Calvo, Iñaki

2014-01-01

Authors report on a study using the concept mapping technique in computer engineering education for learning theoretical introductory database topics. In addition, the learning of multilingual technical terminology by means of the collaborative drawing of a concept map is also pursued in this experiment. The main characteristics of a study carried out in the database subject at the University of the Basque Country during the 2011/2012 course are described. This study contributes to the field of concept mapping as these kinds of cognitive tools have proved to be valid to support learning in computer engineering education. It contributes to the field of computer engineering education, providing a technique that can be incorporated with several educational purposes within the discipline. Results reveal the potential that a collaborative concept map editor offers to fulfil the above mentioned objectives. PMID:25538957

Effects of Human Factors in Engineering and Design for Teaching Mathematics: A Comparison Study of Online and Face-to-Face at a Technical College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mativo, John M.; Hill, Roger B.; Godfrey, Paul W.

2013-01-01

The focus of this study was to examine four characteristics for successful and unsuccessful students enrolled in basic mathematics courses at a technical college. The characteristics, considered to be in part effects of human factors in engineering and design, examined the preferred learning styles, computer information systems competency,…

An Example of Competence-Based Learning: Use of Maxima in Linear Algebra for Engineers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diaz, Ana; Garcia, Alfonsa; de la Villa, Agustin

2011-01-01

This paper analyses the role of Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) in a model of learning based on competences. The proposal is an e-learning model Linear Algebra course for Engineering, which includes the use of a CAS (Maxima) and focuses on problem solving. A reference model has been taken from the Spanish Open University. The proper use of CAS is…

COED Transactions, Vol. XI, No. 2, February 1979. A Student Designed Microcomputer Based Data Acquisition System.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mitchell, Eugene E., Ed.

In context of an instrumentation course, four ocean engineering students set out to design and construct a micro-computer based data acquisition system that would be compatible with the University's CYBER host computer. The project included hardware design in the area of sampling, analog-to-digital conversion and timing coordination. It also…

Leveraging Cognitive Load Theory, Scaffolding, and Distance Technologies to Enhance Computer Programming for Non-Majors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Impelluso, Thomas J.

2009-01-01

Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) was used as a foundation to redesign a computer programming class for mechanical engineers, in which content was delivered with hybrid/distance technology. The effort confirmed the utility of CLT in course design. And it demonstrates that hybrid/distance learning is not merely a tool of convenience, but one, which, when…

Gender and Belonging in Undergraduate Computer Science: A Comparative Case Study of Student Experiences in Gateway Courses. WCER Working Paper No. 2016-2

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benbow, Ross J.; Vivyan, Erika

2016-01-01

Building from findings showing that undergraduate computer science continues to have the highest attrition rates proportionally for women within postsecondary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines--a phenomenon that defies basic social equity goals in a high status field--this paper seeks to better understand how student…

Instrumental Analysis Chemistry Laboratory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Munoz de la Pena, Arsenio; Gonzalez-Gomez, David; Munoz de la Pena, David; Gomez-Estern, Fabio; Sequedo, Manuel Sanchez

2013-01-01

designed for automating the collection and assessment of laboratory exercises is presented. This Web-based system has been extensively used in engineering courses such as control systems, mechanics, and computer programming. Goodle GMS allows the students to submit their results to a…

Proceedings of the Annual Ada Software Engineering Education and Training Symposium (6th), Held in Alexandria, Virginia on September 11-13, 1991

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-01

level are, by necessity, designed to be accomplished by one or a few students in the course of a single academic term. Moreover, the software is seldom...that are covered in Computer Science curricula today, but with more of an engineering structure added. A stronger engineering design component is...ing, and sound software design principles found throughout Ada, and they are unambiguously specified. These are not features which were grafted onto a

Teaching introductory game development with unreal engine: Challenges, strategies, and experiences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Head, Nicholas A.

From the days of Pong to 100 million dollar projects such as the Grand Theft Auto franchise, video games have evolved significantly over the years. This evolution has also changed the way game development is viewed as a career. Today, video games are one of the most profitable forms of entertainment, and game development courses are appearing at universities around the world. Even with this growth, a degree from a university has yet to be an important factor in finding a job in game development (Owen, 2013). This thesis examines a method of creating and implementing an introductory gaming course and recommends ways to improve the curriculum. The main focus of the course was to introduce game development to the students. Each week, they were given an exercise that covered a different topic. Students also took part in a team project in which they were tasked with creating a complete game. The goal of the team projects was to expand the student's basic knowledge given to them from the exercises. Data was gathered on the students' subjective experiences with the class. This data and the class's overall performance were compared with past iterations of the course. New to the course was the Unreal Engine. Students used the latest version of the engine, Unreal Engine 4, to complete exercises. Not all students chose to use this engine for the team project. Instructor and students experiences with the engine were also recorded. While there were some problems implementing the engine within our lab environment, we were still able to execute the overall lesson plan. Even with the engine issues, the course had overall good performance. CGT 241, Introduction to 3D Animation, was shown to help the students to complete the course while CGT 215, Computer Graphics Programming I, did not provide enough information on game programming. Exercises were found to be helpful but students wanted a better understanding of how these skills can be applied to game development. Team projects also went well with most teams creating a functional project. Students wanted more time to complete projects along with a structured approach to the project. Confidence in game development and the Unreal Engine were not high but students were enthusiastic in continuing in the field of game development. Recommendations were made to the curriculum in order to fix some of the issues with the introductory course and help students find a career. In order to fix the gap between the programming course and the introductory game course, a video game programming course was recommended that focused on teaching students how code works with video game engines. An option to specialize was also recommended in order to see a higher level of understanding on game concepts and a higher level of quality of game projects. Changes to the higher courses were also made for a yearlong course where students would focus on a single project to publish. This would expand on the introductory course while also replicating the game development process.

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.

Do Gender Differences in Perceived Prototypical Computer Scientists and Engineers Contribute to Gender Gaps in Computer Science and Engineering?

PubMed

Ehrlinger, Joyce; Plant, E Ashby; Hartwig, Marissa K; Vossen, Jordan J; Columb, Corey J; Brewer, Lauren E

2018-01-01

Women are vastly underrepresented in the fields of computer science and engineering (CS&E). We examined whether women might view the intellectual characteristics of prototypical individuals in CS&E in more stereotype-consistent ways than men might and, consequently, show less interest in CS&E. We asked 269 U.S. college students (187, 69.5% women) to describe the prototypical computer scientist (Study 1) or engineer (Study 2) through open-ended descriptions as well as through a set of trait ratings. Participants also rated themselves on the same set of traits and rated their similarity to the prototype. Finally, participants in both studies were asked to describe their likelihood of pursuing future college courses and careers in computer science (Study 1) or engineering (Study 2). Across both studies, we found that women offered more stereotype-consistent ratings than did men of the intellectual characteristics of prototypes in CS (Study 1) and engineering (Study 2). Women also perceived themselves as less similar to the prototype than men did. Further, the observed gender differences in prototype perceptions mediated the tendency for women to report lower interest in CS&E fields relative to men. Our work highlights the importance of prototype perceptions for understanding the gender gap in CS&E and suggests avenues for interventions that may increase women's representation in these vital fields.

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.

Training in Methods in Computational Neuroscience

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-11-14

inferior colliculus served as inputs to a sheet of 100 cells within the medial geniculate body where combination sensitivity is first observed. Inputs from...course is for advanced graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in neurobiology , physics, electrical engineering, computer science and psychology...Research Code 1142BI 800 N. Quincy St Arlington, VA 22217-5000 Paul Adams Department of Neurobiology SUNY, Stony Brook Graduate Biology Building 576

A practice course to cultivate students' comprehensive ability of photoelectricity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Yong; Liu, Yang; Niu, Chunhui; Liu, Lishuang

2017-08-01

After the studying of many theoretical courses, it's important and urgent for the students from specialty of optoelectronic information science and engineering to cultivate their comprehensive ability of photoelectricity. We set up a comprehensive practice course named "Integrated Design of Optoelectronic Information System" (IDOIS) for the purpose that students can integrate their knowledge of optics, electronics and computer programming to design, install and debug an optoelectronic system with independent functions. Eight years of practice shows that this practice course can train students' ability of analysis, design/development and debugging of photoelectric system, improve their ability in document retrieval, design proposal and summary report writing, teamwork, innovation consciousness and skill.

Ninth Thermal and Fluids Analysis Workshop Proceedings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sakowski, Barbara (Compiler)

1999-01-01

The Ninth Thermal and Fluids Analysis Workshop (TFAWS 98) was held at the Ohio Aerospace Institute in Cleveland, Ohio from August 31 to September 4, 1998. The theme for the hands-on training workshop and conference was "Integrating Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer into the Design Process." Highlights of the workshop (in addition to the papers published herein) included an address by the NASA Chief Engineer, Dr. Daniel Mulville; a CFD short course by Dr. John D. Anderson of the University of Maryland; and a short course by Dr. Robert Cochran of Sandia National Laboratories. In addition, lectures and hands-on training were offered in the use of several cutting-edge engineering design and analysis-oriented CFD and Heat Transfer tools. The workshop resulted in international participation of over 125 persons representing aerospace and automotive industries, academia, software providers, government agencies, and private corporations. The papers published herein address issues and solutions related to the integration of computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer into the engineering design process. Although the primary focus is aerospace, the topics and ideas presented are applicable to many other areas where these and other disciplines are interdependent.

A Computer Engineering Curriculum for the Air Force Academy: An Implementation Plan

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-04-01

engineerinq is needed as a r ul of the findings? 5. What is the impact of this study’s rocommendat ion to pursue the Electrico I Engineering deqree with onpt...stepper motor 9 S35 LAB 36 Serial 10 S37 GR #3 - 38 8251 10 chip ) 39 LAB serial 10 10 * 40 LAB " 1)41 LAB S 42 Course review - S FINAL EXAM 00 % 80 0

Success in introductory college physics: The role of gender, high school preparation, and student learning perceptions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jean Chi-Jen

Physics is fundamental for science, engineering, medicine, and for understanding many phenomena encountered in people's daily lives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between student success in college-level introductory physics courses and various educational and background characteristics. The primary variables of this study were gender, high school mathematics and science preparation, preference and perceptions of learning physics, and performance in introductory physics courses. Demographic characteristics considered were age, student grade level, parents' occupation and level of education, high school senior grade point average, and educational goals. A Survey of Learning Preference and Perceptions was developed to collect the information for this study. A total of 267 subjects enrolled in six introductory physics courses, four algebra-based and two calculus-based, participated in the study conducted during Spring Semester 2002. The findings from the algebra-based physics courses indicated that participant's educational goal, high school senior GPA, father's educational level, mother's educational level, and mother's occupation in the area of science, engineering, or computer technology were positively related to performance while participant age was negatively related. Biology preparation, mathematics preparation, and additional mathematics and science preparation in high school were also positively related to performance. The relationships between the primary variables and performance in calculus-based physics courses were limited to high school senior year GPA and high school physics preparation. Findings from all six courses indicated that participant's educational goal, high school senior GPA, father's educational level, and mother's occupation in the area of science, engineering, or computer technology, high school preparation in mathematics, biology, and the completion of additional mathematics and science courses were positively related to performance. No significant performance differences were found between male and female students. However, there were significant gender differences in physics learning perceptions. Female participants tended to try to understand physics materials and relate the physics problems to real world situations while their male counterparts tended to rely on rote learning and equation application. This study found that participants performed better by trying to understand the physics material and relate physics problems to real world situations. Participants who relied on rote learning did not perform well.

OJPOT: online judge & practice oriented teaching idea in programming courses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Gui Ping; Chen, Shu Yu; Yang, Xin; Feng, Rui

2016-05-01

Practical abilities are important for students from majors including Computer Science and Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Along with the popularity of ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ACM/ICPC) and other programming contests, online judge (OJ) websites achieve rapid development, thus providing a new kind of programming practice, i.e. online practice. Due to fair and timely feedback results from OJ websites, online practice outperforms traditional programming practice. In order to promote students' practical abilities in programming and algorithm designing, this article presents a novel teaching idea, online judge & practice oriented teaching (OJPOT). OJPOT is applied to Programming Foundation course. OJPOT cultivates students' practical abilities through various kinds of programming practice, such as programming contests, online practice and course project. To verify the effectiveness of this novel teaching idea, this study conducts empirical research. The experimental results show that OJPOT works effectively in enhancing students' practical abilities compared with the traditional teaching idea.

Ways of thinking about and teaching ethical problem solving: microethics and macroethics in engineering.

PubMed

Herkert, Joseph R

2005-07-01

Engineering ethics entails three frames of reference: individual, professional, and social. "Microethics" considers individuals and internal relations of the engineering profession; "macroethics" applies to the collective social responsibility of the profession and to societal decisions about technology. Most research and teaching in engineering ethics, including online resources, has had a "micro" focus. Mechanisms for incorporating macroethical perspectives include: integrating engineering ethics and science, technology and society (STS); closer integration of engineering ethics and computer ethics; and consideration of the influence of professional engineering societies and corporate social responsibility programs on ethical engineering practice. Integrating macroethical issues and concerns in engineering ethics involves broadening the context of ethical problem solving. This in turn implies: developing courses emphasizing both micro and macro perspectives, providing faculty development that includes training in both STS and practical ethics; and revision of curriculum materials, including online resources. Multidisciplinary collaboration is recommended 1) to create online case studies emphasizing ethical decision making in individual, professional, and societal contexts; 2) to leverage existing online computer ethics resources with relevance to engineering education and practice; and 3) to create transparent linkages between public policy positions advocated by professional societies and codes of ethics.

The Simulation Computer Based Learning (SCBL) for Short Circuit Multi Machine Power System Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahmaniar; Putri, Maharani

2018-03-01

Strengthening Competitiveness of human resources become the reply of college as a conductor of high fomal education. Electrical Engineering Program UNPAB (Prodi TE UNPAB) as one of the department of electrical engineering that manages the field of electrical engineering expertise has a very important part in preparing human resources (HR), Which is required by where graduates are produced by DE UNPAB, Is expected to be able to compete globally, especially related to the implementation of Asean Economic Community (AEC) which requires the active participation of graduates with competence and quality of human resource competitiveness. Preparation of HR formation Competitive is done with the various strategies contained in the Seven (7) Higher Education Standard, one part of which is the implementation of teaching and learning process in Electrical system analysis with short circuit analysis (SCA) This course is a course The core of which is the basis for the competencies of other subjects in the advanced semester at Development of Computer Based Learning model (CBL) is done in the learning of interference analysis of multi-machine short circuit which includes: (a) Short-circuit One phase, (B) Two-phase Short Circuit Disruption, (c) Ground Short Circuit Disruption, (d) Short Circuit Disruption One Ground Floor Development of CBL learning model for Electrical System Analysis course provides space for students to be more active In learning in solving complex (complicated) problems, so it is thrilling Ilkan flexibility of student learning how to actively solve the problem of short-circuit analysis and to form the active participation of students in learning (Student Center Learning, in the course of electrical power system analysis.

Learning effectiveness: A comparative study to measure effectiveness of webcasting in success of students in an introductory computer science class

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghyam, Massoud

This study investigates if providing delayed webcast of college lectures would improve the retention of students enrolled in an introductory computer science class over a span of six semesters. The population for this study was undergraduate engineering students enrolled in the same course at a major research university in a western state in six different semesters. The same instructor taught all sections of the course, the same textbook and software were used, and the number of lab/teaching assistants were also exactly the same. Assignments and exams were changed but were kept at the same level of difficulty. Some students were enrolled in the courses where webcasting was not utilized as a tool, while others took the same course where delayed webcasting was used. The research question that guided the study was: Will use of the delayed webcast and the availability of the course lectures on line improve students' grades and therefore the success ratio in the Introduction to Computer Science and Programming course? For the purposes of this study successful completion is defined as the number of students who did not drop the course, and who passed the course with a grade of C- or better. Grade improvement of students who completed the course was also examined. Result of the study showed providing delayed webcast of the lectures did not improve retention, but neither did it harm the student's learning. Future study is recommended to include coding for gender and student's field of study.

The Role of Flow Field Computation in Improving Turbomachinery.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-06-01

sad total pressure within Solls-Royce t9 design turbine blade %hopes. loan. The comressors need in engines designed in Moruigesn and ReJily. 7 0 ) wrote... engine improve efficiency. In one case, blading designed specific fuel conaumption improved by some I Z. by NOTS for a mall Industrial turbine anufact...the corners Nost small aeronautical gas turbines have there- between wall and blade , and in due course also for fore chosen to use several axial stages

Catalog of Resources for Education in Ada (Trade Name) and Software Engineering (CREASE). Version 4.0.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-01

offering the course is a company. Name and Address of offeror: Tachyon Corporation 2725 Congress Street Suite 2H San Diego, CA 92110 Offeror’s...Background: Tachyon Corporation specializes in Ada software quality assurance, computer hosted instruction and information retrieval systems, authoring tools...easy to use (on-line help) and can look up or search for terms. Tachyon Corporation 20 CDURSE OFFERINGS 2.2. Lecture/Seminar Courses 2.2.1. Company

The development of a digital logic concept inventory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herman, Geoffrey Lindsay

Instructors in electrical and computer engineering and in computer science have developed innovative methods to teach digital logic circuits. These methods attempt to increase student learning, satisfaction, and retention. Although there are readily accessible and accepted means for measuring satisfaction and retention, there are no widely accepted means for assessing student learning. Rigorous assessment of learning is elusive because differences in topic coverage, curriculum and course goals, and exam content prevent direct comparison of two teaching methods when using tools such as final exam scores or course grades. Because of these difficulties, computing educators have issued a general call for the adoption of assessment tools to critically evaluate and compare the various teaching methods. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education researchers commonly measure students' conceptual learning to compare how much different pedagogies improve learning. Conceptual knowledge is often preferred because all engineering courses should teach a fundamental set of concepts even if they emphasize design or analysis to different degrees. Increasing conceptual learning is also important, because students who can organize facts and ideas within a consistent conceptual framework are able to learn new information quickly and can apply what they know in new situations. If instructors can accurately assess their students' conceptual knowledge, they can target instructional interventions to remedy common problems. To properly assess conceptual learning, several researchers have developed concept inventories (CIs) for core subjects in engineering sciences. CIs are multiple-choice assessment tools that evaluate how well a student's conceptual framework matches the accepted conceptual framework of a discipline or common faulty conceptual frameworks. We present how we created and evaluated the digital logic concept inventory (DLCI).We used a Delphi process to identify the important and difficult concepts to include on the DLCI. To discover and describe common student misconceptions, we interviewed students who had completed a digital logic course. Students vocalized their thoughts as they solved digital logic problems. We analyzed the interview data using a qualitative grounded theory approach. We have administered the DLCI at several institutions and have checked the validity, reliability, and bias of the DLCI with classical testing theory procedures. These procedures consisted of follow-up interviews with students, analysis of administration results with statistical procedures, and expert feedback. We discuss these results and present the DLCI's potential for providing a meaningful tool for comparing student learning at different institutions.

Computer Simulations Hone Leadership Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olson, Lynn

2007-01-01

An $11 million executive-training course for principals, modeled after best practices used in the corporate, medical, engineering, and military worlds, is starting to gain traction among states. Developed by the National Institute for School Leadership, or NISL, a for-profit company based in Washington, the program is now used widely in…

Improving Student Achievement in Introductory Computer Science Courses Using Peer-Led Team Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dennis, Sonya Maria

2013-01-01

There has been a steady decline of majors in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ("STEM majors"). In an effort to improve recruitment and retention in "STEM" majors, an active-learning methodology--"peer-led team learning" ("PLTL")--was implemented by the participating…

Using Visualization and Computation in the Analysis of Separation Processes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joo, Yong Lak; Choudhary, Devashish

2006-01-01

For decades, every chemical engineer has been asked to have a background in separations. The required separations course can, however, be uninspiring and superficial because understanding many separation processes involves conventional graphical methods and commercial process simulators. We utilize simple, user-­friendly mathematical software,…

The Implementation of Web Conferencing Technologies in Online Graduate Classes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zotti, Robert

2017-01-01

This dissertation examines the implementation of web conferencing technology in online graduate courses within management, engineering, and computer science programs. Though the spread of learning management systems over the past two decades has been dramatic, the use of web conferencing technologies has curiously lagged. The real-time…

Program Fighter: An Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hull, David G.; Fowler, Wallace T.

A computer program for the sizing of subsonic and supersonic fighter planes was adapted for use in an aerospace engineering course at the University of Texas at Austin. FIGHTER uses classroom notation and separate subroutines for different disciplines to implement the conceptual design process. Input consists of a set of design variables and a set…

Educators' Perspectives on Female Students' Enrollment in Computer Science and Engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bibeau, Wendy

The purpose of this case study was to inquire into educators' perspectives on female students' enrollment in computer science and engineering (CSE) courses. At a high school in New England, girls are significantly underrepresented in CSE courses, a problem that is reflected in schools throughout the United States. As a result, these careers are lacking in input from women, even as the number of CSE professions is increasing. Research questions in this study addressed what teachers, administrators, and guidance counselors think about this growing problem and what changes, if any, they are willing to make to help close this gender gap. Individual interviews and a focus group were used to gather data from 7 participants. The theoretical framework was based on brain research and social theories. Data were then analyzed and coded for themes based on the framework. The results indicated that educators are cognizant of the underrepresentation within their school and have tried individually, but unsuccessfully, to make changes to increase the numbers of girls in CSE courses. In response to these findings, a professional development project was developed that outlines ways for educators to communicate and collaborate to increase girls' representation in CSE courses. Girls, schools, and industry can benefit from the results of this study. If educators can encourage more girls to take CSE courses and provide support for them to be confident and successful, then more girls will go on to major in CSE, which will then lead to an increase in the number of women working in these fields.

Introduction to computers: Reference guide

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

Ligon, F.V.

1995-04-01

The ``Introduction to Computers`` program establishes formal partnerships with local school districts and community-based organizations, introduces computer literacy to precollege students and their parents, and encourages students to pursue Scientific, Mathematical, Engineering, and Technical careers (SET). Hands-on assignments are given in each class, reinforcing the lesson taught. In addition, the program is designed to broaden the knowledge base of teachers in scientific/technical concepts, and Brookhaven National Laboratory continues to act as a liaison, offering educational outreach to diverse community organizations and groups. This manual contains the teacher`s lesson plans and the student documentation to this introduction to computer course.

P3: a practice focused learning environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irving, Paul W.; Obsniuk, Michael J.; Caballero, Marcos D.

2017-09-01

There has been an increased focus on the integration of practices into physics curricula, with a particular emphasis on integrating computation into the undergraduate curriculum of scientists and engineers. In this paper, we present a university-level, introductory physics course for science and engineering majors at Michigan State University called P3 (projects and practices in physics) that is centred around providing introductory physics students with the opportunity to appropriate various science and engineering practices. The P3 design integrates computation with analytical problem solving and is built upon a curriculum foundation of problem-based learning, the principles of constructive alignment and the theoretical framework of community of practice. The design includes an innovative approach to computational physics instruction, instructional scaffolds, and a unique approach to assessment that enables instructors to guide students in the development of the practices of a physicist. We present the very positive student related outcomes of the design gathered via attitudinal and conceptual inventories and research interviews of students’ reflecting on their experiences in the P3 classroom.

Teaching smartphone and microcontroller systems using "Android Java"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tigrek, Seyitriza

Mobile devices are becoming indispensable tools for many students and educators. Mobile technology is starting a new era in the computing methodologies in many engineering disciplines and laboratories. Microcontroller extension that communicates with mobile devices will take the data acquisition and control process into a new level in the sensing technology and communication. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a framework to incorporate the new mobile platform with robust embedded systems into the engineering curriculum. For this purpose a course material is developed "Introduction to Programming Java on a Mobile Platform" to teach novice programmers how to create applications, specifically on Android. Combining an introductory level programming class with the Android platform can appeal to non-programming individuals in multiple disciplines. The proposed course curriculum reduces the learning time, and allows senior engineering students to use the new framework for their specific needs in the labs such as mobile data acquisition and control projects. This work provides techniques for instructors with modest programming background to teach cutting edge technology, which is smartphone programming. Techniques developed in this work minimize unnecessary information carried into current teaching approaches with hands-on practice. It also helps the students with minimal background requirements overcome the barriers that have evolved around computer programming. The motivation of this thesis is to create a tailored programming introductory course to teach Java programming on Android by incorporating selected efficient methods from extant literature. The mechanism proposed in this thesis is to keep students motivated by an active approach based on student-centered learning with collaborative work. Teamwork through pair programming is adapted in this teaching process. Bloom's taxonomy, along with a knowledge survey, is used as a guide to classify the information and exercise problems. A prototype curriculum is a deliverable of this research that is suitable for novice programmers-such as engineering freshmen students. It also contains advanced material that allows senior students to use mobile phone and a microcontroller system to enhance engineering laboratories.

Putting the “Spark” into Physical Science and Algebra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dagenais, Andre; Pill, B.

2006-12-01

The presenters will describe a number of laboratory activities developed in collaboration with the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Delaware as part of their outreach program to help make math and science more authentic on the pre-college level. Lessons relating to electrical topics are often abstract and appropriate only for advanced students in math and science. We have devised lessons that rely on simple equipment. They promote skills that are included in National and State Standards. They emphasize the connections between math and science; they are appropriate for an algebra course, a physical science course, a PhysicsFirst course or a traditional physics course. Students benefit from seeing that what they learn in math and science courses can lead to cutting-edge work in areas such as passive wave imaging, photonics, wireless communication and high performance computing. The collaboration has been meaningful because it has motivated us to tailor our lessons to reflect what is happening in the research lab of our local university. Written materials for use in teacher training workshops will also be available. Funded by NSF Research Experience for Teachers(RET #0322633) program under the direction of Dr. Dennis Prather, University of Delaware Electrical Engineering

Impact of Multimedia and Network Services on an Introductory Level Course

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russ, John C.

1996-01-01

We will demonstrate and describe the impact of our use of multimedia and network connectivity on a sophomore-level introductory course in materials science. This class services all engineering students, resulting in large (more than 150) class sections with no hands-on laboratory. In 1990 we began to develop computer graphics that might substitute for some laboratory or real-world experiences, and demonstrate relationships hard to show with static textbook images or chalkboard drawings. We created a comprehensive series of modules that cover the entire course content. Called VIMS (Visualizations in Materials Science), these are available in the form of a CD-ROM and also via the internet.

Geoscience Through the Lens of Art: a collaborative course of science and art for undergraduates of various disciplines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellins, K. K.; Eriksson, S. C.; Samsel, F.; Lavier, L.

2017-12-01

A new undergraduate, upper level geoscience course was developed and taught by faculty and staff of the UT Austin Jackson School of Geosciences, the Center for Agile Technology, and the Texas Advanced Computational Center. The course examined the role of the visual arts in placing the scientific process and knowledge in a broader context and introduced students to innovations in the visual arts that promote scientific investigation through collaboration between geoscientists and artists. The course addressed (1) the role of the visual arts in teaching geoscience concepts and promoting geoscience learning; (2) the application of innovative visualization and artistic techniques to large volumes of geoscience data to enhance scientific understanding and to move scientific investigation forward; and (3) the illustrative power of art to communicate geoscience to the public. In-class activities and discussions, computer lab instruction on the application of Paraview software, reading assignments, lectures, and group projects with presentations comprised the two-credit, semester-long "special topics" course, which was taken by geoscience, computer science, and engineering students. Assessment of student learning was carried out by the instructors and course evaluation was done by an external evaluator using rubrics, likert-scale surveys and focus goups. The course achieved its goals of students' learning the concepts and techniques of the visual arts. The final projects demonstrated this, along with the communication of geologic concepts using what they had learned in the course. The basic skill of sketching for learning and using best practices in visual communication were used extensively and, in most cases, very effectively. The use of an advanced visualization tool, Paraview, was received with mixed reviews because of the lack of time to really learn the tool and the fact that it is not a tool used routinely in geoscience. Those senior students with advanced computer skills saw the importance of this tool. Students worked in teams, more or less effectively, and made suggestions for improving future offerings of the course.

Design-Oriented Introduction of Nanotechnology into the Electrical and Computer Engineering Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Donghwi; Kamoua, Ridha; Pacelli, Andrea

2006-01-01

Nanoelectronics has the potential, and is indeed expected, to revolutionize information technology by the use of the impressive characteristics of nano-devices such as carbon nanotube transistors, molecular diodes and transistors, etc. A great effort is being put into creating an introductory course in nano-technology. However, practically all…

Index to College Television Courseware. A Comprehensive Directory of Credit Courses and Concept Modules Distributed on Video Tape and Film.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prange, W. Werner; Bellinghausen, Carol R.

A directory of college television courseware lists offerings in curriculum areas such as: social sciences, biology, black studies, business, mathematics, sciences, computer science, consumer protection, creative arts, drug education, ecology, engineering, humanities, physics, nursing, nutrition, religion, and vocational education, etc. Each course…

Uncovering Student Values for Hiring in the Software Industry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chinn, Donald; Vandegrift, Tammy

2008-01-01

This article provides an analysis of student responses to an exercise used in a computer ethics and a software engineering course to raise awareness of issues related to hiring, including issues of professional responsibility and diversity. Students from two different universities were asked to evaluate four candidates for two positions in a…

Students' Understanding of Loops and Nested Loops in Computer Programming: An APOS Theory Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cetin, Ibrahim

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study is to explore students' understanding of loops and nested loops concepts. Sixty-three mechanical engineering students attending an introductory programming course participated in the study. APOS (Action, Process, Object, Schema) is a constructivist theory developed originally for mathematics education. This study is the…

The Development of a Web-Based Virtual Environment for Teaching Qualitative Analysis of Structures

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Dwyer, D. W.; Logan-Phelan, T. M.; O'Neill, E. A.

2007-01-01

The current paper describes the design and development of a qualitative analysis course and an interactive web-based teaching and assessment tool called VSE (virtual structural environment). The widespread reliance on structural analysis programs requires engineers to be able to verify computer output by carrying out qualitative analyses.…

Female and Male Adolescents' Subjective Orientations to Mathematics and the Influence of Those Orientations on Postsecondary Majors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perez-Felkner, Lara; McDonald, Sarah-Kathryn; Schneider, Barbara; Grogan, Erin

2012-01-01

Although important strides toward gender parity have been made in several scientific fields, women remain underrepresented in the physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences (PEMCs). This study examines the effects of adolescents' subjective orientations, course taking, and academic performance on the likelihood of majoring…

Introducing the Boundary Element Method with MATLAB

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ang, Keng-Cheng

2008-01-01

The boundary element method provides an excellent platform for learning and teaching a computational method for solving problems in physical and engineering science. However, it is often left out in many undergraduate courses as its implementation is deemed to be difficult. This is partly due to the perception that coding the method requires…

The effect of an enriched learning community on success and retention in chemistry courses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Willoughby, Lois Jane

Since the mid-1990s, the United States has experienced a shortage of scientists and engineers, declining numbers of students choosing these fields as majors, and low student success and retention rates in these disciplines. Learning theorists, educational researchers, and practitioners believe that learning environments can be created so that an improvement in the numbers of students who complete courses successfully could be attained (Astin, 1993; Magolda & Terenzini, n.d.; O'Banion, 1997). Learning communities do this by providing high expectations, academic and social support, feedback during the entire educational process, and involvement with faculty, other students, and the institution (Ketcheson & Levine, 1999). A program evaluation of an existing learning community of science, mathematics, and engineering majors was conducted to determine the extent to which the program met its goals and was effective from faculty and student perspectives. The program provided laptop computers, peer tutors, supplemental instruction with and without computer software, small class size, opportunities for contact with specialists in selected career fields, a resource library, and Peer-Led Team Learning. During the two years the project has existed, success, retention, and next-course continuation rates were higher than in traditional courses. Faculty and student interviews indicated there were many affective accomplishments as well. Success and retention rates for one learning community class ( n = 27) and one traditional class (n = 61) in chemistry were collected and compared using Pearson chi square procedures ( p = .05). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups. Data from an open-ended student survey about how specific elements of their course experiences contributed to success and persistence were analyzed by coding the responses and comparing the learning community and traditional classes. Substantial differences were found in their perceptions about the lecture, the lab, other supports used for the course, contact with other students, helping them reach their potential, and their recommendation about the course to others. Because of the limitation of small sample size, these differences are reported in descriptive terms.

14 CFR 63.43 - Flight engineer courses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Flight engineer courses. 63.43 Section 63...) AIRMEN CERTIFICATION: FLIGHT CREWMEMBERS OTHER THAN PILOTS Flight Engineers § 63.43 Flight engineer courses. An applicant for approval of a flight engineer course must submit a letter to the Administrator...

14 CFR 63.43 - Flight engineer courses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Flight engineer courses. 63.43 Section 63...) AIRMEN CERTIFICATION: FLIGHT CREWMEMBERS OTHER THAN PILOTS Flight Engineers § 63.43 Flight engineer courses. An applicant for approval of a flight engineer course must submit a letter to the Administrator...

14 CFR 63.43 - Flight engineer courses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Flight engineer courses. 63.43 Section 63...) AIRMEN CERTIFICATION: FLIGHT CREWMEMBERS OTHER THAN PILOTS Flight Engineers § 63.43 Flight engineer courses. An applicant for approval of a flight engineer course must submit a letter to the Administrator...

14 CFR 63.43 - Flight engineer courses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Flight engineer courses. 63.43 Section 63...) AIRMEN CERTIFICATION: FLIGHT CREWMEMBERS OTHER THAN PILOTS Flight Engineers § 63.43 Flight engineer courses. An applicant for approval of a flight engineer course must submit a letter to the Administrator...

14 CFR 63.43 - Flight engineer courses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Flight engineer courses. 63.43 Section 63...) AIRMEN CERTIFICATION: FLIGHT CREWMEMBERS OTHER THAN PILOTS Flight Engineers § 63.43 Flight engineer courses. An applicant for approval of a flight engineer course must submit a letter to the Administrator...

A case study of non-traditional students re-entry into college physics and engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langton, Stewart Gordon

Two groups of students in introductory physics courses of an Access Program for engineering technologies were the subjects of this study. Students with a wide range of academic histories and abilities were enrolled in the program; many of the students were re-entry and academically unprepared for post-secondary education. Five years of historical data were evaluated to use as a benchmark for revised instruction. Data were gathered to describe the pre-course academic state of the students and their academic progress during two physics courses. Additional information was used to search for factors that might constrain academic success and as feedback for the instructional methods. The data were interpreted to regulate constructivist design features for the physics courses. The Engineering Technology Access Program was introduced to meet the demand from non-traditional students for admission to two-year engineering' technology programs, but who did not meet normal academic requirements. The duration of the Access Program was two terms for electronic and computer engineering students and three terms for civil and mechanical engineering students. The sequence of mathematics and physics courses was different for the two groups. The Civil/Mechanical students enrolled in their first mathematics course before undertaking their first physics course. The first mathematics and physics courses for the Electronics students were concurrent. Academic success in the two groups was affected by this difference. Over a five-year period the success rate of students graduating with a technology diploma was approximately twenty-five percent. Results from this study indicate that it was possible to reduce the very high attrition in the combined Access/Technology Programs. While the success rate for the Electronics students increased to 38% the rate for the Civil/Mechanical students increased dramatically to 77%. It is likely that several factors, related to the extra term in the Access Program for the Civil/Mechanical students, contributed to this high retention rate. Additional time, with less academic pressure in the first term of the Access Program, provided the Civil/Mechanical students with the opportunity to develop academic skills and maturity resulting in improved self-concept and academic identity. These students may have been better equipped to take advantage of the alternate instructional setting of the revised physics courses. Results from a wide range of studies in Physics Education Research provide ideas and opportunities to improve instruction and students conceptual understanding in introductory physics courses. Most studies focus on traditional students and curriculum. The development and implementation of alternate curriculum and instruction may improve outcomes for different groups of students, particularly for students in disciplines indirectly related to the sciences.

14 CFR Appendix C to Part 63 - Flight Engineer Training Course Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Flight Engineer Training Course... to Part 63—Flight Engineer Training Course Requirements (a) Training course outline—(1) Format. The... programmed coverage for the initial approval of a ground training course for flight engineers. Subsequent to...

14 CFR Appendix C to Part 63 - Flight Engineer Training Course Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

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14 CFR Appendix C to Part 63 - Flight Engineer Training Course Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Flight Engineer Training Course... to Part 63—Flight Engineer Training Course Requirements (a) Training course outline—(1) Format. The... programmed coverage for the initial approval of a ground training course for flight engineers. Subsequent to...

14 CFR Appendix C to Part 63 - Flight Engineer Training Course Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Flight Engineer Training Course... to Part 63—Flight Engineer Training Course Requirements (a) Training course outline—(1) Format. The... programmed coverage for the initial approval of a ground training course for flight engineers. Subsequent to...

Strategies for Teaching Professional Ethics to IT Engineering Degree Students and Evaluating the Result.

PubMed

Miñano, Rafael; Uruburu, Ángel; Moreno-Romero, Ana; Pérez-López, Diego

2017-02-01

This paper presents an experience in developing professional ethics by an approach that integrates knowledge, teaching methodologies and assessment coherently. It has been implemented for students in both the Software Engineering and Computer Engineering degree programs of the Technical University of Madrid, in which professional ethics is studied as a part of a required course. Our contribution of this paper is a model for formative assessment that clarifies the learning goals, enhances the results, simplifies the scoring and can be replicated in other contexts. A quasi-experimental study that involves many of the students of the required course has been developed. To test the effectiveness of the teaching process, the analysis of ethical dilemmas and the use of deontological codes have been integrated, and a scoring rubric has been designed. Currently, this model is also being used to develop skills related to social responsibility and sustainability for undergraduate and postgraduate students of diverse academic context.

Using Approximations to Accelerate Engineering Design Optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Torczon, Virginia; Trosset, Michael W.

1998-01-01

Optimization problems that arise in engineering design are often characterized by several features that hinder the use of standard nonlinear optimization techniques. Foremost among these features is that the functions used to define the engineering optimization problem often are computationally intensive. Within a standard nonlinear optimization algorithm, the computational expense of evaluating the functions that define the problem would necessarily be incurred for each iteration of the optimization algorithm. Faced with such prohibitive computational costs, an attractive alternative is to make use of surrogates within an optimization context since surrogates can be chosen or constructed so that they are typically much less expensive to compute. For the purposes of this paper, we will focus on the use of algebraic approximations as surrogates for the objective. In this paper we introduce the use of so-called merit functions that explicitly recognize the desirability of improving the current approximation to the objective during the course of the optimization. We define and experiment with the use of merit functions chosen to simultaneously improve both the solution to the optimization problem (the objective) and the quality of the approximation. Our goal is to further improve the effectiveness of our general approach without sacrificing any of its rigor.

Teaching Logistics without Formal Classes: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carravilla, Maria Antonia; Oliveira, Jose Fernando

2004-01-01

This paper describes a case study concerning the teaching of logistics in the Computers and Electrical Engineering degree at FEUP. The logistics course is taken in the last semester of the degree and there are no lectures given by the teachers. All the learning strategy is based upon the autonomous learning capacity of the students, following the…

On the Use of Interactive Texts in Undergraduate Chemical Reaction Engineering Courses: A Pedagogical Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Asensio, Daniela A.; Barassi, Francisca J.; Zambon, Mariana T.; Mazza, Germán D.

2010-01-01

This paper describes the results of a pedagogical experience carried out at the University of Comahue, Argentina, with an interactive text (IT) concerning Homogeneous Chemical Reactors Analysis. The IT was built on the frame of the "Mathematica" software with the aim of providing students with a robust computational tool. Students'…

The CGE-PLATO Electronic Laboratory Instructional Programs. (August 1, 1972 Through June 30, 1975).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neal, J. P.

Twelve PLATO lessons are reproduced in this document to show the status of computer guided experimentation (CGE) instructional programs. The lesson topics include a description of the CGE-PLATO instructional laboratory, an introduction to CGE-PLATO tests and special software routines, router lesson for two electrical engineering courses, and an…

Evaluating the Impact of Library Instruction Methods on the Quality of Student Research.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ackerson, Linda G.; Young, Virgina E.

1994-01-01

A three-year study at the University of Alabama compared a traditional lecture method for teaching library research skills with a course-integrated, computer-enhanced approach by assessing each method's impact on the quality of bibliographies from engineering students' term papers. In four of the five semesters, no significant differences were…

A Stimulating Approach To Teaching, Learning and Assessing Finite Element Methods: A Case Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karadelis, J. N.

1998-01-01

Examines the benefits of introducing finite element methods into the curriculum of undergraduate courses. Analyzes the structure of the computer-assisted-design module and the extent to which it fulfills its main objectives. Discusses the efficiency of modern teaching and learning techniques used to develop skills for solving engineering problems;…

Enhancing Project-Based Learning in Software Engineering Lab Teaching through an E-Portfolio Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Macias, J. A.

2012-01-01

Project-based learning is one of the main successful student-centered pedagogies broadly used in computing science courses. However, this approach can be insufficient when dealing with practical subjects that implicitly require many deliverables and a great deal of feedback and organizational resources. In this paper, a worked e-portfolio is…

A New "Moodle" Module Supporting Automatic Verification of VHDL-Based Assignments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gutierrez, Eladio; Trenas, Maria A.; Ramos, Julian; Corbera, Francisco; Romero, Sergio

2010-01-01

This work describes a new "Moodle" module developed to give support to the practical content of a basic computer organization course. This module goes beyond the mere hosting of resources and assignments. It makes use of an automatic checking and verification engine that works on the VHDL designs submitted by the students. The module automatically…

The WHATs and HOWs of maturing computational and software engineering skills in Russian higher education institutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Semushin, I. V.; Tsyganova, J. V.; Ugarov, V. V.; Afanasova, A. I.

2018-05-01

Russian higher education institutions' tradition of teaching large-enrolled classes is impairing student striving for individual prominence, one-upmanship, and hopes for originality. Intending to converting these drawbacks into benefits, a Project-Centred Education Model (PCEM) has been introduced to deliver Computational Mathematics and Information Science courses. The model combines a Frontal Competitive Approach and a Project-Driven Learning (PDL) framework. The PDL framework has been developed by stating and solving three design problems: (i) enhance the diversity of project assignments on specific computation methods algorithmic approaches, (ii) balance similarity and dissimilarity of the project assignments, and (iii) develop a software assessment tool suitable for evaluating the technological maturity of students' project deliverables and thus reducing instructor's workload and possible overlook. The positive experience accumulated over 15 years shows that implementing the PCEM keeps students motivated to strive for success in rising to higher levels of their computational and software engineering skills.

[Master course in biomedical engineering].

PubMed

Jobbágy, Akos; Benyó, Zoltán; Monos, Emil

2009-11-22

The Bologna Declaration aims at harmonizing the European higher education structure. In accordance with the Declaration, biomedical engineering will be offered as a master (MSc) course also in Hungary, from year 2009. Since 1995 biomedical engineering course has been held in cooperation of three universities: Semmelweis University, Budapest Veterinary University, and Budapest University of Technology and Economics. One of the latter's faculties, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, has been responsible for the course. Students could start their biomedical engineering studies - usually in parallel with their first degree course - after they collected at least 180 ECTS credits. Consequently, the biomedical engineering course could have been considered as a master course even before the Bologna Declaration. Students had to collect 130 ECTS credits during the six-semester course. This is equivalent to four-semester full-time studies, because during the first three semesters the curriculum required to gain only one third of the usual ECTS credits. The paper gives a survey on the new biomedical engineering master course, briefly summing up also the subjects in the curriculum.

Development of teaching modules for geology and engineering coursework using terrestrial LiDAR scanning systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yarbrough, L. D.; Katzenstein, K.

2012-12-01

Exposing students to active and local examples of physical geologic processes is beneficial to the learning process. Students typically respond with interest to examples that use state-of-the-art technologies to investigate local or regional phenomena. For lower cognitive level of learning (e.g. knowledge, comprehension, and application), the use of "close-to-home" examples ensures that students better understand concepts. By providing these examples, the students may already have a familiarity or can easily visit the location. Furthermore, these local and regional examples help students to offer quickly other examples of similar phenomena. Investigation of these examples using normal photographic techniques, as well as a more sophisticated 3-D Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) (AKA Terrestrial Laser Scanning or TLS) system, allows students to gain a better understanding of the scale and the mechanics of the geologic processes and hazards. The systems are used for research, teaching and outreach efforts and depending on departmental policies can be accessible to students are various learning levels. TLS systems can yield scans at sub-centimeter resolution and contain surface reflectance of targets. These systems can serve a number of learning goals that are essential for training geoscientists and engineers. While querying the data to answer geotechnical or geomorphologic related questions, students will develop skills using large, spatial databases. The upper cognitive level of learning (e.g. analysis, synthesis, and evaluation) is also promoted by using a subset of the data and correlating the physical geologic process of stream bank erosion and rock slope failures with mathematical and computer models using the scanned data. Students use the examples and laboratory exercises to help build their engineering judgment skills with Earth materials. The students learn not only applications of math and engineering science but also the economic and social implication of designed engineering solutions. These course learning modules were developed for traditional geological engineering courses delivered on campus, for more intensive field work courses and online-based asynchronous course delivery.

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.

An Innovative, Multidisciplinary Educational Program in Interactive Information Storage and Retrieval. M.S. Thesis Final Report, 1 Jul. 1985 - 31 Dec. 1987

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dominick, Wayne D. (Editor); Gallagher, Mary C.

1985-01-01

There exists a large number of large-scale bibliographic Information Storage and Retrieval Systems containing large amounts of valuable data of interest in a wide variety of research applications. These systems are not used to capacity because the end users, i.e., the researchers, have not been trained in the techniques of accessing such systems. This thesis describes the development of a transportable, university-level course in methods of querying on-line interactive Information Storage and Retrieval systems as a solution to this problem. This course was designed to instruct upper division science and engineering students to enable these end users to directly access such systems. The course is designed to be taught by instructors who are not specialists in either computer science or research skills. It is independent of any particular IS and R system or computer hardware. The project is sponsored by NASA and conducted by the University of Southwestern Louisiana and Southern University.

Predicting Performance in a First Engineering Calculus Course: Implications for Interventions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hieb, Jeffrey L.; Lyle, Keith B.; Ralston, Patricia A. S.; Chariker, Julia

2015-01-01

At the University of Louisville, a large, urban institution in the south-east United States, undergraduate engineering students take their mathematics courses from the school of engineering. In the fall of their freshman year, engineering students take "Engineering Analysis I," a calculus-based engineering analysis course. After the…

A Case Study of a College-Wide First-Year Undergraduate Engineering Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aloul, Fadi; Zualkernan, Imran; Husseini, Ghaleb; El-Hag, Ayman; Al-Assaf, Yousef

2015-01-01

Introductory engineering courses are either programme specific or expose students to engineering as a broad discipline by including materials from various engineering programmes. A common introductory engineering course that spans different engineering programmes raises challenges, including the high cost of resources as well as the lack of…

Teaching practice and effect of the curriculum design and simulation courses under the support of professional optical software

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, YuanFang; Zheng, XiaoDong; Huang, YuJia

2017-08-01

Curriculum design and simulation courses are bridges to connect specialty theories, engineering practice and experimental skills. In order to help students to have the computer aided optical system design ability adapting to developments of the times, a professional optical software-Advanced System of Analysis Program (ASAP) was used in the research teaching of curriculum design and simulation courses. The ASAP tutorials conducting, exercises both complementing and supplementing the lectures, hands-on practice in class, autonomous learning and independent design after class were bridged organically, to guide students "learning while doing, learning by doing", paying more attention to the process instead of the results. Several years of teaching practice of curriculum design and simulation courses shows that, project-based learning meets society needs of training personnel with knowledge, ability and quality. Students have obtained not only skills of using professional software, but also skills of finding and proposing questions in engineering practice, the scientific method of analyzing and solving questions with specialty knowledge, in addition, autonomous learning ability, teamwork spirit and innovation consciousness, still scientific attitude of facing failure and scientific spirit of admitting deficiency in the process of independent design and exploration.

NeuroManager: a workflow analysis based simulation management engine for computational neuroscience

PubMed Central

Stockton, David B.; Santamaria, Fidel

2015-01-01

We developed NeuroManager, an object-oriented simulation management software engine for computational neuroscience. NeuroManager automates the workflow of simulation job submissions when using heterogeneous computational resources, simulators, and simulation tasks. The object-oriented approach (1) provides flexibility to adapt to a variety of neuroscience simulators, (2) simplifies the use of heterogeneous computational resources, from desktops to super computer clusters, and (3) improves tracking of simulator/simulation evolution. We implemented NeuroManager in MATLAB, a widely used engineering and scientific language, for its signal and image processing tools, prevalence in electrophysiology analysis, and increasing use in college Biology education. To design and develop NeuroManager we analyzed the workflow of simulation submission for a variety of simulators, operating systems, and computational resources, including the handling of input parameters, data, models, results, and analyses. This resulted in 22 stages of simulation submission workflow. The software incorporates progress notification, automatic organization, labeling, and time-stamping of data and results, and integrated access to MATLAB's analysis and visualization tools. NeuroManager provides users with the tools to automate daily tasks, and assists principal investigators in tracking and recreating the evolution of research projects performed by multiple people. Overall, NeuroManager provides the infrastructure needed to improve workflow, manage multiple simultaneous simulations, and maintain provenance of the potentially large amounts of data produced during the course of a research project. PMID:26528175

NeuroManager: a workflow analysis based simulation management engine for computational neuroscience.

PubMed

Stockton, David B; Santamaria, Fidel

2015-01-01

We developed NeuroManager, an object-oriented simulation management software engine for computational neuroscience. NeuroManager automates the workflow of simulation job submissions when using heterogeneous computational resources, simulators, and simulation tasks. The object-oriented approach (1) provides flexibility to adapt to a variety of neuroscience simulators, (2) simplifies the use of heterogeneous computational resources, from desktops to super computer clusters, and (3) improves tracking of simulator/simulation evolution. We implemented NeuroManager in MATLAB, a widely used engineering and scientific language, for its signal and image processing tools, prevalence in electrophysiology analysis, and increasing use in college Biology education. To design and develop NeuroManager we analyzed the workflow of simulation submission for a variety of simulators, operating systems, and computational resources, including the handling of input parameters, data, models, results, and analyses. This resulted in 22 stages of simulation submission workflow. The software incorporates progress notification, automatic organization, labeling, and time-stamping of data and results, and integrated access to MATLAB's analysis and visualization tools. NeuroManager provides users with the tools to automate daily tasks, and assists principal investigators in tracking and recreating the evolution of research projects performed by multiple people. Overall, NeuroManager provides the infrastructure needed to improve workflow, manage multiple simultaneous simulations, and maintain provenance of the potentially large amounts of data produced during the course of a research project.

Mountain Plains Learning Experience Guide: Automotive Repair. Course: Engine Repair.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schramm, C.; Osland, Walt

One of twelve individualized courses included in an automotive repair curriculum, this course covers theory and construction, inspection diagnoses, and service and overhaul of automotive engines. The course is comprised of five units: (1) Fundamentals of Four-Cycle Engines, (2) Engine Construction, (3) Valve Train, (4) Lubricating Systems, and (5)…

Engineering a General Education Program: Designing Mechanical Engineering General Education Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fagette, Paul; Chen, Shih-Jiun; Baran, George R.; Samuel, Solomon P.; Kiani, Mohammad F.

2013-01-01

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at our institution created two engineering courses for the General Education Program that count towards second level general science credit (traditional science courses are first level). The courses were designed for the general student population based upon the requirements of our General Education Program…

46 CFR 166.10 - Course of study for engineering students.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Course of study for engineering students. 166.10 Section... AND APPROVAL OF NAUTICAL SCHOOL SHIPS § 166.10 Course of study for engineering students. The course of study for engineering students shall include (a) all the instruction necessary to fully equip the...

46 CFR 166.10 - Course of study for engineering students.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Course of study for engineering students. 166.10 Section... AND APPROVAL OF NAUTICAL SCHOOL SHIPS § 166.10 Course of study for engineering students. The course of study for engineering students shall include (a) all the instruction necessary to fully equip the...

46 CFR 166.10 - Course of study for engineering students.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Course of study for engineering students. 166.10 Section... AND APPROVAL OF NAUTICAL SCHOOL SHIPS § 166.10 Course of study for engineering students. The course of study for engineering students shall include (a) all the instruction necessary to fully equip the...

46 CFR 166.10 - Course of study for engineering students.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Course of study for engineering students. 166.10 Section... AND APPROVAL OF NAUTICAL SCHOOL SHIPS § 166.10 Course of study for engineering students. The course of study for engineering students shall include (a) all the instruction necessary to fully equip the...

46 CFR 166.10 - Course of study for engineering students.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Course of study for engineering students. 166.10 Section... AND APPROVAL OF NAUTICAL SCHOOL SHIPS § 166.10 Course of study for engineering students. The course of study for engineering students shall include (a) all the instruction necessary to fully equip the...

Collaborative and Competitive Video Games for Teaching Computing in Higher Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Spencer; Chan, Samantha

2017-08-01

This study measures the success of using a collaborative and competitive video game, named Space Race, to teach computing to first year engineering students. Space Race is played by teams of four, each with their own tablet, collaborating to compete against the other teams in the class. The impact of the game on student learning was studied through measurements using 485 students, over one term. Surveys were used to gauge student reception of the game. Pre and post-tests, and in-course examinations were used to quantify student performance. The game was well received with at least 82% of the students that played it recommending it to others. In some cases, game participants outperformed non-participants on course exams. On the final course exam, all of the statistically significant ( p<0.05) comparisons (42% of the relevant questions) showed a performance improvement of game participants on the questions, with a maximum grade improvement of 41%. The findings also suggest that some students retain the knowledge obtained from Space Race for at least 7 weeks. The results of this study provide strong evidence that a collaborative and competitive video game can be an effective tool for teaching computing in post-secondary education.

Competences in demand within the Spanish agricultural engineering sector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perdigones, Alicia; Valera, Diego Luis; Moreda, Guillermo Pedro; García, Jose Luis

2014-09-01

The Rural Engineering Department (Technical University of Madrid) ran three competence surveys during the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 academic years and evaluated: (1) the competences gained by agricultural engineer's degree and agricultural technical engineer's degree students (360 respondents); (2) the competences demanded by agricultural employers (50 farming sector employers); (3) competences required by farming sector professionals and former students (70 professionals). The surveys show significant differences between what competences agricultural employers require of graduates and the competences they acquire during their agricultural engineering degree courses. Recruiters are looking for generic competences such as the ability to coordinate groups and place less importance on knowledge of engineering, biology, applied economics and legislation. Of the computer-related competences, those most in demand by sector professionals were related to the use of Microsoft Office/Excel (used by 79% of professionals). Surveys were used to redesign some subjects of the degrees.

Man-machine interface and control of the shuttle digital flight system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burghduff, R. D.; Lewis, J. L., Jr.

1985-01-01

The space shuttle main engine (SSME) presented new requirements in the design of controls for large pump fed liquid rocket engine systems. These requirements were the need for built in full mission support capability, and complexity and flexibility of function not previously needed in this type of application. An engine mounted programmable digital control system was developed to meet these requirements. The engine system and controller and their function are described. Design challenges encountered during the course of development included accommodation for a very severe engine environment, the implementation of redundancy and redundancy management to provide fail operational/fail safe capability, removal of heat from the package, and significant constraints on computer memory size and processing time. The flexibility offered by programmable control reshaped the approach to engine design and development and set the pattern for future controls development in these types of applications.

Myths and realities: Defining re-engineering for a large organization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yin, Sandra; Mccreary, Julia

1992-01-01

This paper describes the background and results of three studies concerning software reverse engineering, re-engineering, and reuse (R3) hosted by the Internal Revenue Service in 1991 and 1992. The situation at the Internal Revenue--aging, piecemeal computer systems and outdated technology maintained by a large staff--is familiar to many institutions, especially among management information systems. The IRS is distinctive for the sheer magnitude and diversity of its problems; the country's tax records are processed using assembly language and COBOL and spread across tape and network DBMS files. How do we proceed with replacing legacy systems? The three software re-engineering studies looked at methods, CASE tool support, and performed a prototype project using re-engineering methods and tools. During the course of these projects, we discovered critical issues broader than the mechanical definitions of methods and tool technology.

Introduction to Engineering. Course I: Challenges of Engineering. Course II: Engineering Projects.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barrier, Lynn P.

This guide, which is designed to be used in a two-course sequence, is intended to prepare college-bound high school juniors and seniors for engineering and related courses at the college level. The guide was developed as part of an experimental competency-based curriculum that integrates the high-tech applications of mathematics and science…

Naturalistic Decision Making: Implications for Design

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-04-01

Cognitive Task Analysis Decision Making Design Engineer Design System Human-Computer Interface System Development 15. NUMBER OF PAGES 182 16...people use to select a course of action. The SOAR explains how stress affects the decision making of both individuals and teams. COGNITIVE TASK ANALYSIS : This...procedures for Cognitive Task Analysis , contrasting the strengths and weaknesses of each, and showing how a Cognitive Task Analysis

Parameter Sensitivity Study of the Unreacted-Core Shrinking Model: A Computer Activity for Chemical Reaction Engineering Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tudela, Ignacio; Bonete, Pedro; Fullana, Andres; Conesa, Juan Antonio

2011-01-01

The unreacted-core shrinking (UCS) model is employed to characterize fluid-particle reactions that are important in industry and research. An approach to understand the UCS model by numerical methods is presented, which helps the visualization of the influence of the variables that control the overall heterogeneous process. Use of this approach in…

Effective STEM Programs for Adolescent Girls: Three Approaches and Many Lessons Learned

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mosatche, Harriet S.; Matloff-Nieves, Susan; Kekelis, Linda; Lawner, Elizabeth K.

2013-01-01

While women's participation in math and physical science continues to lag to some degree behind that of men, the disparity is much greater in engineering and computer science. Though boys may outperform girls at the highest levels on math and science standardized tests, girls tend to get better course grades in math and science than boys do.…

Programming for physicians: A free online course.

PubMed

Kubben, Pieter L

2016-01-01

This article is an introduction for clinical readers into programming and computational thinking using the programming language Python. Exercises can be done completely online without any need for installation of software. Participants will be taught the fundamentals of programming, which are necessarily independent of the sort of application (stand-alone, web, mobile, engineering, and statistical/machine learning) that is to be developed afterward.

Sending Learning Pills to Mobile Devices in Class to Enhance Student Performance and Motivation in Network Services Configuration Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Munoz-Organero, M.; Munoz-Merino, P. J.; Kloos, C. D.

2012-01-01

Teaching electrical and computer software engineers how to configure network services normally requires the detailed presentation of many configuration commands and their numerous parameters. Students tend to find it difficult to maintain acceptable levels of motivation. In many cases, this results in their not attending classes and not dedicating…

An Approachment to Cooperative Learning in Higher Education: Comparative Study of Teaching Methods in Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Estébanez, Raquel Pérez

2017-01-01

In the way of continuous improvement in teaching methods this paper explores the effects of Cooperative Learning (CL) against Traditional Learning (TL) in academic performance of students in higher education in two groups of the first course of Computer Science Degree at the university. The empirical study was conducted through an analysis of…

A Framework for Lab Work Management in Mass Courses. Application to Low Level Input/Output without Hardware

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodriguez, Santiago; Zamorano, Juan; Rosales, Francisco; Dopico, Antonio Garcia; Pedraza, Jose Luis

2007-01-01

This paper describes a complete lab work management framework designed and developed in the authors' department to help teachers to manage the small projects that students are expected to complete as lab assignments during their graduate-level computer engineering studies. The paper focuses on an application example of the framework to a specific…

HydroViz: A web-based hydrologic observatory for enhancing hydrology and earth-science education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Habib, E. H.; Ma, Y.; Williams, D.

2010-12-01

The main goal of this study is to develop a virtual hydrologic observatory (HydroViz) that integrates hydrologic field observations with numerical simulations by taking advantage of advances in hydrologic field & remote sensing data, computer modeling, scientific visualization, and web resources and internet accessibility. The HydroViz system is a web-based teaching tool that can run on any web browsers. It leverages the strength of Google Earth to provide authentic and hands-on activities to improve learning. Evaluation of the HydroViz was performed in three engineering courses (a senior level course and two Introductory courses at two different universities). Evaluation results indicate that HydroViz provides an improvement over existing engineering hydrology curriculum. HydroViz was effective in facilitating students’ learning and understanding of hydrologic concepts & increasing related skills. HydroViz was much more effective for students in engineering hydrology classes rather than at the freshmen introduction to civil engineering class. We found that HydroViz has great potential for freshmen audience. Even though HydroViz was challenging to some freshmen, most of them still learned the key concepts and the tool increased the enthusiasm for half of the freshmen. The evaluation provided suggestions to create a simplified version of HydroViz for freshmen-level courses students. It identified concepts and tasks that might be too challenging or irrelevant to the freshmen and areas where we could provide more guidance in the tool. After the first round of evaluation, the development team has made significant improvements to HydroViz, which would further improve its effectiveness for next round of class applications which is planned for the Fall of 2010 to take place in 5 classes at 4 different institutions.

How to manage continuing education and retraining programs on optical physics and laser technology at a university: Moscow State experience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zadkov, Victor N.; Koroteev, Nikolai I.

1995-10-01

An experience of managing the continuing education and retraining programs at the International Laser Center (ILC) of Moscow State University is discussed. The offered programs are in a wide range of areas, namely laser physics and technology, laser biophysics and biomedicine, laser chemistry, and computers in laser physics. The attendees who are presumably scientists, engineers, technical managers, and graduate students can join these programs through the annual ILC term (6 months), individual training and research programs (up to a year), annual ILC Laser Graduate School, graduate study, and post-docs program, which are reviewed in the paper. A curriculum that includes basic and specialized courses is described in detail. A brief description of the ILC Laser Teaching and Computer Labs that support all the educational courses is given as well.

Real-time development of data acquisition and analysis software for hands-on physiology education in neuroscience: G-PRIME.

PubMed

Lott, Gus K; Johnson, Bruce R; Bonow, Robert H; Land, Bruce R; Hoy, Ronald R

2009-01-01

We report on the real-time creation of an application for hands-on neurophysiology in an advanced undergraduate teaching laboratory. Enabled by the rapid software development tools included in the Matlab technical computing environment (The Mathworks, Natick, MA), a team, consisting of a neurophysiology educator and a biophysicist trained as an electrical engineer, interfaced to a course of approximately 15 students from engineering and biology backgrounds. The result is the powerful freeware data acquisition and analysis environment, "g-PRIME." The software was developed from week to week in response to curriculum demands, and student feedback. The program evolved from a simple software oscilloscope, enabling RC circuit analysis, to a suite of tools supporting analysis of neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission analysis in invertebrate model systems. The program has subsequently expanded in application to university courses, research, and high school projects in the US and abroad as free courseware.

Strengthening Environmental Engineering Education in Afghanistan through Cooperating Military Academies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christ, J. A.; Mahbob, M.; Seely, G. E.; Ressler, S. J.

2007-12-01

Many developing countries suffer from substandard employment of environmental engineering and science principles, which leads to poor management of natural and cultural resources, increased public health concerns, and limitations on economic investment and growth. Thus, prior to the implementation of well-intentioned programs designed to promote development, methods for sustaining basic needs, which are the focus of most environmental engineering disciplines, must be designed into the social fabric of the developing culture. Education is a promising method for fostering this development across cultures. Recently, the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) partnered with the US Military Academy (USMA) to implement a Civil Engineering Program at the National Military Academy of Afghanistan (NMAA), Kabul, Afghanistan. This work will outline the process followed during course development, deployment, and implementation, paying particular attention to challenges and benefits at each stage in the process. This cooperation may serve as a model for future implementation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education programs in developing countries. Consistent with US Civil Engineering programs, the NMAA Civil Engineering program introduces students to a broad range of introductory-level civil engineering subjects--environmental, hydraulic, geotechnical, structural, construction, and transportation engineering. Basic environmental engineering and science principles are addressed through the implementation of an introductory environmental engineering course. Course development followed a three-stage process: (1) course development by US faculty at their home institution, (2) imbedding of US Faculty at the NMAA, and (3) implementation of the course within the NMAA Civil Engineering curriculum using adjunct Afghan faculty hired from Kabul University. An existing environmental engineering course taught at USAFA was used as a model for course development. Although this existing course provided the necessary framework for the Afghan course, there were a number of challenges with tailoring the course material to the education level, experience, and needs of the Afghan students and faculty. These challenges were overcome, in part, during the imbedding process of US instructors within the NMAA faculty. On-site transfer of course material and knowledge proved a necessary step in the implementation of the course. The imbedding process enabled US instructors to discuss the course with current NMAA faculty and identify an implementation path that met the needs of the program while appreciating the uniqueness of the Afghan experience. Implementation of the course is on-going with reach-back capability for Afghan faculty to continue the mentoring relationship with their US colleagues. Challenges that arise during course implementation (e.g., wet lab deployments, field trip relevance) will be overcome and used as learning tools for future course offerings. Ultimately, this course will provide future leaders of Afghanistan with the educational tools to make informed environmental management decisions and will serve as a model for similar courses implemented throughout Afghanistan.

Modelling and Inverse-Modelling: Experiences with O.D.E. Linear Systems in Engineering Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martinez-Luaces, Victor

2009-01-01

In engineering careers courses, differential equations are widely used to solve problems concerned with modelling. In particular, ordinary differential equations (O.D.E.) linear systems appear regularly in Chemical Engineering, Food Technology Engineering and Environmental Engineering courses, due to the usefulness in modelling chemical kinetics,…

Development of a Leadership, Policy, and Change Course for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Graduate Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cox, Monica F.; Berry, Carlotta A.; Smith, Karl A.

2009-01-01

This paper describes a graduate level engineering education course, "Leadership, Policy, and Change in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education." Offered for the first time in 2007, the course integrated the perspectives of three instructors representing disciplines of engineering, education, and engineering education.…

A Project Course Sequence in Innovation and Commercialization of Medical Devices.

PubMed

Eberhardt, Alan W; Tillman, Shea; Kirkland, Brandon; Sherrod, Brandon

2017-07-01

There exists a need for educational processes in which students gain experience with design and commercialization of medical devices. This manuscript describes the implementation of, and assessment results from, the first year offering of a project course sequence in Master of Engineering (MEng) in Design and Commercialization at our institution. The three-semester course sequence focused on developing and applying hands-on skills that contribute to product development to address medical device needs found within our university hospital and local community. The first semester integrated computer-aided drawing (CAD) as preparation for manufacturing of device-related components (hand machining, computer numeric control (CNC), three-dimensional (3D) printing, and plastics molding), followed by an introduction to microcontrollers (MCUs) and printed circuit boards (PCBs) for associated electronics and control systems. In the second semester, the students applied these skills on a unified project, working together to construct and test multiple weighing scales for wheelchair users. In the final semester, the students applied industrial design concepts to four distinct device designs, including user and context reassessment, human factors (functional and aesthetic) design refinement, and advanced visualization for commercialization. The assessment results are described, along with lessons learned and plans for enhancement of the course sequence.

A Course in Electrochemical and Corrosion Engineering.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Zee, John

1985-01-01

Describes a course designed to show similarities between electrochemistry and corrosion engineering and to show graduate students that electrochemical and corrosion engineering can be accomplished by extending their knowledge of chemical engineering models. Includes course outline, textbooks selected, and teaching methods used. (JN)

A Course in Medicine and Clinical Engineering for Engineers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Webster, John G.

A biomedical engineering course at the University of Wisconsin is described. The course is a comprehensive survey designed to develop the student's ability to participate in the solution of medical problems, particularly in areas involving technology. Course objectives and lecture outlines are provided. (MLH)

Student-driven courses on the social and ecological responsibilities of engineers : commentary on "student-inspired activities for the teaching and learning of engineering ethics".

PubMed

Baier, André

2013-12-01

A group of engineering students at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany, designed a course on engineering ethics. The core element of the developed Blue Engineering course are self-contained teaching-units, "building blocks". These building blocks typically cover one complex topic and make use of various teaching methods using moderators who lead discussions, rather than experts who lecture. Consequently, the students themselves started to offer the credited course to their fellow students who take an active role in further developing the course themselves.

Computer aided system engineering for space construction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Racheli, Ugo

1989-01-01

This viewgraph presentation covers the following topics. Construction activities envisioned for the assembly of large platforms in space (as well as interplanetary spacecraft and bases on extraterrestrial surfaces) require computational tools that exceed the capability of conventional construction management programs. The Center for Space Construction is investigating the requirements for new computational tools and, at the same time, suggesting the expansion of graduate and undergraduate curricula to include proficiency in Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) though design courses and individual or team projects in advanced space systems design. In the center's research, special emphasis is placed on problems of constructability and of the interruptability of planned activity sequences to be carried out by crews operating under hostile environmental conditions. The departure point for the planned work is the acquisition of the MCAE I-DEAS software, developed by the Structural Dynamics Research Corporation (SDRC), and its expansion to the level of capability denoted by the acronym IDEAS**2 currently used for configuration maintenance on Space Station Freedom. In addition to improving proficiency in the use of I-DEAS and IDEAS**2, it is contemplated that new software modules will be developed to expand the architecture of IDEAS**2. Such modules will deal with those analyses that require the integration of a space platform's configuration with a breakdown of planned construction activities and with a failure modes analysis to support computer aided system engineering (CASE) applied to space construction.

Educational NASA Computational and Scientific Studies (enCOMPASS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Memarsadeghi, Nargess

2013-01-01

Educational NASA Computational and Scientific Studies (enCOMPASS) is an educational project of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center aimed at bridging the gap between computational objectives and needs of NASA's scientific research, missions, and projects, and academia's latest advances in applied mathematics and computer science. enCOMPASS achieves this goal via bidirectional collaboration and communication between NASA and academia. Using developed NASA Computational Case Studies in university computer science/engineering and applied mathematics classes is a way of addressing NASA's goals of contributing to the Science, Technology, Education, and Math (STEM) National Objective. The enCOMPASS Web site at http://encompass.gsfc.nasa.gov provides additional information. There are currently nine enCOMPASS case studies developed in areas of earth sciences, planetary sciences, and astrophysics. Some of these case studies have been published in AIP and IEEE's Computing in Science and Engineering magazines. A few university professors have used enCOMPASS case studies in their computational classes and contributed their findings to NASA scientists. In these case studies, after introducing the science area, the specific problem, and related NASA missions, students are first asked to solve a known problem using NASA data and past approaches used and often published in a scientific/research paper. Then, after learning about the NASA application and related computational tools and approaches for solving the proposed problem, students are given a harder problem as a challenge for them to research and develop solutions for. This project provides a model for NASA scientists and engineers on one side, and university students, faculty, and researchers in computer science and applied mathematics on the other side, to learn from each other's areas of work, computational needs and solutions, and the latest advances in research and development. This innovation takes NASA science and engineering applications to computer science and applied mathematics university classes, and makes NASA objectives part of the university curricula. There is great potential for growth and return on investment of this program to the point where every major university in the U.S. would use at least one of these case studies in one of their computational courses, and where every NASA scientist and engineer facing a computational challenge (without having resources or expertise to solve it) would use enCOMPASS to formulate the problem as a case study, provide it to a university, and get back their solutions and ideas.

[NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Paper 4:] Technical communications in aerospace: An analysis of the practices reported by US and European aerospace engineers and scientists

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pinelli, Thomas E.; Barclay, Rebecca O.; Kennedy, John M.; Glassman, Myron

1990-01-01

Results are reported from pilot surveys on the use of scientific and technical information (STI) by U.S. and NATO-nation aerospace scientists and engineers, undertaken as part of the NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. The survey procedures and the demographic characteristics of the 67 scientists and engineers who responded to the survey are summarized, and the results are presented in a series of tables and discussed in detail. Findings emphasized include: (1) both U.S. and NATO respondents spend around 60 percent of their work week producing or using STI products; (2) NATO respondents are more likely than their U.S. counterparts to use 'formal' STI products (like technical reports and papers) and the services of librarians and online data bases; (3) most of the respondents use computers and information technology in preparing STI products; and (4) respondents who had taken courses in technical communication agreed on the value and ideal subject matter of such courses.

Marine Engine Mechanics. Performance Objectives. Intermediate Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Marion

Several intermediate performance objectives and corresponding criterion measures are presented for each of ten terminal objectives for a two-semester course (3 hours daily). This 540-hour intermediate course includes advanced troubleshooting techniques on outboard marine engines, inboard-outboard marine engines, inboard marine engines, boat…

Undergraduate engineering students' attitudes and perceptions towards `professional ethics' course: a case study of India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sethy, Satya Sundar

2017-11-01

'Professional Ethics' has been offered as a compulsory course to undergraduate engineering students in a premier engineering institution of India. It was noticed that students' perceptions and attitudes were frivolous and ornamental towards this course. Course instructors and institution authorities were motivated to find out the factors contributing to this awkwardness. For this purpose, a questionnaire was prepared and administrated to 336 students registered for the July-November 2014 semester. The study found two factors contributing to students' indifference towards the Professional Ethics course. First, most of the students did not have self-interest to join the engineering programme, and while pursuing their study, they decided to switch to a different field upon completion of their engineering study. Second, students who desired to be engineers in their future believed that engineering code of ethics is not really referred to in most of the engineering jobs, and therefore Professional Ethics course is only meant for classroom discussions.

Creating Next Generation Teacher Preparation Programs to Support Implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards in K-12 Schools: An Opportunity for the Earth and Space Sciences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geary, E. E.; Egger, A. E.; Julin, S.; Ronca, R.; Vokos, S.; Ebert, E.; Clark-Blickenstaff, J.; Nollmeyer, G.

2015-12-01

A consortium of two and four year Washington State Colleges and Universities in partnership with Washington's Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Teachers of Teachers of Science, and Teachers of Teachers of Mathematics, and other key stakeholders, is currently working to improve science and mathematics learning for all Washington State students by creating a new vision for STEM teacher preparation in Washington State aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Mathematics and Language Arts. Specific objectives include: (1) strengthening elementary and secondary STEM Teacher Preparation courses and curricula, (2) alignment of STEM teacher preparation programs across Washington State with the NGSS and CCSS, (3) development of action plans to support implementation of STEM Teacher Preparation program improvement at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the state, (4) stronger collaborations between HEIs, K-12 schools, government agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, and STEM businesses, involved in the preparation of preservice STEM teachers, (5) new teacher endorsements in Computer Science and Engineering, and (6) development of a proto-type model for rapid, adaptable, and continuous improvement of STEM teacher preparation programs. A 2015 NGSS gap analysis of teacher preparation programs across Washington State indicates relatively good alignment of courses and curricula with NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas and Scientific practices, but minimal alignment with NGSS Engineering practices and Cross Cutting Concepts. Likewise, Computer Science and Sustainability ideas and practices are not well represented in current courses and curricula. During the coming year teams of STEM faculty, education faculty and administrators will work collaboratively to develop unique action plans for aligning and improving STEM teacher preparation courses and curricula at their institutions.

Application of NX Siemens PLM software in educational process in preparing students of engineering branch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadchikova, G. M.

2017-01-01

This article discusses the results of the introduction of computer-aided design NX by Siemens Plm Software to the classes of a higher education institution. The necessity of application of modern information technologies in teaching students of engineering profile and selection of a software product is substantiated. The author describes stages of the software module study in relation to some specific courses, considers the features of NX software, which require the creation of standard and unified product databases. The article also gives examples of research carried out by the students with the various software modules.

Making developmental biology relevant to undergraduates in an era of economic rationalism in Australia.

PubMed

Key, Brian; Nurcombe, Victor

2003-01-01

This report describes the road map we followed at our university to accommodate three main factors: financial pressure within the university system; desire to enhance the learning experience of undergraduates; and motivation to increase the prominence of the discipline of developmental biology in our university. We engineered a novel, multi-year undergraduate developmental biology program which was "student-oriented," ensuring that students were continually exposed to the underlying principles and philosophy of this discipline throughout their undergraduate career. Among its key features are introductory lectures in core courses in the first year, which emphasize the relevance of developmental biology to tissue engineering, reproductive medicine, therapeutic approaches in medicine, agriculture and aquaculture. State-of-the-art animated computer graphics and images of high visual impact are also used. In addition, students are streamed into the developmental biology track in the second year, using courses like human embryology and courses shared with cell biology, which include practicals based on modern experimental approaches. Finally, fully dedicated third-year courses in developmental biology are undertaken in conjunction with stand-alone practical courses where students experiencefirst-hand work in a research laboratory. Our philosophy is a "cradle-to-grave" approach to the education of undergraduates so as to prepare highly motivated, enthusiastic and well-educated developmental biologists for entry into graduate programs and ultimately post-doctoral research.

Female and male adolescents' subjective orientations to mathematics and the influence of those orientations on postsecondary majors.

PubMed

Perez-Felkner, Lara; McDonald, Sarah-Kathryn; Schneider, Barbara; Grogan, Erin

2012-11-01

Although important strides toward gender parity have been made in several scientific fields, women remain underrepresented in the physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences (PEMCs). This study examines the effects of adolescents' subjective orientations, course taking, and academic performance on the likelihood of majoring in PEMC in college. Results indicate that racial-ethnic and gender underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are interrelated and should be examined with attention to the intersecting factors influencing female and racial-ethnic minority adolescents' pathways toward careers in these fields. Among those who major in PEMC fields, women closely resemble men with respect to their subjective orientations. The effects of subjective orientations on women's chances of majoring in PEMC vary by their secondary school mathematics course completion levels. Women who take more mathematics courses are more likely to major in PEMC; however, course taking alone does not attenuate gender disparities in declaring these majors. High mathematics ability (as measured by standardized test scores in the 10th grade) appears to be positively associated with women's selection of social, behavioral, clinical, and health science majors. This association is less robust (and slightly negative) for women in PEMC. While advanced course taking appears to assist women in selecting PEMC majors, women who enter these fields may not be as strong as those who select other, less male-dominated scientific fields.

Problem-based learning biotechnology courses in chemical engineering.

PubMed

Glatz, Charles E; Gonzalez, Ramon; Huba, Mary E; Mallapragada, Surya K; Narasimhan, Balaji; Reilly, Peter J; Saunders, Kevin P; Shanks, Jacqueline V

2006-01-01

We have developed a series of upper undergraduate/graduate lecture and laboratory courses on biotechnological topics to supplement existing biochemical engineering, bioseparations, and biomedical engineering lecture courses. The laboratory courses are based on problem-based learning techniques, featuring two- and three-person teams, journaling, and performance rubrics for guidance and assessment. Participants initially have found them to be difficult, since they had little experience with problem-based learning. To increase enrollment, we are combining the laboratory courses into 2-credit groupings and allowing students to substitute one of them for the second of our 2-credit chemical engineering unit operations laboratory courses.

Teaching Teachers to Teach Green Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flynn, Ann Marie; Naraghi, Mohammad H.; Austin, Nicole; Helak, Sean; Manzer, Jarrod

2006-01-01

The work provides guidelines for instructors who wish to incorporate green engineering concepts into a typical non-green engineering course without diluting course content or modifying the course syllabus by identifying 5 critical elements necessary to the successful integration of green engineering concepts into any traditional, design-oriented,…

The Role of Context Free Collaboration Design Patterns in Learning Design within LAMS: Lessons Learned from an Empirical Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kordaki, Maria

2011-01-01

This study presents an experiment aimed at the design of short learning courses in the context of LAMS, using a number of specific context-free collaboration design patterns implemented within LAMS. In fact, 25 Prospective Computer Engineers (PCEs) participated in this experiment. The analysis of the data shows that PCEs fully used these context…

Programming for physicians: A free online course

PubMed Central

Kubben, Pieter L.

2016-01-01

This article is an introduction for clinical readers into programming and computational thinking using the programming language Python. Exercises can be done completely online without any need for installation of software. Participants will be taught the fundamentals of programming, which are necessarily independent of the sort of application (stand-alone, web, mobile, engineering, and statistical/machine learning) that is to be developed afterward. PMID:27127694

Using a Faculty-in-Residence Model to Enhance Curriculae in Computer Science and Social Work with Writing and Critical Thinking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sarnoff, Susan; Welch, Lonnie; Gradin, Sherrie; Sandell, Karin

2004-01-01

This paper will discuss the results of a project that enabled three faculty members from disparate disciplines: Social Work, Interpersonal Communication and Software Engineering, to enhance writing and critical thinking in their courses. The paper will address the Faculty-in-Residence project model, the activities taken on as a result of it, the…

Implementation of Protocols to Enable Doctoral Training in Physical and Computational Chemistry of a Blind Graduate Student

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Minkara, Mona S.; Weaver, Michael N.; Gorske, Jim; Bowers, Clifford R.; Merz, Kenneth M., Jr.

2015-01-01

There exists a sparse representation of blind and low-vision students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. This is due in part to these individuals being discouraged from pursuing STEM degrees as well as a lack of appropriate adaptive resources in upper level STEM courses and research. Mona Minkara is a rising fifth…

A Game Based e-Learning System to Teach Artificial Intelligence in the Computer Sciences Degree

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Castro-Santos, Amable; Fajardo, Waldo; Molina-Solana, Miguel

2017-01-01

Our students taking the Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge Engineering courses often encounter a large number of problems to solve which are not directly related to the subject to be learned. To solve this problem, we have developed a game based e-learning system. The elected game, that has been implemented as an e-learning system, allows to…

A study of engineering student attributes and time to completion of first-year required courses at Texas A&M University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kimball, Jorja Lay

For many years, colleges of engineering across the nation have required that a foundational set of courses be completed for entry into upper division coursework or into a specific engineering major. Since 1998, The Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University (TAMU) has required that incoming first-time enrolling students complete a Core Body of Knowledge (CBK) with specific cumulative grade points required for specific majors. However, considerations of the time to completion of coursework and other student characteristics and academic factors have not been taken into consideration by TAMU, like most institutions. The purpose of this study is to determine for first year engineering students at TAMU the relationship of gender, ethnicity, engineering major, unmet financial need, cumulative grade point average, and total transfer hours on time to completion of CBK courses. The results of the analysis showed that cumulative grade point average (CGPA) had the strongest relationship to completion of CBK of any independent variable in this study. Statistical significance was found for the following variables in this study: CGPA, gender, ethnicity, and unmet financial need. For the study's variable of major, statistical significance was found for Chemical, Electrical, and Computer Engineering majors. The one variable in this study that did not show statistical significance in relation to time to completion of CBK was transfer credit. Findings with implications for recruitment and retention of underrepresented in engineering is a statistical significance indicating that on average females are taking less time than males to complete CBK. The conclusion from the study is that efforts to attract more women into engineering have merit as do programs to support underrepresented students in order that they may complete CBK at a faster pace. Further study to determine profiles of those majors where statistical significance was found for students taking a greater or lesser amount of time for CBK completion than the mean is recommended, as is ongoing data collection and comparison for current cohorts of engineering majors at TAMU.

Students' Attitudes towards Interdisciplinary Education: A Course on Interdisciplinary Aspects of Science and Engineering Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gero, Aharon

2017-01-01

A course entitled "Science and Engineering Education: Interdisciplinary Aspects" was designed to expose undergraduate students of science and engineering education to the attributes of interdisciplinary education which integrates science and engineering. The core of the course is an interdisciplinary lesson, which each student is…

Integrating interactive computational modeling in biology curricula.

PubMed

Helikar, Tomáš; Cutucache, Christine E; Dahlquist, Lauren M; Herek, Tyler A; Larson, Joshua J; Rogers, Jim A

2015-03-01

While the use of computer tools to simulate complex processes such as computer circuits is normal practice in fields like engineering, the majority of life sciences/biological sciences courses continue to rely on the traditional textbook and memorization approach. To address this issue, we explored the use of the Cell Collective platform as a novel, interactive, and evolving pedagogical tool to foster student engagement, creativity, and higher-level thinking. Cell Collective is a Web-based platform used to create and simulate dynamical models of various biological processes. Students can create models of cells, diseases, or pathways themselves or explore existing models. This technology was implemented in both undergraduate and graduate courses as a pilot study to determine the feasibility of such software at the university level. First, a new (In Silico Biology) class was developed to enable students to learn biology by "building and breaking it" via computer models and their simulations. This class and technology also provide a non-intimidating way to incorporate mathematical and computational concepts into a class with students who have a limited mathematical background. Second, we used the technology to mediate the use of simulations and modeling modules as a learning tool for traditional biological concepts, such as T cell differentiation or cell cycle regulation, in existing biology courses. Results of this pilot application suggest that there is promise in the use of computational modeling and software tools such as Cell Collective to provide new teaching methods in biology and contribute to the implementation of the "Vision and Change" call to action in undergraduate biology education by providing a hands-on approach to biology.

Developing a Dynamics and Vibrations Course for Civil Engineering Students Based on Fundamental-Principles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barroso, Luciana R.; Morgan, James R.

2012-01-01

This paper describes the creation and evolution of an undergraduate dynamics and vibrations course for civil engineering students. Incorporating vibrations into the course allows students to see and study "real" civil engineering applications of the course content. This connection of academic principles to real life situations is in…

Undergraduate Engineering Students' Attitudes and Perceptions towards "Professional Ethics" Course: A Case Study of India

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sethy, Satya Sundar

2017-01-01

"Professional Ethics" has been offered as a compulsory course to undergraduate engineering students in a premier engineering institution of India. It was noticed that students' perceptions and attitudes were frivolous and ornamental towards this course. Course instructors and institution authorities were motivated to find out the factors…

A Course in... Biochemical Engineering.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ng, Terry K-L.; And Others

1988-01-01

Describes a chemical engineering course for senior undergraduates and first year graduate students in biochemical engineering. Discusses five experiments used in the course: aseptic techniques, dissolved oxygen measurement, oxygen uptake by yeast, continuous sterilization, and cultivation of microorganisms. (MVL)

Introduction to multigrid methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wesseling, P.

1995-01-01

These notes were written for an introductory course on the application of multigrid methods to elliptic and hyperbolic partial differential equations for engineers, physicists and applied mathematicians. The use of more advanced mathematical tools, such as functional analysis, is avoided. The course is intended to be accessible to a wide audience of users of computational methods. We restrict ourselves to finite volume and finite difference discretization. The basic principles are given. Smoothing methods and Fourier smoothing analysis are reviewed. The fundamental multigrid algorithm is studied. The smoothing and coarse grid approximation properties are discussed. Multigrid schedules and structured programming of multigrid algorithms are treated. Robustness and efficiency are considered.

Effective approach to spectroscopy and spectral analysis techniques using Matlab

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiang; Lv, Yong

2017-08-01

With the development of electronic information, computer and network, modern education technology has entered new era, which would give a great impact on teaching process. Spectroscopy and spectral analysis is an elective course for Optoelectronic Information Science and engineering. The teaching objective of this course is to master the basic concepts and principles of spectroscopy, spectral analysis and testing of basic technical means. Then, let the students learn the principle and technology of the spectrum to study the structure and state of the material and the developing process of the technology. MATLAB (matrix laboratory) is a multi-paradigm numerical computing environment and fourth-generation programming language. A proprietary programming language developed by MathWorks, MATLAB allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, Based on the teaching practice, this paper summarizes the new situation of applying Matlab to the teaching of spectroscopy. This would be suitable for most of the current school multimedia assisted teaching

Prototype of a computer method for designing and analyzing heating, ventilating and air conditioning proportional, electronic control systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barlow, Steven J.

1986-09-01

The Air Force needs a better method of designing new and retrofit heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) control systems. Air Force engineers currently use manual design/predict/verify procedures taught at the Air Force Institute of Technology, School of Civil Engineering, HVAC Control Systems course. These existing manual procedures are iterative and time-consuming. The objectives of this research were to: (1) Locate and, if necessary, modify an existing computer-based method for designing and analyzing HVAC control systems that is compatible with the HVAC Control Systems manual procedures, or (2) Develop a new computer-based method of designing and analyzing HVAC control systems that is compatible with the existing manual procedures. Five existing computer packages were investigated in accordance with the first objective: MODSIM (for modular simulation), HVACSIM (for HVAC simulation), TRNSYS (for transient system simulation), BLAST (for building load and system thermodynamics) and Elite Building Energy Analysis Program. None were found to be compatible or adaptable to the existing manual procedures, and consequently, a prototype of a new computer method was developed in accordance with the second research objective.

Need Assessment of Computer Science and Engineering Graduates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surakka, Sami; Malmi, Lauri

2005-06-01

This case study considered the syllabus of the first and second year studies in computer science. The aim of the study was to reveal which topics covered in the syllabi were really needed during the following years of study or in working life. The program that was assessed in the study was a Masters program in computer science and engineering at a university of technology in Finland. The necessity of different subjects for the advanced studies (years 3? ?5) and for working life was assessed using four content analyses: (a) the course catalog of the institution where this study was carried out, (b) employment reports that were attached to the applications for internship credits, (c) masters theses, and (d) job advertisements in a newspaper. The results of the study imply that the necessity of physics for the advanced study and work was very low compared to the extent to which it was studied. On the other hand, the necessity for mathematics was moderate, and it had remained quite steady during the period 1989? ?2002. The most necessary computer science topic was programming. Also telecommunications and networking was needed often, whereas theoretical computer science was needed quite rarely.

Standardized Curriculum for Small Engine Repair.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mississippi State Dept. of Education, Jackson. Office of Vocational, Technical and Adult Education.

This curriculum guide for small engine repair was developed by the state of Mississippi to standardize vocational education course titles and core contents. The objectives contained in this document are common to all small engine repair programs in the state. The guide contains objectives for small engine repair I and II courses. Units in course I…

Teaching Bioprocess Engineering to Undergraduates: Multidisciplinary Hands-On Training in a One-Week Practical Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henkel, Marius; Zwick, Michaela; Beuker, Janina; Willenbacher, Judit; Baumann, Sandra; Oswald, Florian; Neumann, Anke; Siemann-Herzberg, Martin; Syldatk, Christoph; Hausmann, Rudolf

2015-01-01

Bioprocess engineering is a highly interdisciplinary field of study which is strongly benefited by practical courses where students can actively experience the interconnection between biology, engineering, and physical sciences. This work describes a lab course developed for 2nd year undergraduate students of bioprocess engineering and related…

The Potential of Supplemental Instruction in Engineering Education: Creating Additional Peer-Guided Learning Opportunities in Difficult Compulsory Courses for First-Year Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malm, Joakim; Bryngfors, Leif; Mörner, Lise-Lotte

2016-01-01

Supplemental Instruction (SI) can be an efficient way of improving student success in difficult courses. Here, a study is made on SI attached to difficult first-year engineering courses. The results show that both the percentage of students passing a difficult first-year engineering course, and scores on the course exams are considerably higher…

Project-oriented teaching model about specialized courses in the information age

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiaodong; Wang, Jinjiang; Tian, Qingguo; Wang, Yi; Cai, Huaiyu

2017-08-01

Specialized courses play a significant role in the usage of basic knowledge in the practical application for engineering college students. The engineering data available has sharply increased since the beginning of the information age in the 20th century, providing much more approaches to study and practice. Therefore, how to guide students to make full use of resources for active engineering practice learning has become one of the key problems for specialized courses. This paper took the digital image processing course for opto-electronic information science and technology major as an example, discussed the teaching model of specialized course in the information age, put forward the "engineering resource oriented model", and fostered the ability of engineering students to use the basic knowledge to innovate and deal with specific project objectives. The fusion of engineering examples into practical training and teaching encourages students to practice independent engineering thinking.

Distance Teaching of Environmental Engineering Courses at the Open University.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porteous, Andrew; Nesaratnam, Suresh T.; Anderson, Judith

1997-01-01

Describes two integrated distance learning environmental engineering degree courses offered by the environmental engineering group of the Open University in Great Britain. Discusses admission requirements for courses, advantages offered by distance learning, professional accreditation, site visits, and tutors. (AIM)

A Course to Promote Informed Selection of an Engineering Major Using a Partially Flipped Classroom Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meyers, Kerry Lynn

2016-01-01

A 1 credit hour First-Year Engineering Course which provides background to students on the engineering disciplinary options available to them was redesigned to help inform the selection of their engineering major for future study. Initially, course administration was a large lecture class but was transformed into smaller classes that were…

A Course in Medicine for Engineers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pimmel, Russell; Weed, H. R.

1974-01-01

Describes a course planned for bio-medical engineering students. Intended outcomes of the course include an understanding of medical problems, their courses, diagnosis and treatment, and an awareness of the physician's philosophy and approach. (GS)

Summer Institute in Engineering and Computer Applications: Learning Through Experience

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Langdon, Joan S.

1995-01-01

The document describing the Summer Institute project is made up of the following information: Administrative procedures; Seminars/Special Courses/Tours/College fair; Facilities/ Transportation; Staff and Administration; Collaboration; Participant/Project monitoring and evaluation; Fiscal and developmental activities; Job readiness/Job internship development and placement; and Student Follow-up/Tracking. Appendices include presentations, self-evaluations; abstracts and papers developed by the students during their participation in the program.

Designing an American Sign Language Avatar for Learning Computer Science Concepts for Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Students and Deaf Interpreters

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andrei, Stefan; Osborne, Lawrence; Smith, Zanthia

2013-01-01

The current learning process of Deaf or Hard of Hearing (D/HH) students taking Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses needs, in general, a sign interpreter for the translation of English text into American Sign Language (ASL) signs. This method is at best impractical due to the lack of availability of a specialized sign…

Development and Application of a Systems Engineering Framework to Support Online Course Design and Delivery

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bozkurt, Ipek; Helm, James

2013-01-01

This paper develops a systems engineering-based framework to assist in the design of an online engineering course. Specifically, the purpose of the framework is to provide a structured methodology for the design, development and delivery of a fully online course, either brand new or modified from an existing face-to-face course. The main strength…

Enhancing Student International Awareness and Global Competency through Compact International Experience Courses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jacobitz, Frank; Schubert, Thomas

2013-11-01

Short-term, study-abroad, elective engineering courses were developed in order to raise the international awareness and global competency of engineering students. These Compact International Experience (CIE) courses were taught in response to a strong student desire for engineering study abroad courses and an effort by the home institution to internationalize its curriculum. An assessment of repeat offerings of two three-semester-unit courses on Topics in Fluid Mechanics and Advanced Electronic Circuit Design in a three-week time frame in France and Australia was performed. The goals of the two CIE courses are an effective teaching of their respective technical content as well as a student understanding of the cultural environment and the impact of engineering solutions from a global and societal viewpoint. In the repeat offerings, increased interaction with local industry was an additional goal. The CIE courses were assessed through surveys completed at the beginning and end of the courses, weekly student reflection papers, course evaluations, and formalized instructor observations. Based on the assessment performed, the two CIE courses have been found to be a valuable approach in the delivery of engineering technical electives combined with an international experience.

How to get students to love (or not hate) MATLAB and programming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reckinger, Shanon; Reckinger, Scott

2014-11-01

An effective programming course geared toward engineering students requires the utilization of modern teaching philosophies. A newly designed course that focuses on programming in MATLAB involves flipping the classroom and integrating various active teaching techniques. Vital aspects of the new course design include: lengthening in-class contact hours, Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) method worksheets (self-guided instruction), student created video content posted on YouTube, clicker questions (used in class to practice reading and debugging code), programming exams that don't require computers, integrating oral exams into the classroom, fostering an environment for formal and informal peer learning, and designing in a broader theme to tie together assignments. However, possibly the most important piece to this programming course puzzle: the instructor needs to be able to find programming mistakes very fast and then lead individuals and groups through the steps to find their mistakes themselves. The effectiveness of the new course design is demonstrated through pre- and post- concept exam results and student evaluation feedback. Students reported that the course was challenging and required a lot of effort, but left largely positive feedback.

Students' attitudes towards interdisciplinary education: a course on interdisciplinary aspects of science and engineering education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gero, Aharon

2017-05-01

A course entitled 'Science and Engineering Education: Interdisciplinary Aspects' was designed to expose undergraduate students of science and engineering education to the attributes of interdisciplinary education which integrates science and engineering. The core of the course is an interdisciplinary lesson, which each student is supposed to teach his/her peers. Sixteen students at advanced stages of their studies attended the course. The research presented here used qualitative instruments to characterise students' attitudes towards interdisciplinary learning and teaching of science and engineering. According to the findings, despite the significant challenge which characterises interdisciplinary teaching, a notable improvement was evident throughout the course in the percentage of students who expressed willingness to teach interdisciplinary classes in future.

Bespoke physics for living technology.

PubMed

Ackley, David H

2013-01-01

In the physics of the natural world, basic tasks of life, such as homeostasis and reproduction, are extremely complex operations, requiring the coordination of billions of atoms even in simple cases. By contrast, artificial living organisms can be implemented in computers using relatively few bits, and copying a data structure is trivial. Of course, the physical overheads of the computers themselves are huge, but since their programmability allows digital "laws of physics" to be tailored like a custom suit, deploying living technology atop an engineered computational substrate might be as or more effective than building directly on the natural laws of physics, for a substantial range of desirable purposes. This article suggests basic criteria and metrics for bespoke physics computing architectures, describes one such architecture, and offers data and illustrations of custom living technology competing to reproduce while collaborating on an externally useful computation.

Changing the Engineering Student Culture with Respect to Academic Integrity and Ethics.

PubMed

VanDeGrift, Tammy; Dillon, Heather; Camp, Loreal

2017-08-01

Engineers create airplanes, buildings, medical devices, and software, amongst many other things. Engineers abide by a professional code of ethics to uphold people's safety and the reputation of the profession. Likewise, students abide by a code of academic integrity while learning the knowledge and necessary skills to prepare them for the engineering and computing professions. This paper reports on studies designed to improve the engineering student culture with respect to academic integrity and ethics. To understand the existing culture at a university in the USA, a survey based on a national survey about cheating was administered to students. The incidences of self-reported cheating and incidences of not reporting others who cheat show the culture is similar to other institutions. Two interventions were designed and tested in an introduction to an engineering course: two case studies that students discussed in teams and the whole class, and a letter of recommendation assignment in which students wrote about themselves (character, strengths, examples of ethical decisions) three years into the future. Students were surveyed after the two interventions. Results show that first-year engineering students appreciate having a code of academic integrity and they want to earn their degree without cheating, yet less than half of the students would report on another cheating student. The letter of recommendation assignment had some impact on getting students to think about ethics, their character, and their actions. Future work in changing the student culture will continue in both a top-down (course interventions) and bottom-up (student-driven interventions) manner.

A Multicultural, Multidisciplinary Short Course to Introduce Recently Graduated Engineers to the Global Nature of Professional Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hazelton, Pam; Malone, Molly; Gardner, Anne

2009-01-01

Since 2001, the International Institute of Women in Engineering (IIWE) at EPF, Ecole d'ingenieurs generaliste, Sceaux, France, has conducted a 3 week short course for culturally and discipline diverse, recently graduated and final year engineering students. The aim of this course is to introduce young engineers to broad global concepts and issues…

A Continuing Engineering Education Program Utilizing Video Tape

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biedenbach, Joseph M.

1970-01-01

Radio Corporation of America has developed a series of courses on video tape for use with their engineering staffs at locations throughout the country. The courses include such topics as FORTRAN Programming, Engineering Mathematics, and Holography. Thirty-six course topics are proposed to date. (MF)

Develop railway engineering modules in UTK civil engineering undergraduate and graduate courses.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-05-31

The importance of railway transport has long been recognized. However, no railway : engineering courses have been provided in the UTK civil engineering curricula. The : objective of this education project is to develop some railway engineering module...

Development of an advanced undergraduate course in acoustics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gee, Kent L.; Neilsen, Tracianne B.; Sommerfeldt, Scott D.

2016-03-01

Within many physics undergraduate programs, acoustics is given only a cursory treatment, usually within an introductory course. Because acoustics is a natural vehicle for students to develop intuition about wave phenomena, an advanced undergraduate acoustics course has been developed at Brigham Young University. Although it remains an elective course, enrollment has increased steadily since its inception. The course has been taken by students in physics, applied physics, physics teaching, and mechanical and electrical engineering. In addition to providing training for students motivated by interest in undergraduate research, internship, employment, and graduate schooling opportunities in acoustics, the course facilitates connections between various areas of physics. Explicit connections are made to mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, optics, quantum mechanics, and experimental and computational laboratory courses. Active learning is emphasized through Just-in-Time-Teaching and course structure. Homework exercises are both theoretical and practical and often require making and interpreting of graphs. For example, students may model traffic noise as a series of uncorrelated monopoles or examine highway barrier effectiveness using Fresnel diffraction techniques. Additionally, students participate in resumé-building measurements and learn to report their results in the form of technical memoranda. Course evaluations and post-graduation student surveys rate it among the most valuable undergraduate student courses offered.

Explicating mathematical thinking in differential equations using a computer algebra system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeynivandnezhad, Fereshteh; Bates, Rachel

2018-07-01

The importance of developing students' mathematical thinking is frequently highlighted in literature regarding the teaching and learning of mathematics. Despite this importance, most curricula and instructional activities for undergraduate mathematics fail to bring the learner beyond the mathematics. The purpose of this study was to enhance students' mathematical thinking by implementing a computer algebra system and active learning pedagogical approaches. students' mathematical thinking processes were analyzed while completing specific differential equations tasks based on posed prompts and questions and Instrumental Genesis. Data were collected from 37 engineering students in a public Malaysian university. This study used the descriptive and interpretive qualitative research design to investigate the students' perspectives of emerging mathematical understanding and approaches to learning mathematics in an undergraduate differential equations course. Results of this study concluded that students used a variety of mathematical thinking processes in a non-sequential manner. Additionally, the outcomes provide justification for continued use of technologies such as computer algebra systems in undergraduate mathematics courses and the need for further studies to uncover the various processes students utilize to complete specific mathematical tasks.

Sustainability by Design: A Reflection on the Suitability of Pedagogic Practice in Design and Engineering Courses in the Teaching of Sustainable Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morris, Richard; Childs, Peter; Hamilton, Tom

2007-01-01

Courses in product design are offered within the United Kingdom at the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex and in both cases are run within engineering departments alongside traditional engineering courses. This paper outlines some of the intrinsic pedagogic practices that are employed by these, and other, design courses. It…

A curriculum for real-time computer and control systems engineering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halang, Wolfgang A.

1990-01-01

An outline of a syllabus for the education of real-time-systems engineers is given. This comprises the treatment of basic concepts, real-time software engineering, and programming in high-level real-time languages, real-time operating systems with special emphasis on such topics as task scheduling, hardware architectures, and especially distributed automation structures, process interfacing, system reliability and fault-tolerance, and integrated project development support systems. Accompanying course material and laboratory work are outlined, and suggestions for establishing a laboratory with advanced, but low-cost, hardware and software are provided. How the curriculum can be extended into a second semester is discussed, and areas for possible graduate research are listed. The suitable selection of a high-level real-time language and supporting operating system for teaching purposes is considered.

[NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Paper 4:] Technical communications in aerospace: An analysis of the practices reported by US and European aerospace engineers and scientists

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pinelli, Thomas E.; Barclay, Rebecca O.; Kennedy, John M.; Glassman, Myron

1990-01-01

Two pilot studies were conducted that investigated the technical communications practices of U.S. and European aerospace engineers and scientists. Both studies had the same five objectives: (1) solicit opinions regarding the importance of technical communications; (2) determine the use and production of technical communications; (3) seek views about the appropriate content of an undergraduate course in technical communications; (4) determine use of libraries, information centers, and online database; (5) determine use and importance of computer and information technology to them. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to randomly selected aerospace engineers and scientists, with a slightly modified version sent to European colleagues. Their responses to selected questions are presented in this paper.

Approaches to Cycle Analysis and Performance Metrics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parson, Daniel E.

2003-01-01

The following notes were prepared as part of an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) sponsored short course entitled Air Breathing Pulse Detonation Engine (PDE) Technology. The course was presented in January of 2003, and again in July of 2004 at two different AIAA meetings. It was taught by seven instructors, each of whom provided information on particular areas of PDE research. These notes cover two areas. The first is titled Approaches to Cycle Analysis and Performance Metrics. Here, the various methods of cycle analysis are introduced. These range from algebraic, thermodynamic equations, to single and multi-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) solutions. Also discussed are the various means by which performance is measured, and how these are applied in a device which is fundamentally unsteady. The second topic covered is titled PDE Hybrid Applications. Here the concept of coupling a PDE to a conventional turbomachinery based engine is explored. Motivation for such a configuration is provided in the form of potential thermodynamic benefits. This is accompanied by a discussion of challenges to the technology.

A Visualization-Based Tutoring Tool for Engineering Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Tang-Hung; Khoo, I.-Hung

2010-06-01

In engineering disciplines, students usually have hard time to visualize different aspects of engineering analysis and design, which inherently are too complex or abstract to fully understand without the aid of visual explanations or visualizations. As examples, when learning materials and sequences of construction process, students need to visualize how all components of a constructed facility are assembled? Such visualization can not be achieved in a textbook and a traditional lecturing environment. In this paper, the authors present the development of a computer tutoring software, in which different visualization tools including video clips, 3 dimensional models, drawings, pictures/photos together with complementary texts are used to assist students in deeply understanding and effectively mastering materials. The paper will also discuss the implementation and the effectiveness evaluation of the proposed tutoring software, which was used to teach a construction engineering management course offered at California State University, Long Beach.

Choosing STEM College Majors: Exploring the Role of Pre-College Engineering Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phelps, L. Allen; Camburn, Eric M.; Min, Sookweon

2018-01-01

Despite the recent policy proclamations urging state and local educators to implement integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curricula, relatively little is known about the role and impact of pre-college engineering courses within these initiatives. When combined with appropriate mathematics and science courses, high…

Design and Implementation of a Project-Based Active/Cooperative Engineering Design Course for Freshmen

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abdulaal, R. M.; Al-Bahi, A. M.; Soliman, A. Y.; Iskanderani, F. I.

2011-01-01

A project-based active/cooperative design course is planned, implemented, assessed and evaluated to achieve several desired engineering outcomes. The course allows freshman-level students to gain professional hands-on engineering design experience through an opportunity to practise teamwork, quality principles, communication skills, life-long…

Outsiders Looking In: Tutor Expertise in Engineering Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bengesai, Annah

2015-01-01

Drawing on an academic literacies approach, this article explores the representations of technical communication by non-content expert tutors teaching the Technical Communication for Engineering course at a South African university. The course is offered to all first year engineering students as a developmental academic literacy course. It is…

The Infusion of Socio-Humanistic Concepts into Engineering Courses via Horizontal Integration of Subject Matter.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huckaba, Charles E.; Griffin, Ann

1983-01-01

Describes development of an interdisciplinary engineering course called "Social Aspects of the Technical Decision Process." Course content includes such interdisciplinary topics as alternative energy, ecology, and urban planning, which represent traditional engineering concepts. However, social and historical dimensions are built into topics.…

Teaching Continuum Mechanics in a Mechanical Engineering Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Yucheng

2011-01-01

This paper introduces a graduate course, continuum mechanics, which is designed for and taught to graduate students in a Mechanical Engineering (ME) program. The significance of continuum mechanics in engineering education is demonstrated and the course structure is described. Methods used in teaching this course such as topics, class…

"From the Formal to the Innovative": The Use of Case Studies and Sustainable Projects in Developing a Design Process Model for Educating Product/Industrial Designers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oakes, G. L.; Felton, A. J.; Garner, K. B.

2006-01-01

The BSc in computer aided product design (CAPD) course at the University of Wolverhampton was conceived as a collaborative venture in 1989 between the School of Engineering and the School of Art and Design. The award was at the forefront of forging interdisciplinary collaboration at undergraduate level in the field of product design. It has…

Microcomputer Laboratory Design.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-03-01

Approved for public release, distribution unlimited 17. OiSTi Of OUTIO STATEMIEN (61 tile 41141f61 d "#Or d i 1806k 20. If |1 N RA""") WS. SUPPLEMENTARY...and implemented to support Airborne Digital Computation, AE 4641, a course involving a study of the methods used for digital computa- tion in...University, 1975 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING -from the NAVAL

Increasing Student Retention Through Application of Attitude Change Packages (and) Increasing GPA and Student Retention of Low Income Minority Community College Students Through Application of Nightengale Conant Change Packages; A Pilot STUDY.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Preising, Paul P.; Frost, Robert

The first of two studies reported was conducted to determine whether unemployed aerospace engineers who received computer science training as well as the Nightengale-Conant attitude change packages would have a significantly higher course completion rate than control classes who were given the same training without the attitude change packages.…

Application of desktop computers in nuclear engineering education

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

Graves, H.W. Jr.

1990-01-01

Utilization of desktop computers in the academic environment is based on the same objectives as in the industrial environment - increased quality and efficiency. Desktop computers can be extremely useful teaching tools in two general areas: classroom demonstrations and homework assignments. Although differences in emphasis exist, tutorial programs share many characteristics with interactive software developed for the industrial environment. In the Reactor Design and Fuel Management course at the University of Maryland, several interactive tutorial programs provided by Energy analysis Software Service have been utilized. These programs have been designed to be sufficiently structured to permit an orderly, disciplined solutionmore » to the problem being solved, and yet be flexible enough to accommodate most problem solution options.« less

Development of Concept-Based Physiology Lessons for Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nelson, Regina K.; Chesler, Naomi C.; Strang, Kevin T.

2013-01-01

engineering curriculum. In one or two introductory physiology courses, engineering students must learn physiology sufficiently to support learning in their subsequent engineering courses and careers. As preparation for future learning, physiology instruction centered on concepts may…

New Laboratory Course for Senior-Level Chemical Engineering Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aronson, Mark T.; Deitcher, Robert W.; Xi, Yuanzhou; Davis, Robert J.

2009-01-01

A new laboratory course has been developed at the University of Virginia for senior- level chemical engineering students. The new course is based on three 4-week long experiments in bioprocess engineering, energy conversion and catalysis, and polymer synthesis and characterization. The emphasis is on the integration of process steps and the…

An Evaluation of HigherEd 2.0 Technologies in Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Orange, Amy; Heinecke, Walter; Berger, Edward; Krousgrill, Charles; Mikic, Borjana; Quinn, Dane

2012-01-01

Between 2006 and 2010, sophomore engineering students at four universities were exposed to technologies designed to increase their learning in undergraduate engineering courses. Our findings suggest that students at all sites found the technologies integrated into their courses useful to their learning. Video solutions received the most positive…

Problem-Based Learning in Engineering Ethics Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kirkman, Robert

2016-01-01

I describe the first stages of a process of design research in which I employ problem-based learning in a course in engineering ethics, which fulfills a requirement for students in engineering degree programs. The aim of the course is to foster development of particular cognitive skills contributing to moral imagination, a capacity to notice,…

Evolution of Project-Based Learning in Small Groups in Environmental Engineering Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Requies, Jesús M.; Agirre, Ion; Barrio, V. Laura; Graells, Moisès

2018-01-01

This work presents the assessment of the development and evolution of an active methodology (Project-Based Learning--PBL) implemented on the course "Unit Operations in Environmental Engineering", within the bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering, with the purpose of decreasing the dropout rate in this course. After the initial…

Examining Gender Inequality in a High School Engineering Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riegle-Crumb, Catherine; Moore, Chelsea

2013-01-01

This paper examines gender inequality within the context of an upper-level high school engineering course recently offered in Texas. Data was collected from six high schools that serve students from a variety of backgrounds. Among the almost two hundred students who enrolled in this challenge-based engineering course, females constituted a clear…

Impact of an Engineering Case Study in a High School Pre-Engineering Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rutz, Eugene; Shafer, Michelle

2011-01-01

Students at an all-girls high school who were enrolled in an introduction to engineering course were presented an engineering case study to determine if the case study affected their attitudes toward engineering and their abilities to solve engineering problems. A case study on power plants was implemented during a unit on electrical engineering.…

The Engineer and the Societal Dilemma: An Interdisciplinary Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coleman, Robert J.

The University of North Carolina's Electrical Engineering Department developed and delivered a course for undergraduate engineering students. The course integrated technical, social, and ethical perspectives on problems and issues faced in the world of practicing engineers. It achieved this integration by making use of professors in engineering,…

Engineers: Designers--No Alibis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stevens, Susan A. R.; Wilkins, Linda C.

Engineering is the science, art, and business of designing and getting things done; engineers are required to make things happen through interpersonal relationships. At Monash University (Australia), a new course, Management for Engineers, was set up in 1990 to encourage a more holistic approach to the process of engineering. The course included…

Data acquisition and real-time control using spreadsheets: interfacing Excel with external hardware.

PubMed

Aliane, Nourdine

2010-07-01

Spreadsheets have become a popular computational tool and a powerful platform for performing engineering calculations. Moreover, spreadsheets include a macro language, which permits the inclusion of standard computer code in worksheets, and thereby enable developers to greatly extend spreadsheets' capabilities by designing specific add-ins. This paper describes how to use Excel spreadsheets in conjunction to Visual Basic for Application programming language to perform data acquisition and real-time control. Afterwards, the paper presents two Excel applications with interactive user interfaces developed for laboratory demonstrations and experiments in an introductory course in control. 2010 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sundials in the shade: A study of women's persistence in the first year of a computer science program in a selective university

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powell, Rita Manco

Currently women are underrepresented in departments of computer science, making up approximately 18% of the undergraduate enrollment in selective universities. Most attrition in computer science occurs early in this major, in the freshman and sophomore years, and women drop out in disproportionately greater numbers than their male counterparts. Taking an ethnographic approach to investigating women's experiences and progress in the first year courses in the computer science major at the University of Pennsylvania, this study examined the pre-college influences that led these women to the major and the nature of their experiences in and outside of class with faculty, peers, and academic support services. This study sought an understanding of the challenges these women faced in the first year of the major with the goal of informing institutional practice about how to best support their persistence. The research reviewed for this study included patterns of leaving majors in science, math and engineering (Seymour & Hewitt 1997), the high school preparation needed to pursue math and engineering majors in college (Strenta, Elliott, Adair, Matier, & Scott, 1994), and intervention programs that have positively impacted persistence of women in computer science (Margolis & Fisher, 2002). The research method of this study employed a series of personal interviews over the course of one calendar year with fourteen first year women who had either declared on intended to declare the computer science major in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania. Other data sources were focus groups and personal interviews with faculty, administrators, admissions and student life professionals, teaching assistants, female graduate students, and male first year students at the University of Pennsylvania. This study found that the women in this study group came to the University of Pennsylvania with a thorough grounding in mathematics, but many either had an inadequate background in computer science, or at least perceived inadequacies in their background, which prevented them from beginning the major on an equal footing with their mostly male peers and caused some to lose confidence and consequently interest in the major. Issues also emanated from their gender-minority status in the Computer and Information Science Department, causing them to be socially isolated from their peers and further weakening their resolve to persist. These findings suggest that female first year students could benefit from multiple pathways into the major designed for students with varying degrees of prior experience with computer science. In addition, a computer science community within the department characterized by more frequent interaction and collaboration with faculty and peers could positively impact women's persistence in the major.

System Engineering Paper

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heise, James; Hull, Bethanne J.; Bauer, Jonathan; Beougher, Nathan G.; Boe, Caleb; Canahui, Ricardo; Charles, John P.; Cooper, Zachary Davis Job; DeShaw, Mark A.; Fontanella, Luan Gasparetto;

Student Self-Efficacy in Introductory Project-Based Learning Courses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pleiss, Geoffrey; Zastavker, Yevgeniya V.

2012-02-01

This study investigates first-year engineering students' self-efficacy in two introductory Project-Based Learning (PjBL) courses -- Physics (Mechanics) Laboratory and Engineering Design -- taught at a small technical institution. Twelve students participated in semi-structured open-ended interviews about their experiences in both courses. Analysis was performed using grounded theory. Results indicate that students had lower self-efficacy in Physics Lab than in Engineering Design. In Physics Lab, students reported high levels of faculty-supported scaffolding related to final project deliverables, which in turn established perceptions of an outcome-based course emphasis. Conversely, in Engineering Design, students observed high levels of scaffolding related to the intermediate project deliverables, highlighting process-centered aspects of the course. Our analyses indicate that this difference in student perceptions of course emphases -- resulting from the differences in scaffolding -- is a primary factor for the discrepancy in self-efficacy between Physics Lab and Engineering Design. Future work will examine how other variables (e.g., academic background, perception of community, gender) affect students' self-efficacy and perception of scaffolding in these PjBL courses.

Enhanced teaching and student learning through a simulator-based course in chemical unit operations design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghasem, Nayef

2016-07-01

This paper illustrates a teaching technique used in computer applications in chemical engineering employed for designing various unit operation processes, where the students learn about unit operations by designing them. The aim of the course is not to teach design, but rather to teach the fundamentals and the function of unit operation processes through simulators. A case study presenting the teaching method was evaluated using student surveys and faculty assessments, which were designed to measure the quality and effectiveness of the teaching method. The results of the questionnaire conclusively demonstrate that this method is an extremely efficient way of teaching a simulator-based course. In addition to that, this teaching method can easily be generalised and used in other courses. A student's final mark is determined by a combination of in-class assessments conducted based on cooperative and peer learning, progress tests and a final exam. Results revealed that peer learning can improve the overall quality of student learning and enhance student understanding.

Culturally responsive engineering education: A case study of a pre-college introductory engineering course at Tibetan Children's Village School of Selakui

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santiago, Marisol Mercado

Culturally responsive teaching has been argued to be effective in the education of Indigenous youth. This approach emphasizes the legitimacy of a group's cultural heritage, helps to associate abstract academic knowledge with the group's sociocultural context, seeks to incorporate a variety of strategies to engage students who have different learning styles, and strives to integrate multicultural information in the educational contents, among other considerations. In this work, I explore the outcomes of a culturally responsive introductory engineering short course that I developed and taught to Tibetan students at Tibetan Children's Village of Selakui (in Uttarakhand, India). Based on my ethnographic research in Tibetan communities in northern India, I examine two research questions: (a) What are the processes to develop and implement a pre-college culturally responsive introductory engineering course? and (b) How do Tibetan culture and Buddhism influence the engineering design and teamwork of the pre-college Tibetan students who took the course? I designed then taught the course that featured elementary lectures on sustainability, introductory engineering design, energy alternatives, and manufacturing engineering. The course also included a pre-college engineering design project through which Tibetan high school students investigated a problem at the school and designed a possible solution to it. Drawing from postcolonial studies, engineering studies, engineering and social justice, Buddhist studies, and Tibetan studies, I provide an analysis of my findings. Based on my findings, I conclude that my culturally responsive approach of teaching was an effective method to help students feel that their cultural background was respected and included in a pre-college engineering course; however, some students felt resistance toward the teaching approach. In addition, the culturally relevant content that connected with their ways of living in their school, Tibetan communities, and surroundings helped the students to relate to abstract concepts in familiar settings. Lastly, they appreciated that I brought to the course relevant information about technology and society in India (their host country), engineers' work in industry, technologies used in other contexts as well, and projects that show how engineers can help to alleviate poverty. The findings of my research can inform (a) educators who are interested in integrating culturally responsive activities in their teaching methods, (b) researchers or teachers in ethnic minority schools abroad, (c) educators interested in developing engineering activities or courses for underrepresented ethnic minorities, ethnic diasporas or refugee youth in the United States, and (d) facilitators at multicultural engineering summer camps in the United States.

Computer Literacy: Course Description [and] Computer Awareness: Module Syllabus.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kirkwood Community Coll., Cedar Rapids, IA.

This course description outlines an independent-study computer awareness course for community college faculty that uses videotapes, computer-assisted instruction, and individual study modules. The outline includes the rationale for the course and the media to be used; time required to complete the course; the goals of the course; the topics…

Putting the spark into physical science and algebra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pill, Bruce; Dagenais, Andre

2007-06-01

The presenters will describe a number of laboratory activities developed in collaboration with the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Delaware as part of their outreach program to help make math and science more authentic on the pre-college level. Lessons relating to electrical topics are often abstract and appropriate only for advanced students in math and science. We have devised lessons that rely on simple equipment. They promote skills that are included in National and State Standards. They emphasize the connections between math and science; they are appropriate for an algebra course, a physical science course, a PhysicsFirst course or a traditional physics course. Students benefit from seeing that what they learn in math and science courses can lead to cutting-edge work in areas such as passive wave imaging, photonics, wireless communication and high performance computing. The collaboration has been meaningful because it has motivated us to tailor our lessons to reflect what is happening in the research lab of our local university. Written materials for use in teacher training workshops will also be available.

Demanded competences in the agricultural engineering sector in Spain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perdigones, A.; García, J. L.; Benavente, R. M.; Tarquis, A. M.

2009-04-01

An engineering education should prepare students, i.e., emerging engineers, to use problem-solving processes that combine creativity and imagination with rigour and discipline. The emphasis on training engineers may be best placed on answering the needs of industry; indeed, many proposals are now being made to try to reduce the gap between the educational and industrial communities. Training in the use of certain skills or competences may be one way of better preparing engineering undergraduates for eventual employment in industry. However, industry's needs in this respect must first be known. The aim of this work was to determine which skills are used by practising agricultural engineers with the aim of incorporating training in their use into our department's teaching curriculum. Three surveys were undertaken to determine which skills are demanded by agricultural engineers in their professional activities in Spain. Surveys were carried out by the Department of Rural Engineering, Technical University of Madrid (Spain), analysing two related degrees (agricultural engineer with a duration of the study plan of three and five years, respectively) during the courses 2006/07 and 2007/08. The first survey determined the competences acquired by the students along their academic studies (371 students interviewed). The second survey determined the skills demanded by the enterprises of the agricultural sector (50 enterprises interviewed). The third survey determined the skills demanded by the agricultural engineers working in the sector (70 engineers interviewed), specifically asking about the computer programs used by practising agricultural engineers. Surveys showed important differences between the competences demanded by the enterprises and the competences acquired by the students at the university. Enterprises mainly demanded general competences (team working, time organizing, and skills with computer programs) and were less interested in specific technical skills (engineering, economy, biological competences). These differences suggest it might be a good idea to increase the amount of time devoted to the skills demanded by the enterprises. The software packages most commonly used by practising engineers were Microsoft Office / Excel (used by 79% of respondents) and CAD (56%), as well as budgeting (27%), statistical (21%), engineering (15%) and GIS (13%) programs. As a result of this survey our university department opened an additional computer suite in order to provide students practical experience in the use of the demanded competences. The results of this survey underline the importance of competence training in this and perhaps other fields of engineering.

A Multidisciplinary Course in Bioengineering.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bienkowski, Paul R.; And Others

1989-01-01

Outlines a graduate course, "Microbial Systems Analysis," for students in chemical and environmental engineering or engineering mechanics, as well as microbiology, ecology and biotechnology. Describes the objectives, structure and laboratory experiments for the course. (YP)

Some Practical Approaches to a Course on Paraconsistent Logic for Engineers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lambert-Torres, Germano; de Moraes, Carlos Henrique Valerio; Coutinho, Maurilio Pereira; Martins, Helga Gonzaga; Borges da Silva, Luiz Eduardo

2017-01-01

This paper describes a non-classical logic course primarily indicated for graduate students in electrical engineering and energy engineering. The content of this course is based on the vision that it is not enough for a student to indefinitely accumulate knowledge; it is necessary to explore all the occasions to update, deepen, and enrich that…

Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Professional Skills Course at an Electrical Engineering School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gider, F.; Likar, B.; Kern, T.; Miklavcic, D.

2012-01-01

This paper describes a case study of an innovative approach to teaching at an engineering school. The postgraduate course "Project Work and Communication in Research and Development (R&D)" was developed at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. The main aim of the course was to make…

CURRICULUM: A Chemical Engineering Course for Liberal Arts Students--Indigo: A World of Blues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Piergiovanni, Polly R.

2012-01-01

Sophomore liberal arts and engineering students enrolled in a course to learn and practice some basic chemical engineering side by side. The course was developed around the theme of indigo dyeing, which has an interesting history, fascinating chemistry and is accessible to all students. The students participated in a variety of active learning…

A Critical Discourse Analysis of Engineering Course Syllabi and Recommendations for Increasing Engagement among Women in STEM

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savaria, Michael; Monteiro, Kristina

2017-01-01

Men outnumber women in the enrollment of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) undergraduate majors. Course syllabi are distributed to students during open enrollment and provide key insights into the courses. A critical discourse analysis of introductory engineering syllabi at a 4-year public university revealed limited to no…

Development of a Self-Instructional Course in Engineering Statics. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alexander, Daniel E.

Reported is the development of a self-instructional course in engineering statics designed for engineering students that has been implemented in several institutions. There are 15 unit modules in the course divided into three different levels. Each unit begins with a description of general objectives. The unit is then divided into several subunits…

Impacts of a Summer Bridge Program in Engineering on Student Retention and Graduation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cançado, Luciana; Reisel, John R.; Walker, Cindy M.

2018-01-01

A summer bridge program was developed in an engineering program to advance the preparation of incoming freshmen students, particularly with respect to their math course placement. The program was intended to raise the initial math course placement of students who otherwise would begin their engineering studies in courses below Calculus I. One…

Short Project-Based Learning with MATLAB Applications to Support the Learning of Video-Image Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gil, Pablo

2017-10-01

University courses concerning Computer Vision and Image Processing are generally taught using a traditional methodology that is focused on the teacher rather than on the students. This approach is consequently not effective when teachers seek to attain cognitive objectives involving their students' critical thinking. This manuscript covers the development, implementation and assessment of a short project-based engineering course with MATLAB applications Multimedia Engineering being taken by Bachelor's degree students. The principal goal of all course lectures and hands-on laboratory activities was for the students to not only acquire image-specific technical skills but also a general knowledge of data analysis so as to locate phenomena in pixel regions of images and video frames. This would hopefully enable the students to develop skills regarding the implementation of the filters, operators, methods and techniques used for image processing and computer vision software libraries. Our teaching-learning process thus permits the accomplishment of knowledge assimilation, student motivation and skill development through the use of a continuous evaluation strategy to solve practical and real problems by means of short projects designed using MATLAB applications. Project-based learning is not new. This approach has been used in STEM learning in recent decades. But there are many types of projects. The aim of the current study is to analyse the efficacy of short projects as a learning tool when compared to long projects during which the students work with more independence. This work additionally presents the impact of different types of activities, and not only short projects, on students' overall results in this subject. Moreover, a statistical study has allowed the author to suggest a link between the students' success ratio and the type of content covered and activities completed on the course. The results described in this paper show that those students who took part in short projects made a significant improvement when compared to those who participated in long projects.

Engineering the future with America's high school students

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farrance, M. A.; Jenner, J. W.

1993-01-01

The number of students enrolled in engineering is declining while the need for engineers is increasing. One contributing factor is that most high school students have little or no knowledge about what engineering is, or what engineers do. To teach young students about engineering, engineers need good tools. This paper presents a course of study developed and used by the authors in a junior college course for high school students. Students learned about engineering through independent student projects, in-class problem solving, and use of career information resources. Selected activities from the course can be adapted to teach students about engineering in other settings. Among the most successful techniques were the student research paper assignments, working out a solution to an engineering problem as a class exercise, and the use of technical materials to illustrate engineering concepts and demonstrate 'tools of the trade'.

Instructional Changes Adopted for an Engineering Course: Cluster Analysis on Academic Failure

PubMed Central

Álvarez-Bermejo, José A.; Belmonte-Ureña, Luis J.; Martos-Martínez, África; Barragán-Martín, Ana B.; Simón-Márquez, María M.

2016-01-01

As first year students come from diverse backgrounds, basic skills should be accessible to everyone as soon as possible. Transferring such skills to these students is challenging, especially in highly technical courses. Ensuring that essential knowledge is acquired quickly promotes the student’s self-esteem and may positively influence failure rates. Metaphors can help do this. Metaphors are used to understand the unknown. This paper shows how we made a turn in student learning at the University of Almeria. Our hypothesis assumed that metaphors accelerate the acquisition of basic knowledge so that other skills built on that foundation are easily learned. With these goals in mind, we changed the way we teach by using metaphors and abstract concepts in a computer organization course, a technical course in the first year of an information technology engineering degree. Cluster analysis of the data on collective student performance after this methodological change clearly identified two distinct groups. These two groups perfectly matched the “before and after” scenarios of the use of metaphors. The study was conducted during 11 academic years (2002/2003 to 2012/2013). The 475 observations made during this period illustrate the usefulness of this change in teaching and learning, shifting from a propositional teaching/learning model to a more dynamic model based on metaphors and abstractions. Data covering the whole period showed favorable evolution of student achievement and reduced failure rates, not only in this course, but also in many of the following more advanced courses. The paper is structured in five sections. The first gives an introduction, the second describes the methodology. The third section describes the sample and the study carried out. The fourth section presents the results and, finally, the fifth section discusses the main conclusions. PMID:27895611

Gaia Launch Imminent: A Review of Practices (Good and Bad) in Building the Gaia Ground Segment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Mullane, W.

2014-05-01

As we approach launch the Gaia ground segment is ready to process a steady stream of complex data coming from Gaia at L2. This talk will focus on the software engineering aspects of the ground segment. Of course in a short paper it is difficult to cover everything but an attempt will be made to highlight some good things, like the Dictionary Tool and some things to be careful with like computer aided software engineering tools. The usefulness of some standards like ECSS will be touched upon. Testing is also certainly part of this story as are Challenges or Rehearsals so they will not go without mention.

Launch Vehicle Systems Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Olds, John R.

1999-01-01

This report summaries the key accomplishments of Georgia Tech's Space Systems Design Laboratory (SSDL) under NASA Grant NAG8-1302 from NASA - Marshall Space Flight Center. The report consists of this summary white paper, copies of technical papers written under this grant, and several viewgraph-style presentations. During the course of this grant four main tasks were completed: (1)Simulated Combined-Cycle Rocket Engine Analysis Module (SCCREAM), a computer analysis tool for predicting the performance of various RBCC engine configurations; (2) Hyperion, a single stage to orbit vehicle capable of delivering 25,000 pound payloads to the International Space Station Orbit; (3) Bantam-X Support - a small payload mission; (4) International Trajectory Support for interplanetary human Mars missions.

46 CFR 11.516 - Service requirements for third assistant engineer of steam and/or motor vessels.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

...) Graduation from the marine engineering course of a school of technology accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, together with three months of service in the engine department of steam or motor vessels; (5) Graduation from the mechanical or electrical engineering course of a school...

Engineering Faculty Attitudes to General Chemistry Courses in Engineering Curricula

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garip, Mehmet; Erdil, Erzat; Bilsel, Ayhan

2006-01-01

A survey on the attitudes of engineering faculty to chemistry, physics, and mathematics was conducted with the aim of clarifying the attitudes of engineering faculty to chemistry courses in relation to engineering education or curricula and assessing their expectations. The results confirm that on the whole chemistry is perceived as having a…

Design and Assessment of an "Engineering" Course for Non-Majors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sorby, Sheryl A.; Oppliger, Douglas E.; Boersma, Norma

2006-01-01

As a profession, engineering is not well understood by the general public. Engineers are perceived as "geeks" who love math and who have few interests outside of technical work. In short, the engineering profession has an image problem. In order to counteract this negative stereotyping, an engineering course for non-majors was developed…

The Influence of Engineers' Training Models on Ethics and Civic Education Component in Engineering Courses in Portugal

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Monteiro, Fátima; Leite, Carlinda; Rocha, Cristina

2017-01-01

The recognition of the need and importance of including ethical and civic education in engineering courses, as well as the training profile on ethical issues, relies heavily on the engineer's concept and the perception of the engineering action. These views are strongly related to the different engineer education model conceptions and its…

A Modular Approach to Arithmetic and Logic Unit Design on a Reconfigurable Hardware Platform for Educational Purpose

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oztekin, Halit; Temurtas, Feyzullah; Gulbag, Ali

The Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) design is one of the important topics in Computer Architecture and Organization course in Computer and Electrical Engineering departments. There are ALU designs that have non-modular nature to be used as an educational tool. As the programmable logic technology has developed rapidly, it is feasible that ALU design based on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is implemented in this course. In this paper, we have adopted the modular approach to ALU design based on FPGA. All the modules in the ALU design are realized using schematic structure on Altera's Cyclone II Development board. Under this model, the ALU content is divided into four distinct modules. These are arithmetic unit except for multiplication and division operations, logic unit, multiplication unit and division unit. User can easily design any size of ALU unit since this approach has the modular nature. Then, this approach was applied to microcomputer architecture design named BZK.SAU.FPGA10.0 instead of the current ALU unit.

Learning mechanisms in multidisciplinary teamwork with real customers and open-ended problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heikkinen, Juho; Isomöttönen, Ville

2015-11-01

Recently, there has been a trend towards adding a multidisciplinary or multicultural element to traditional monodisciplinary project courses in computing and engineering. In this article, we examine the implications of multidisciplinarity for students' learning experiences during a one-semester project course for real customers. We use a qualitative research approach and base our analysis on students' learning reports on three instances of a project course titled Multidisciplinary working life project. The main contribution of this article is the unified theoretical picture of the learning mechanisms stemming from multidisciplinarity. Our main conclusions are that (1) students generally have a positive view of multidisciplinarity; (2) multidisciplinary teams enable students to better identify their own expertise, which leads to increased occupational identity; and (3) learning experiences are not fixed, as team spirit and student attitude play an important role in how students react to challenging situations arising from introduction of the multidisciplinarity.

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.

Comparing the Attitudes of Pre-Health Professional and Engineering Students in Introductory Physics Courses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKinney, Meghan

2015-04-01

This talk will discuss using the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS) to compare student attitudes towards the study of physics of two different groups. Northern Illinois University has two levels of introductory mechanics courses, one geared towards biology majors and pre-health professionals, and one for engineering and physics majors. The course for pre-health professionals is an algebra based course, while the course for engineering and physics majors is a calculus based course. We've adapted the CLASS into a twenty question survey that measures student attitudes towards the practice of and conceptions about physics. The survey is administered as a pre and post assessment to look at student attitudes before and after their first course in physics.

Design and implementation of a flipped classroom learning environment in the biomedical engineering context.

PubMed

Corrias, Alberto; Cho Hong, James Goh

2015-01-01

The design and implementation of a learning environment that leverages on the use of various technologies is presented. The context is an undergraduate core engineering course within the biomedical engineering curriculum. The topic of the course is data analysis in biomedical engineering problems. One of the key ideas of this study is to confine the most mathematical and statistical aspects of data analysis in prerecorded video lectures. Students are asked to watch the video lectures before coming to class. Since the classroom session does not need to cover the mathematical theory, the time is spent on a selected real world scenario in the field of biomedical engineering that exposes students to an actual application of the theory. The weekly cycle is concluded with a hands-on tutorial session in the computer rooms. A potential problem would arise in such learning environment if the students do not follow the recommendation of watching the video lecture before coming to class. In an attempt to limit these occurrences, two key instruments were put in place: a set of online self-assessment questions that students are asked to take before the classroom session and a simple rewards system during the classroom session. Thanks to modern learning analytics tools, we were able to show that, on average, 57.9% of students followed the recommendation of watching the video lecture before class. The efficacy of the learning environment was assessed through various means. A survey was conducted among the students and the gathered data support the view that the learning environment was well received by the students. Attempts were made to quantify the impacts on learning of the proposed measures by taking into account the results of selected questions of the final examination of the course. Although the presence of confounding factors demands caution in the interpretation, these data seem to indicate a possible positive effect of the use of video lectures in this technologically enhanced learning environment.

A Paperless Course on Structural Engineering Programming: Investing in Educational Technology in the Times of the Greek Financial Recession

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sextos, Anastasios G.

2014-01-01

This paper presents the structure of an undergraduate course entitled "programming techniques and the use of specialised software in structural engineering" which is offered to the fifth (final) year students of the Civil Engineering Department of Aristotle University Thessaloniki in Greece. The aim of this course is to demonstrate the…

Results of Using Multimedia Case Studies and Open-Ended Hands-On Design Projects in an "Introduction to Engineering" Course at Hampton University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halyo, Nesim; Le, Qiang

2011-01-01

This paper describes the implementation of a revised freshman engineering course, "Introduction to Engineering," at Hampton University and the observations of the instructors during its implementation. The authors collaborated with Auburn University faculty in jointly implementing the same course material at both universities. The revised course…

Chemical Engineering Data Analysis Made Easy with DataFit

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brenner, James R.

2006-01-01

The outline for half of a one-credit-hour course in analysis of chemical engineering data is presented, along with a range of typical problems encountered later on in the chemical engineering curriculum that can be used to reinforce the data analysis skills learned in the course. This mini course allows students to be exposed to a variety of ChE…

Table-Top Robotics for Engineering Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilczynski, Vincent; Dixon, Gregg; Ford, Eric

2005-01-01

The Mechanical Engineering Section at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy has developed a comprehensive activity based course to introduce second year students to mechanical engineering design. The culminating design activity for the course requires students to design, construct and test robotic devices that complete engineering challenges. Teams of…

Incorporating Engineering Design Challenges into STEM Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Householder, Daniel L., Ed.; Hailey, Christine E., Ed.

2012-01-01

Successful strategies for incorporating engineering design challenges into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses in American high schools are presented in this paper. The developers have taken the position that engineering design experiences should be an important component of the high school education of all American…

A Graduate Course in Polymer Processing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Middleman, Stanley

1978-01-01

This course, offered by the departments of chemical engineering and polymer science and engineering at the University of Massachusetts, is mainly a course in applied fluid dynamics with an emphasis on flow pressures dominated by viscous effects. (BB)

NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Paper 14: An analysis of the technical communications practices reported by Israeli and US aerospace engineers and scientists

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barclay, Rebecca O.; Pinelli, Thomas E.; Elazar, David; Kennedy, John M.

1991-01-01

As part of Phase 4 of the NASA/DoD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project, two pilot studies were conducted that investigated the technical communications practices of Israeli and U.S. aerospace engineers and scientists. Both studies had the same five objectives: first, to solicit the opinions of aerospace engineers and scientists regarding the importance of technical communications to their profession; second, to determine the use and production of technical communications by aerospace engineers and scientists; third, to seek their view about the appropriate content of an undergraduate course in technical communications; fourth, to determine aerospace engineers' and scientists' use of libraries, technical information centers, and on-line databases; and fifth, to determine the use and importance of computer and information technology to them. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to randomly selected U.S. aerospace engineers and scientists who are working in cryogenics, adaptive walls, and magnetic suspension. A slightly modified version was sent to Israeli aerospace engineers and scientists working at Israel Aircraft Industries, LTD. Responses of the Israeli and U.S. aerospace engineers and scientists to selected questions are presented in this paper.

Retention, Success, and Satisfaction of Engineering Students Based on the First-Year Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prendergast, Lydia Q.

2013-01-01

A project-based course for first-year engineering students, called Engineering Exploration, was created an implemented with the goals of increasing retention, providing professional skills, increasing interest about engineering, and to aide in choosing an engineering major. Over 100 students have taken the course since its inception in Fall 2009.…

Small Engine Repair Course Outline.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeClouet, Fred

Small engines as referred to here are engines used on lawn mowers, chain saws, power plants, outboards, and cycles. It does not include engines used on automobiles. The course outlined is intended to show how small two-cycle and four-cycle gas engines are constructed, how they operate, what goes wrong, and how to service and repair them. It is…

Examining Gender Inequality In A High School Engineering Course.

PubMed

Riegle-Crumb, Catherine; Moore, Chelsea

2013-01-01

This paper examines gender inequality within the context of an upper-level high school engineering course recently offered in Texas. Data was collected from six high schools that serve students from a variety of backgrounds. Among the almost two hundred students who enrolled in this challenge-based engineering course, females constituted a clear minority, comprising only a total of 14% of students. Quantitative analyses of surveys administered at the beginning of the school year (Fall 2011) revealed statistically significant gender gaps in personal attitudes towards engineering and perceptions of engineering climate. Specifically, we found that compared to males, females reported lower interest in and intrinsic value for engineering, and expressed less confidence in their engineering skills. Additionally, female students felt that the classroom was less inclusive and viewed engineering occupations as less progressive. Gender disparities on all of these measures did not significantly decrease by the end of the school year (Spring 2012). Findings suggest that efforts to increase the representation of women in the engineering pipeline via increasing exposure in secondary education must contend not only with obstacles to recruiting high school girls into engineering courses, but must also work to remedy gender differences in engineering attitudes within the classroom.

Examining Gender Inequality In A High School Engineering Course

PubMed Central

Moore, Chelsea

2014-01-01

This paper examines gender inequality within the context of an upper-level high school engineering course recently offered in Texas. Data was collected from six high schools that serve students from a variety of backgrounds. Among the almost two hundred students who enrolled in this challenge-based engineering course, females constituted a clear minority, comprising only a total of 14% of students. Quantitative analyses of surveys administered at the beginning of the school year (Fall 2011) revealed statistically significant gender gaps in personal attitudes towards engineering and perceptions of engineering climate. Specifically, we found that compared to males, females reported lower interest in and intrinsic value for engineering, and expressed less confidence in their engineering skills. Additionally, female students felt that the classroom was less inclusive and viewed engineering occupations as less progressive. Gender disparities on all of these measures did not significantly decrease by the end of the school year (Spring 2012). Findings suggest that efforts to increase the representation of women in the engineering pipeline via increasing exposure in secondary education must contend not only with obstacles to recruiting high school girls into engineering courses, but must also work to remedy gender differences in engineering attitudes within the classroom. PMID:25568814

Bringing education to your virtual doorstep

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaurov, Vitaliy

2013-03-01

We currently witness significant migration of academic resources towards online CMS, social networking, and high-end computerized education. This happens for traditional academic programs as well as for outreach initiatives. The talk will go over a set of innovative integrated technologies, many of which are free. These were developed by Wolfram Research in order to facilitate and enhance the learning process in mathematical and physical sciences. Topics include: cloud computing with Mathematica Online; natural language programming; interactive educational resources and web publishing at the Wolfram Demonstrations Project; the computational knowledge engine Wolfram Alpha; Computable Document Format (CDF) and self-publishing with interactive e-books; course assistant apps for mobile platforms. We will also discuss outreach programs where such technologies are extensively used, such as the Wolfram Science Summer School and the Mathematica Summer Camp.

Where Are We Now? Statistics on Capstone Courses Nationwide

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howe, Susannah

2010-01-01

Capstone design courses are an increasingly common component of engineering curricula nationwide, but how much do we really know about the current practices? How do capstone courses differ across departments and institutions? How have capstone courses changed in the past 10 years? This paper highlights data from a survey of engineering capstone…

ICT-Aided Engineering Courses: A Multi-Campus Course Management

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dana-Picard, Thierry; Kidron, Ivy; Komar, Meir; Steiner, Joseph

2006-01-01

Jerusalem College of Technology (JCT) is a multi-campus institution with identical syllabi for courses in every campus. Moreover, learning at JCT requires at the same time synchronous and asynchronous learning and teaching. For some introductory courses in Mathematics for Engineering students, websites have been built and now upgraded in order to…

Using experimental design modules for process characterization in manufacturing/materials processes laboratories

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ankenman, Bruce; Ermer, Donald; Clum, James A.

1994-01-01

Modules dealing with statistical experimental design (SED), process modeling and improvement, and response surface methods have been developed and tested in two laboratory courses. One course was a manufacturing processes course in Mechanical Engineering and the other course was a materials processing course in Materials Science and Engineering. Each module is used as an 'experiment' in the course with the intent that subsequent course experiments will use SED methods for analysis and interpretation of data. Evaluation of the modules' effectiveness has been done by both survey questionnaires and inclusion of the module methodology in course examination questions. Results of the evaluation have been very positive. Those evaluation results and details of the modules' content and implementation are presented. The modules represent an important component for updating laboratory instruction and to provide training in quality for improved engineering practice.

Development and Testing of Assessment Instruments for Multidisciplinary Engineering Capstone Design Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gerlick, Robert Edward

2010-01-01

The research presented in this manuscript was focused on the development of assessments for engineering design outcomes. The primary goal was to support efforts by the Transferrable Integrated Design Engineering Education (TIDEE) consortium in developing assessment instruments for multidisciplinary engineering capstone courses. Research conducted…

Teaching Agile Software Engineering Using Problem-Based Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El-Khalili, Nuha H.

2013-01-01

Many studies have reported the utilization of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in teaching Software Engineering courses. However, these studies have different views of the effectiveness of PBL. This paper presents the design of an Advanced Software Engineering course for undergraduate Software Engineering students that uses PBL to teach them Agile…

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…

Kuwaiti engineers' perspectives of the engineering senior design (Capstone) course as related to their professional experiences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alsagheer, Abdullah

This study looks into transfer of learning and its application in the actual employment of engineering students after graduation. At Kuwait University, a capstone course is being offered that aims to ensure that students amalgamate all kinds of engineering skills to apply to their work. Within a basic interpretive, qualitative study-design methodology, I interviewed 12 engineers who have recently experienced the senior design course at Kuwait University and are presently working in industry. From the analysis, four basic themes emerged that further delineate the focus of the entire study. The themes are 1) need for the capstone course, 2) applicability of and problems with the capstone course, 3) industry problems with training, and 4) students' attitudes toward the capstone course. The study concludes that participants are not transferring engineering skills; rather, they are transferring all types of instructions they have been given during their course of study at the university. A frequent statement is that the capstone course should be improved and specifically that it is necessary to improve upon the timing, schedule, teachers' behavior, contents, and format. The study concludes that Kuwaiti engineers on the whole face problems with time management and management support. The study includes some implications for Kuwait University and recommendations that can provide significant support for the development of the Senior Design (Capstone) Course. For examples: the project must be divided into phases to ensure timely completion of deliverables. In order to motivate students for hard work and to achieve true transfer of learning, Kuwait University is required to communicate with certain organizations to place its students at their research centers for capstone projects. All universities, including Kuwait University, should hire faculty specifically to run the capstone course. In conclusion, the study includes some suggestions for further research studies focused on issues related to the Senior Design (Capstone) Course. Future researchers should focus on developing the project-based course in earlier stages of students' educational program by investigating more about the relationship between student achievement and the market demand.

Important Role of the Hall Effect Measurement System in a Modified Course of Materials in Electrical Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stojanovic, G.; Savic, S.; Zivanov, L.

2009-01-01

The course "Materials in Electrical Engineering" is a core course in the Mechatronics curriculum at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. In the past, this course was comprehensive and mainly theory-based. Teaching methods used in this course had not been changed for many years, and were mainly based on a…

A Course in Colloid and Surface Science.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scamehorn, John F.

1984-01-01

Describes a course for chemical engineers, chemists, and petroleum engineers that focuses on colloid and surface science. Major topic areas in the course include capillarity, surface thermodynamics, adsorption contact angle, micelle formation, solubilization in micelles, emulsions, foams, and applications. (JN)

Planetary materials and resource utilization: An interdisciplinary engineering design course at Michigan Technological University

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rose, W. I.; Paces, J. B.; Chesner, C. A.; Pletka, B. J.; Hellawell, A.; Kawatra, S. K.; Pilling, J. E.

1990-01-01

A new course was developed and instituted in the spring quarter of 1989 dealing with topics related to space resource utilization and related engineering. The course development required a concerted, coordinated effort, because a similar course which might be used as a guide could not be identified anywhere and the interdisciplinary perspective that was required was not identified anywhere on the university campus. Students in the class worked on interdisciplinary design projects which culminated in papers and oral presentations. Each of the six design groups consisted of several engineers with different disciplinary roots. The entire course lecture sequence, about 50 hours in all, was videotaped. Discussed here are the authors' experiences in developing the course, including the course syllabus and speaker list.

A Joint Venture Model for Teaching Required Courses in "Ethics and Engineering" to Engineering Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zandvoort, H.; Van Hasselt, G. J.; Bonnet, J. A. B. A. F.

2008-01-01

We present our experience, spanning more than 10 years of teaching a course on "ethics and engineering" for a group of MSc programmes in applied sciences at Delft University of Technology. The course is taught by a team of teachers from the faculty of Applied Sciences and from the department of Philosophy of the Faculty of Technology,…

Preparing systems engineering and computing science students in disciplined methods, quantitative, and advanced statistical techniques to improve process performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCray, Wilmon Wil L., Jr.

The research was prompted by a need to conduct a study that assesses process improvement, quality management and analytical techniques taught to students in U.S. colleges and universities undergraduate and graduate systems engineering and the computing science discipline (e.g., software engineering, computer science, and information technology) degree programs during their academic training that can be applied to quantitatively manage processes for performance. Everyone involved in executing repeatable processes in the software and systems development lifecycle processes needs to become familiar with the concepts of quantitative management, statistical thinking, process improvement methods and how they relate to process-performance. Organizations are starting to embrace the de facto Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI RTM) Models as process improvement frameworks to improve business processes performance. High maturity process areas in the CMMI model imply the use of analytical, statistical, quantitative management techniques, and process performance modeling to identify and eliminate sources of variation, continually improve process-performance; reduce cost and predict future outcomes. The research study identifies and provides a detail discussion of the gap analysis findings of process improvement and quantitative analysis techniques taught in U.S. universities systems engineering and computing science degree programs, gaps that exist in the literature, and a comparison analysis which identifies the gaps that exist between the SEI's "healthy ingredients " of a process performance model and courses taught in U.S. universities degree program. The research also heightens awareness that academicians have conducted little research on applicable statistics and quantitative techniques that can be used to demonstrate high maturity as implied in the CMMI models. The research also includes a Monte Carlo simulation optimization model and dashboard that demonstrates the use of statistical methods, statistical process control, sensitivity analysis, quantitative and optimization techniques to establish a baseline and predict future customer satisfaction index scores (outcomes). The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) model and industry benchmarks were used as a framework for the simulation model.

A Service Learning Structural Engineering Capstone Course and the Assessment of Technical and Non-Technical Objectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dinehart, David W.; Gross, Shawn P.

2010-01-01

The primary role of a civil engineer is to serve the community; thus, it is essential that students understand the impact of engineering projects on, and the context of engineering projects within, society. One goal of an engineering capstone design course should be to mesh the technical knowledge of the discipline with an encompassing engineering…

Linking First-Year and Senior Engineering Design Teams: Engaging Early Academic Career Students in Engineering Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fox, Garey A.; Weckler, Paul; Thomas, Dan

2015-01-01

In Biosystems Engineering at Oklahoma State University, senior design is a two semester course in which students work on real-world projects provided by clients. First-year (freshmen and trans­fer) students enroll in an introductory engineering course. Historically, these students worked on a team-based analysis project, and the engineering design…

Redesigning the Student Learning Approach through Personality Types and Pedagogies, A Case Study in an Undergraduate Engineering Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fleischmann, Corinna; Nakagawa, Elizabeth; Kelley, Tyler

2016-01-01

As the National Science Foundation and engineers throughout the world seek to strengthen the future of the engineering profession, the Civil Engineering (CE) program at the United States Coast Guard Academy embodies this initiative with a student focused approach. One course in particular, Materials for Civil and Construction Engineers (CE…

Vertical stream curricula integration of problem-based learning using an autonomous vacuum robot in a mechatronics course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chin, Cheng; Yue, Keng

2011-10-01

Difficulties in teaching a multi-disciplinary subject such as the mechatronics system design module in Departments of Mechatronics Engineering at Temasek Polytechnic arise from the gap in experience and skill among staff and students who have different backgrounds in mechanical, computer and electrical engineering within the Mechatronics Department. The departments piloted a new vertical stream curricula model (VSCAM) to enhance student learning in mechatronics system design through integration of educational activities from the first to the second year of the course. In this case study, a problem-based learning (PBL) method on an autonomous vacuum robot in the mechatronics systems design module was proposed to allow the students to have hands-on experience in the mechatronics system design. The proposed works included in PBL consist of seminar sessions, weekly works and project presentation to provide holistic assessment on teamwork and individual contributions. At the end of VSCAM, an integrative evaluation was conducted using confidence logs, attitude surveys and questionnaires. It was found that the activities were quite appreciated by the participating staff and students. Hence, PBL has served as an effective pedagogical framework for teaching multidisciplinary subjects in mechatronics engineering education if adequate guidance and support are given to staff and students.

A Short Course in Problems in Applied Science and Engineering.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nicholson, H. W.

1987-01-01

Provides a description of a concentrated four-week term course that provided students with opportunities of association with applied science and engineering professionals. Reviews the program's organizational structure, project requirements, and summarizes students reactions to the course. (ML)

Ethics and engineering courses at Delft University of Technology: contents, educational setup and experiences.

PubMed

van de Poel, I R; Zandvoort, H; Brumsen, M

2001-04-01

This article reports on the development and teaching of compulsory courses on ethics and engineering at Delft University of Technology (DUT). Attention is paid to the teaching goals, the educational setup and methods, the contents of the courses, involvement of staff from engineering schools, experiences to date, and challenges for the future. The choices made with respect to the development and teaching of the courses are placed within the European and Dutch context and are compared and contrasted with the American situation and experiences.

Ethical Guidelines for Computer Security Researchers: "Be Reasonable"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sassaman, Len

For most of its existence, the field of computer science has been lucky enough to avoid ethical dilemmas by virtue of its relatively benign nature. The subdisciplines of programming methodology research, microprocessor design, and so forth have little room for the greater questions of human harm. Other, more recently developed sub-disciplines, such as data mining, social network analysis, behavioral profiling, and general computer security, however, open the door to abuse of users by practitioners and researchers. It is therefore the duty of the men and women who chart the course of these fields to set rules for themselves regarding what sorts of actions on their part are to be considered acceptable and what should be avoided or handled with caution out of ethical concerns. This paper deals solely with the issues faced by computer security researchers, be they vulnerability analysts, privacy system designers, malware experts, or reverse engineers.

An Introduction to the Fundamentals of Chemistry for the Marine Engineer - An Audio-Tutorial Correspondence Course (CH-1C).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schlenker, Richard M.

This document provides a study guide for a three-credit-hour fundamentals of chemistry course for marine engineer majors. The course is composed of 17 minicourses including: chemical reactions, atomic theory, solutions, corrosion, organic chemistry, water pollution, metric system, and remedial mathematics skills. Course grading, objectives,…

Attitudes and Perceptions of Students in a Systems Engineering E-Learnig Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Vega, Carolina Armijo; McAnally-Salas, Lewis; Lavigne, Gilles

2009-01-01

In this paper is reported the attitudes and perception of students in a systems Engineering e-learning course and a teacher with more than six years of experience teaching online courses. The paper reports the teacher and students' perceptions about the e-learning courses experience. Personalized interviews with some of the students were carried…

A Project-Based Cornerstone Course in Civil Engineering: Student Perceptions and Identity Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marshall, Jill; Bhasin, Amit; Boyles, Stephen; David, Bernard; James, Rachel; Patrick, Anita

2018-01-01

Our study used a natural experiment to compare a project-based cornerstone course with the traditionally-taught introductory course in civil engineering. During the study, two sections of the course were organized around an overarching project, the design of an event center, and the remaining sections used guest lectures, a textbook, and…

Effect of Continuous Assessment on Learning Outcomes on Two Chemical Engineering Courses: Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tuunila, R.; Pulkkinen, M.

2015-01-01

In this paper, the effect of continuous assessment on the learning outcomes of two chemical engineering courses is studied over a several-year period. Average grades and passing percentages of courses after the final examination are reported and also student feedback on the courses is collected. The results indicate significantly better learning…

Course Design and Student Responses to an Online PBL Course in 3D Modelling for Mining Engineers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McAlpine, Iain; Stothard, Phillip

2005-01-01

To enhance a course in 3D Virtual Reality (3D VR) modelling for mining engineers, and to create the potential for off campus students to fully engage with the course, a problem based learning (PBL) approach was applied to the course design and all materials and learning activities were provided online. This paper outlines some of the theoretical…

Princeton Science and Engineering Education Initiative: Revising Undergraduate Environmental Science Courses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riihimaki, C. A.; Sealfon, C. D.; Paine, E. N.; O'Donnell, F. C.; Caylor, K. K.; Wilcove, D. S.

2012-12-01

The Science and Engineering Education Initiative at Princeton University aims to inspire and prepare all undergraduates, irrespective of their majors, to become scientifically and technologically literate citizens and decision-makers. Launched by the faculty on the Council on Science and Technology in September 2011, the initiative involves revising and creating science and engineering courses that emphasize the role of science in society. The course "Fundamentals of Environmental Studies" will serve as a model course for the initiative starting with revisions to the course in Fall 2012. Given the general interest undergraduates have for sustainability topics and the obvious connections between sustainability and society, this course should generate ample interest from students across the campus. We have begun the Initiative by defining student-centered learning goals and surveying students' attitudes towards science and engineering. Course by course, we are also gradually applying research-based teaching methods to better align course activities with learning goals, assessing learning gains, and creating a repository of successful methods and courses. Among the changes to "Fundamentals of Environmental Studies" will be a greater emphasis on science communication, such as incorporating an assignment in which students track the evolution of communicating a research project, from journal article to newspaper coverage to editorials.

Impact of magnetic suspension stiffness on aeroelastic compressor rotor vibrations of gas pumping units

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mekhonoshina, E. V.; Modorskii, V. Ya.

2016-10-01

This paper describes simulation of oscillation modes in the elastic rotor supports with the gas-dynamic flow influence on the rotor in the magnetic suspension in the course of computational experiments. The system of engineering analysis ANSYS 15.0 was used as a numerical tool. The finite volume method for gas dynamics and finite element method for evaluating components of the stress-strain state (SSS) were applied for computation. The research varied magnetic suspension rigidity and estimated the SSS components in the system "gas-dynamic flow - compressor rotor - magnetic suspensions." The influence of aeroelastic effects on the impeller and the rotor on the deformability of vibration magnetic suspension was detected.

Reading Hertz's own dipole theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aničin, B. A.

2008-01-01

It is well known that the discoverer of radio waves, Heinrich Hertz, was the first man to apply Maxwell's electrodynamic theory to a problem in radio wave propagation. In this paper, we scrutinize his near-field lines of force using computers and his theory. In one of his four figures, a feature was found which was not to be obtained by computation. This feature, a self-intersecting line of force, more or less a figure of eight, appears strange to the eye. The clarity of the original work by H Hertz on electromagnetic waves should be of great value in both physics and engineering courses. This holds in particular for his Q function, almost completely forgotten today.

Student Opinions and Perceptions of Undergraduate Thermodynamics Courses in Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ugursal, V. Ismet; Cruickshank, Cynthia A.

2015-01-01

Thermodynamics is a fundamental foundation of all engineering disciplines. A vast majority of engineering undergraduate programmes contain one or more courses on thermodynamics, and many engineers use thermodynamics every day to analyse or design energy systems. However, there is extensive anecdotal evidence as well as a wide range of published…

Automotive Engines; Automotive Mechanics I: 9043.03.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dade County Public Schools, Miami, FL.

This automotive engines course studies and demonstrates the theory and principles of operation of the automotive four stroke cycle engine. The student will develop an understanding of the systems necessary to make the engine perform as designed, such as cooling, fuel, ignition and lubrication. This is a one or two quinmester credit course of 45…

Military Curriculum Materials for Vocational and Technical Education. Engine Principles, 8-3. Edition 5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohio State Univ., Columbus. National Center for Research in Vocational Education.

This individualized, self-paced course for independent study in engine principles has been adapted from military curriculum materials for vocational education use. The course provides the student with basic information on engine principles including different kinds of combustion engines, lubrication systems, and cooling systems. It is organized…

The Accuracy of Student Grading in First-Year Engineering Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Hattum-Janssen, Natascha; Pacheco, Jose Augusto; Vasconcelos, Rosa Maria

2004-01-01

Assessment has become a powerful tool to change student learning. In a project of the Council of Engineering Courses of the University of Minho, Portugal, students of textile engineering, apparel engineering and industrial electronics increased their participation in every aspect of their assessment process. The traditional exam was changed to…

Renovation of a mechanical engineering senior design class to an industry-tied and team-oriented course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yucheng

2017-11-01

In this work, an industry-based and team-oriented education model was established based on a traditional mechanical engineering (ME) senior design class in order to better prepare future engineers and leaders so as to meet the increasing demand for high-quality engineering graduates. In the renovated curriculum, industry-sponsored projects became the most important course component and critical assessment tool, from which problem-solving skills as well as employability skills of the ME students can be fully developed. Hands-on experiences in finite element analysis (FEA) modelling and simulation were also added into the renovated curriculum to promote the application of FEA on engineering design and assessment. Evaluation of the renovated course was conducted using two instruments and the results have shown that the course made the ME senior students more prepared for their future career and a win-win model was created between the industry partner and the ME programme through it. Impact of the renovated syllabus on Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology goals was discussed. Based on the current progress, a more substantial change is being planned to further improve the effectiveness and practicability of this design course. The renovated course was started to offer to the ME senior students at Mississippi State University.

Increasing student confidence in technical and professional skills through project based learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, Alice L.

This work focuses on developing undergraduate students' technical and professional skills through a project-based spiral curriculum in the Agricultural & Biological Engineering department at Purdue that can be implemented campus wide. Through this curriculum, Purdue engineers will be prepared for leadership roles in responding to the global technological, economic, and societal challenges of the 21st century by exposure to the relationships between engineering and its impacts on real world needs and challenges. Project-based learning uses projects as the focus of instruction and has shown increased understanding, motivation, and confidence through application of engineering principles to real-world problems. The strength of a spiral curriculum is that it continually revisits basic ideas and themes with increasing complexity and sophistication. The proposed spiral curriculum incorporates the target attributes of the Purdue Engineer of 2020 through project based courses during sophomore, junior, and senior year. These courses will build on concepts taught during first year engineering as well. The Engineer of 2020 (NAE and Purdue) target attributes include strong technical and professional skills to solve societal and technological burdens. A prototype course has been developed, taught, and evaluated during the previous two fall semesters in the sophomore level of the Biological and Food Process Engineering curriculum. The target students met 3 hours a week in a traditional lecture setting plus 2 hours a week in a project based lab setting. The control group met only 3 hours a week in a traditional lecture setting. Peer and self assessment results from student surveys show increased confidence in every area surveyed. Focus groups revealed student reactions to the course. Students enjoyed the course but felt it difficult to handle ambiguity with project work. Future work includes course revisions to the content, assessment, and pedagogy of the prototype class, development of the remaining project courses in the curriculum, and increasing graduate student instruction in the courses to gain teaching and leadership experience.

Computer and Software Use in Teaching the Beginning Statistics Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bartz, Albert E.; Sabolik, Marisa A.

2001-01-01

Surveys the extent of computer usage in the beginning statistics course and the variety of statistics software used. Finds that 69% of the psychology departments used computers in beginning statistics courses and 90% used computer-assisted data analysis in statistics or other courses. (CMK)

Seeing through the lens of social justice: A threshold for engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kabo, Jens David

In recent times the need for educational research dedicated to engineering education has been recognised. This PhD project is a contribution to the development of engineering education scholarship and the growing body of engineering education research. In this project it was recognised that problem solving is a central activity to engineering. However, it was also recognised that the conditions for doing engineering are changing, especially in light of pressing issues of poverty and environmental sustainability that humanity currently faces, and as a consequence, engineering education needs to emphasise problem definition to a greater extent. One mechanism for achieving this, which has been adopted by some engineering educators in recent years, is through courses that explicitly relate engineering to social justice. However, creating this relationship requires critical interdisciplinary thinking that is alien to most engineering students. In this dissertation it is suggested that for engineering students, and more generally, engineers, looking at their practice and profession through a social justice lens might be seen as a threshold that needs to be crossed. By studying the variation present among students in three different courses at three different North American universities, the intention was to understand how students approach and internalise social justice as a perspective on engineering and/or develop their abilities to think critically. A conceptual model to frame the study was developed by combining elements of threshold concept theory and the educational research methodology, phenomenographic variation theory. All three of the courses studied operated on a similar basic pedagogical model, however, the courses were framed differently, with social justice in the foreground or in the background with the focus on, in one case, ethics and in the other, sustainability. All courses studied appeared to be successful in encouraging engineering students to engage in critical thinking and a similar general trend in the development of students' conceptions of social justice was observed in each of the three courses. However, it does appear that if one is interested in developing an articulated understanding of social justice, with respect to engineering, that an explicit focus on social justice is preferable.

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.

Advertising Post-Experience Courses in Science and Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomas, Edward

1978-01-01

Describes ten different forms of advertising that have been used to recruit scientists and engineers to residential postexperience courses. Reports the results of a survey conducted to assess the relative cost-benefit of each advertising method in attracting adult students to specialized postexperience courses. (EM)

Effects of unique biomedical education programs for engineers: REDEEM and ESTEEM projects.

PubMed

Matsuki, Noriaki; Takeda, Motohiro; Yamano, Masahiro; Imai, Yohsuke; Ishikawa, Takuji; Yamaguchi, Takami

2009-06-01

Current engineering applications in the medical arena are extremely progressive. However, it is rather difficult for medical doctors and engineers to discuss issues because they do not always understand one another's jargon or ways of thinking. Ideally, medical engineers should become acquainted with medicine, and engineers should be able to understand how medical doctors think. Tohoku University in Japan has managed a number of unique reeducation programs for working engineers. Recurrent Education for the Development of Engineering Enhanced Medicine has been offered as a basic learning course since 2004, and Education through Synergetic Training for Engineering Enhanced Medicine has been offered as an advanced learning course since 2006. These programs, which were developed especially for engineers, consist of interactive, modular, and disease-based lectures (case studies) and substantial laboratory work. As a result of taking these courses, all students obtained better objective outcomes, on tests, and subjective outcomes, through student satisfaction. In this article, we report on our unique biomedical education programs for engineers and their effects on working engineers.

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…

An Alternative Route to Chemical Engineering for Minority and Other Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cussler, E. L.

The following three alternative ways in which minority group chemistry majors may be trained as chemical engineers are examined in this paper: (l) they are admitted as engineers and take the same courses as engineering students at the graduate level; (2) undergraduate courses are taken as part of the transition from chemistry to chemical…

An Introduction of Finite Element Method in the Engineering Teaching at the University of Camaguey.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Napoles, Elsa; Blanco, Ramon; Jimenez, Rafael; Mc.Pherson, Yoanka

This paper illuminates experiences related to introducing finite element methods (FEM) in mechanical and civil engineering courses at the University of Camaguey in Cuba and provides discussion on using FEM in postgraduate courses for industry engineers. Background information on the introduction of FEM in engineering teaching is focused on…

The Effects of Spatial Visualization Skill Training on Gender and Retention in Engineering.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Devon, Richard; Engel, Renata; Turner, Geoffrey

1998-01-01

Engineering students were given a mental rotation test at the beginning and end of their first-year engineering course and again several years later to assess the relationship between spatial visualization skill and retention in engineering. No relationship was found between task scores and retention; however, a course in design and graphics…

High School Engineering and Technology Education Integration through Design Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mentzer, Nathan

2011-01-01

This study contextualized the use of the engineering design process by providing descriptions of how each element in a design process was integrated in an eleventh grade industry and engineering systems course. The guiding research question for this inquiry was: How do students engage in the engineering design process in a course where technology…

Power Product Equipment Technician: Outboard-Engine Systems and Service. Teacher Edition [and] Student Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hilley, Robert

This curriculum guide contains teacher and student materials for a course on outboard-engine boat systems and service for power product equipment technician occupations. The course contains the following four units of instruction: (1) Outboard-Engine Design and Identification; (2) Operation and Service of Engine-Support Systems; (3) Operation and…

Offshore Wind Energy Systems Engineering Curriculum Development

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

McGowan, Jon G.; Manwell, James F.; Lackner, Matthew A.

2012-12-31

Utility-scale electricity produced from offshore wind farms has the potential to contribute significantly to the energy production of the United States. In order for the U.S. to rapidly develop these abundant resources, knowledgeable scientists and engineers with sound understanding of offshore wind energy systems are critical. This report summarizes the development of an upper-level engineering course in "Offshore Wind Energy Systems Engineering." This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of both the technical challenges of offshore wind energy and the practical regulatory, permitting, and planning aspects of developing offshore wind farms in the U.S. This coursemore » was offered on a pilot basis in 2011 at the University of Massachusetts and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), TU Delft, and GL Garrad Hassan have reviewed its content. As summarized in this report, the course consists of 17 separate topic areas emphasizing appropriate engineering fundamentals as well as development, planning, and regulatory issues. In addition to the course summary, the report gives the details of a public Internet site where references and related course material can be obtained. This course will fill a pressing need for the education and training of the U.S. workforce in this critically important area. Fundamentally, this course will be unique due to two attributes: an emphasis on the engineering and technical aspects of offshore wind energy systems, and a focus on offshore wind energy issues specific to the United States.« less

Education in applied and instrumental optics at the University of Helsinki

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stenman, Folke

1997-12-01

The teaching of applied and instrumental optics at the University of Helsinki Department of Physics originally grew out of the needs of the research group of molecular physics as a basis for the experimental work in the group. The training program starts with a one-year course for senior undergraduates and graduates comprising geometrical optics, eikonal theory, image forming components, matrix methods, optical instruments, the optics of laser beams, radiometry and photometry, ray tracing methods, optics of anisotropic media, diffraction theory, general image formation theory and Fourier optics. The course starts from fundamentals, but the mathematical level is kept adequate for serious work. Further applications are treated in courses on molecular spectroscopy, where ruled and holographic diffraction gratings (both plane and spherical), interferometric spectroscopy and imaging properties of spectral equipment are treated. Aspects of image analysis, information in optics, signal-to-noise ratio, etc. are treated in separate courses on Fourier method and digital spectral analysis. The applicability of optical techniques to various fields of physics and engineering and the analogies with them are especially brought out. Experimental and calculational and skills are stressed throughout. Computer programming is introduced as an indispensable tool for the optics practitioner, and the students are required to write programs of their own. The students gain practical experience, e.g., by working in the molecular physics group. Close cooperation is maintained with other research groups in laser physics, ultrasonics and physical chemistry. The training in optics has proved very useful, with students frequently ending up working in the industry on optics and spectroscopy problems. Parts of these courses have also been given at other universities and to engineers and scientists working in the industry.

Right tail increasing dependence between scores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernández, M.; García, Jesús E.; González-López, V. A.; Romano, N.

2017-07-01

In this paper we investigate the behavior of the conditional probability Prob(U > u|V > v) of two records coming from students of an undergraduate course, where U is the score of calculus I, scaled in [0, 1] and V is the score of physics scaled in [0, 1], the physics subject is part of the admission test of the university. For purposes of comparison, we consider two different undergraduate courses, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering, during nine years, from 2003 to 2011. Through a Bayesian perspective we estimate Prob(U > u|V > v) year by year and course by course. We conclude that U is right tail increasing in V, in both courses and for all the years. Moreover, over these nine years, we observe different ranges of variability for the estimated probabilities of electrical engineering when compared to the estimated probabilities of mechanical engineering.

Situated Mathematics Teaching within Electrical Engineering Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hennig, Markus; Mertsching, Bärbel; Hilkenmeier, Frederic

2015-01-01

The initial phase of undergraduate engineering degree programmes often comprises courses requiring mathematical expertise which in some cases clearly exceeds school mathematics, but will be imparted only later in mathematics courses. In this article, an approach addressing this challenge by way of example within a "fundamentals of electrical…

Teaching Sustainability Analysis in Electrical Engineering Lab Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Braun, D.

2010-01-01

Laboratory courses represent an incompletely tapped opportunity to teach sustainability concepts. This work introduces and evaluates a simple strategy used to teach sustainability concepts in electrical engineering laboratory courses. The technique would readily adapt to other disciplines. The paper presents assessment data and a wiki containing…

How Much Safety Do We Need in ChE Education?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mewis, Jan

1984-01-01

Discusses aims, objectives, and content of a safety course for chemical engineering students. Course emphasizes awareness of hazards, basic concepts and principles of safety engineering, and the ability to recognize, assess, and remedy specific risks occurring in chemical plants. Course implementation is also discussed. (JN)

The Effectiveness of Contextual Learning on Physics Achievement in Career Technical Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arcand, Scott Andrew

The purpose of this casual-comparative study was to determine if students being taught the Minnesota Science Physics Standards via contextual learning methods in Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Principles of Engineering or the PLTW Aerospace Engineering courses, taught by a Career Technical Education (CTE) teacher, achieve at the same rate as students in a physics course taught by a science teacher. The PLTW courses only cover the standards taught in the first trimester of physics. The PLTW courses are two periods long for one trimester. Students who successfully pass the PLTW Principles of Engineering course or the PLTW Engineering Aerospace course earn one-half credit in physics and one-half elective credit. The instrument used to measure student achievement was the district common summative assessment for physics. The Common Summative Assessment scores were pulled from the data warehouse from the first trimester of the 2013-2014 school year. Implications of the research address concepts of contextual learning especially in the Career Technical Education space. The mean score for Physics students (30.916) and PLTW Principles of Engineering students (32.333) was not statistically significantly different. Students in PLTW Principles of Engineering achieved at the same rate as students in physics. Due to the low rate of students participating in the Common Summative Assessment in PTLW Aerospace (four out of seven students), there is not enough data to determine if there is a significant difference in the Physics A scores and PLTW Aerospace Engineering scores.

Development of teaching material to integrate GT-POWER into combustion courses for IC engine simulations.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-02-01

The main objective of this project was to develop instructional engineering projects that utilize the newly-offered PACE software GT-POWER for engine simulations in combustion-related courses at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Stud...

Graduate Training Program in Ocean Engineering. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frey, Henry R.

Activities during the first three years of New York University's Ocean Engineering Program are described including the development of new courses and summaries of graduate research projects. This interdepartmental program at the master's level includes aeronautics, chemical engineering, metallurgy, and physical oceanography. Eleven courses were…

A Position on a Computer Literacy Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Self, Charles C.

A position is put forth on the appropriate content of a computer literacy course and the role of computer literacy in the community college. First, various definitions of computer literacy are examined, including the programming, computer awareness, and comprehensive approaches. Next, five essential components of a computer literacy course are…

Design and Development of a Course in Professionalism and Ethics for CDIO Curriculum in China.

PubMed

Fan, Yinghui; Zhang, Xingwei; Xie, Xinlu

2015-10-01

At Shantou University (STU) in 2008, a stand-alone engineering ethics course was first included within a Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO) curriculum to address the scarcity of engineering ethics education in China. The philosophy of the course design is to help students to develop an in-depth understanding of social sustainability and to fulfill the obligations of engineers in the twenty-first century within the context of CDIO engineering practices. To guarantee the necessary cooperation of the relevant parties, we have taken advantage of the top-down support from the STU administration. Three themes corresponding to contemporary issues in China were chosen as the course content: engineers' social obligations, intellectual property and engineering safety criteria. Some popular pedagogies are used for ethics instruction such as case studies and group discussions through role-playing. To impart the diverse expertise of the practical professional practice, team teaching is adopted by interdisciplinary instructors with strong qualifications and industrial backgrounds. Although the assessment of the effectiveness of the course in enhancing students' sense of ethics is limited to assignment reports and class discussions, our endeavor is seen as positive and will continue to sustain the CDIO reform initiatives of STU.

Electric Utility Transmission and Distribution Line Engineering Program

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

Peter McKenny

2010-08-31

Economic development in the United States depends on a reliable and affordable power supply. The nation will need well educated engineers to design a modern, safe, secure, and reliable power grid for our future needs. An anticipated shortage of qualified engineers has caused considerable concern in many professional circles, and various steps are being taken nationwide to alleviate the potential shortage and ensure the North American power system's reliability, and our world-wide economic competitiveness. To help provide a well-educated and trained workforce which can sustain and modernize the nation's power grid, Gonzaga University's School of Engineering and Applied Science hasmore » established a five-course (15-credit hour) Certificate Program in Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Engineering. The program has been specifically designed to provide working utility engineering professionals with on-line access to advanced engineering courses which cover modern design practice with an industry-focused theoretical foundation. A total of twelve courses have been developed to-date and students may select any five in their area of interest for the T&D Certificate. As each course is developed and taught by a team of experienced engineers (from public and private utilities, consultants, and industry suppliers), students are provided a unique opportunity to interact directly with different industry experts over the eight weeks of each course. Course material incorporates advanced aspects of civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering disciplines that apply to power system design and are appropriate for graduate engineers. As such, target students for the certificate program include: (1) recent graduates with a Bachelor of Science Degree in an engineering field (civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.); (2) senior engineers moving from other fields to the utility industry (i.e. paper industry to utility engineering or project management positions); and (3) regular working professionals wishing to update their skills or increase their knowledge of utility engineering design practices and procedures. By providing graduate educational opportunities for the above groups, the T&D Program will help serve a strong industry need for training the next generation of engineers in the cost-effective design, construction, operation, and maintenance of modern electrical transmission and distribution systems. In addition to developing the on-line engineering courses described above, the T&D Program also focused significant efforts towards enhancing the training opportunities available to power system operators in the northwest. These efforts have included working with outside vendors to provide NERC-approved training courses in Gonzaga University's (GU) system operator training facility, support for an accurate system model which can be used in regional blackstart exercises, and the identification of a retired system operator who could provide actual regional training courses. The GU system operator training facility is also being used to recruit young workers, veterans, and various under-represented groups to the utility industry. Over the past three years students from Columbia Gorge Community College, Spokane Falls Community College, Walla Walla Community College, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, and various local high schools have attended short (one-day) system operator training courses free of charge. These collaboration efforts has been extremely well received by both students and industry, and meet T&D Program objectives of strengthening the power industry workforce while bridging the knowledge base across power worker categories, and recruiting new workers to replace a predominantly retirement age workforce. In the past three years the T&D Program has provided over 170 utility engineers with access to advanced engineering courses, been involved in training more than 300 power system operators, and provided well over 500 college and high school students with an experience in running a power system simulator and an exposure to various utility-related professions and craft trades.« less

The potential of supplemental instruction in engineering education: creating additional peer-guided learning opportunities in difficult compulsory courses for first-year students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malm, Joakim; Bryngfors, Leif; Mörner, Lise-Lotte

2016-09-01

Supplemental Instruction (SI) can be an efficient way of improving student success in difficult courses. Here, a study is made on SI attached to difficult first-year engineering courses. The results show that both the percentage of students passing a difficult first-year engineering course, and scores on the course exams are considerably higher for students attending SI, compared to students not attending. The study also shows that a higher percentage of female students attend SI, compared to male students. However, both genders seem to benefit to the same degree as a result of attending SI meetings. Also all students, independent of prior academic ability, benefit from attending SI. A qualitative study suggests that SI meetings provide elements important for understanding course material, which are missing from other scheduled learning opportunities in the courses.

Development of technical skills in Electrical Power Engineering students: A case study of Power Electronics as a Key Course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussain, I. S.; Azlee Hamid, Fazrena

2017-08-01

Technical skills are one of the attributes, an engineering student must attain by the time of graduation, as per recommended by Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC). This paper describes the development of technical skills, Programme Outcome (PO) number 5, in students taking the Bachelor of Electrical Power Engineering (BEPE) programme in Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN). Seven courses are identified to address the technical skills development. The course outcomes (CO) of the courses are designed to instill the relevant technical skills with suitable laboratory activities. Formative and summative assessments are carried out to gauge students’ acquisition of the skills. Finally, to measure the attainment of the technical skills, key course concept is used. The concept has been implemented since 2013, focusing on improvement of the programme instead of the cohort. From the PO attainment analysis method, three different levels of PO attainment can be calculated: from the programme level, down to the course and student levels. In this paper, the attainment of the courses mapped to PO5 is measured. It is shown that Power Electronics course, which is the key course for PO5, has a strong attainment at above 90%. PO5 of other six courses are also achieved. As a conclusion, by embracing outcome-based education (OBE), the BEPE programme has a sound method to develop technical psychomotor skills in the degree students.

EIT Course via Statewide TV

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marstrander, Jan H.; Talbot, Thomas F.

1975-01-01

Discusses the television broadcasting of a refresher course in mathematics and engineering fundamentals for those preparing to take the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) State Board Examination in Alabama. (MLH)

Overhaul, Inspection and Repair of Reciprocating Engines 1 (Course Outline), Aviation Mechanics (Power Plant): 9055.01.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dade County Public Schools, Miami, FL.

The course outline has been prepared as a guide to help the trainee acquire the knowledge and skills associated with the overhaul, inspection, and repair of reciprocating engines. This course is the first of two and must be completed first. Successful completion of these courses and others will provide the trainee with the knowledge and skills…

Small Engine Maintenance and Repair, Course Description.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hunt, Edward B.; Anderson, Floyd L.

Prepared by an instructor and curriculum specialists, this course of study was designed to meet individual needs of the dropout and/or hard-core unemployed youth by providing skill training, related information, and supportive services knowledge in small engine maintenance and repair. Students enrolled in this course work independently on a…

Implementation of a Project-Based Telecommunications Engineering Design Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aliakbarian, Hadi; Soh, Ping Jack; Farsi, Saeed; Xu, Hantao; Van Lil, Emmanuel H. E. M. J. C.; Nauwelaers, Bart K. J. C.; Vandenbosch, Guy A. E.; Schreurs, Dominique M. M.-P.

2014-01-01

This paper describes and discusses the implementation of a project-based graduate design course in telecommunications engineering. This course, which requires a combination of technical and soft skills for its completion, enables guided independent learning (GIL) and application of technical knowledge acquired from classroom learning. Its main…

Gasoline Engine Mechanics. Performance Objectives. Intermediate Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Marion

Several intermediate performance objectives and corresponding criterion measures are listed for each of six terminal objectives presented in this curriculum guide for an intermediate gasoline engine mechanics course at the secondary level. (For the beginning course guide see CE 010 947.) The materials were developed for a two-semester (2 hour…

Engineering Design EDUCATION: When, What, and HOW

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khalaf, Kinda; Balawi, Shadi; Hitt, George Wesley; Radaideh, Ahmad

2013-01-01

This paper presents an innovative, interdisciplinary, design-and-build course created to improve placement, content, and pedagogy for introductory engineering design education. Infused at the freshman level, the course aims to promote expert design thinking by using problem-based learning (PBL) as the mode of delivery. The course is structured to…

Experiences in Developing an Experimental Robotics Course Program for Undergraduate Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jung, Seul

2013-01-01

An interdisciplinary undergraduate-level robotics course offers students the chance to integrate their engineering knowledge learned throughout their college years by building a robotic system. Robotics is thus a core course in system and control-related engineering education. This paper summarizes the experience of developing robotics courses…

Impact Assessment of Problem-Based Learning in an Engineering Science Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nasr, Karim J.; Ramadan, Bassem H.

2008-01-01

This paper presents the development and implementation of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in an engineering thermodynamics course at Kettering University. In this project, the thermodynamics course was restructured as modules presenting practical applications first, whereas principles were introduced just-in-time and as encountered. Theoretical…

Engineering education for the 1980's: A speculation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Covert, E. E.

1975-01-01

The development of a course of study is briefly examined from two points of view. The first represents the background that would seem to be needed for a fledgling engineer upon his entry into the engineering profession and would allow him to complete successfully his on-the-job training, or engineering internship as it were. The second represents that which must be provided on the basis of the students background from secondary school. It is suggested that a course of study viewed in this way is never fixed, but rather evolves continuously. A particular evolving course of study is briefly discussed.

46 CFR 11.101 - Purpose of regulations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... officer, second engineer officer (first assistant engineer), officer in charge of an engineering watch... C of this part prescribe the requirements applicable to— (1) Each approved training course, if the training course is to be acceptable as a partial substitute for service or for a required examination, or...

Greening the Engineering and Technology Curriculum via Real Life Hands-on Projects

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This paper aims at demonstrating how greening efforts can be embedded into science and engineering courses without major curricular changes. In this regard, examples of final projects assigned in a statistical quality control, a 500-level, graduate engineering course, focusing on campus sustainabili...

Investigating Knowledge Creation Technology in an Engineering Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jalonen, Satu; Lakkala, Minna; Paavola, Sami

2011-01-01

The aim of the present study was to examine the technological affordances of a web-based collaborative learning technology, Knowledge Practices Environment (KPE), for supporting different dimensions of knowledge creation processes. KPE was used by engineering students in a practically oriented undergraduate engineering course. The study…