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Implementation of Some Dynamic Systems Material into the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

Introduction

In today’s engineering education environment it is important to provide students with educational material that will enhance or supplement their learning process. It is obvious that the multimedia and internet capabilities available today, provide a tremendous opportunity for innovative learning pedagogy. An example of this innovation is a new multisemester interwoven dynamic systems project that has been developed by UMass-Lowell through a grant from NSF. The project goal is to better integrate material from differential equations, mathematical methods, laboratory measurements and dynamic systems across several semesters/courses. This should enable students to better understand the relationship of basic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) material to an ongoing problem1,2,3,4.

Dynamic modeling and testing of mechanical systems provides students with important understanding of the characteristics and performance of structural dynamic systems. Student comprehension of this important Mechanical Engineering topic in today’s world of simulation, instead of testing, is critical. The materials from UMass-Lowell are adapted and implemented into three of the Mechanical Engineering curriculum courses at Michigan Tech. The materials were interwoven into the existing course material to enhance the student’s understanding of measurement systems, and basic first and second order systems. Use of existing graphical user interface (GUI) materials should help the students to better comprehend confusing concepts and ideas. Use of an online data acquisition system for a second order mechanical system serves as a companion to a conventional lab experiment and further enhances their learning. Student assessment indicates that the materials improved the student’s level of knowledge. This paper documents the implementation and use of this material in several courses offered by the Mechanical Engineering program at Michigan Technological University.

Initial NSF Project A new multisemester interwoven dynamic systems project under the leadership of faculty at UMass-Lowell has been in progress for the last two years. The salient feature of the project is that material from various courses such as differential equations, mathematical methods, laboratory measurements and dynamic systems is integrated in a fashion that helps the students understand the need for basic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) material. The material is presented with a “theme” project that is re-iterated throughout the multisemester sequence so that the students understand the inter-relationship of related material from subsequent pertinent courses. The third phase of this project is to implement and adapt this material into the curriculum at another institution, in this case the Mechanical Engineering curriculum at Michigan Technological University. This phase of the project grew out of a long standing relationshsip between faculty at each University. These collegues have worked together for more than twenty years, developing educational material for seminars and short courses.

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Van Karsen, C., & Avitabile, P., & Blough, J., & Sodano, H., & Evensen, H. (2006, June), Implementation Of Some Dynamic Systems Material Into The Mechanical Engineering Curriculum Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--1104