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Creating Statics and Solid Mechanics Lab Experiences from Open-Ended Design Briefs

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Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

July 12, 2024

Conference Session

Problem- and Project-based Learning in Engineering Mechanics

Tagged Division

Mechanics Division (MECHS)

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/47088

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Paper Authors

biography

Kathryn Hasz Carthage College Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0003-3089-2882

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Dr. Hasz is an Assistant Professor of Engineering at Carthage College. She is involved in the development of the new Engineering BA and BS programs at the college.

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Abstract

Laboratory classes provide students with an opportunity to take the theory learned in class and apply it to an experiment. However, many lab experiments are still divorced from what work looks like as an engineer. To encourage student engagement with engineering technical content in a realistic manner, a set of laboratories is in development for a sequence of two courses covering statics, solid mechanics, and materials properties. These courses are part of a non-disciplinary engineering program and start second semester sophomore year and continue through first semester junior year. The labs are inquiry-based and meant to be completed in one to two 100-minute lab periods, providing students with multiple distinct problems to address throughout the courses. The labs are motivated by design briefs providing a real-world problem. Students must apply the content learned in class to design an experiment to address the design brief. In addition to solving the problem, students must ensure their solution is realistic through considerations of costs, safety, and regulations. Students then write a memo, design report, or white paper as their lab assessment. They report both their technical results, individual interpretations, and recommendations based on the results. Early labs in the sequence contain significant scaffolding for students through guiding questions, examples, and class discussions. This scaffolding is slowly removed throughout the course sequence to help students develop independence. The sequence ends with an open-ended laboratory in which students are given a mystery material and must determine the type of material and provide a potential use for it. This work-in-progress paper describes the motivation and development process of these labs as well as preliminary lab examples and planned assessment.

Hasz, K. (2024, June), Creating Statics and Solid Mechanics Lab Experiences from Open-Ended Design Briefs Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/47088

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