Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

David A. Rogers

Teaching Technology and Society David A. Rogers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58105-5285Abstract - The technology and society course explores the place technology has in society andthe various viewpoints held concerning technology. It considers the benefits and problemstechnology creates. A fundamental problem is that of establishing a basis for making valuejudgments. A typical course includes the impact of the media, weapons and warfare, energy, theimpact of human culture and government, and the reaction of the natural environment to

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

John L. Irwin

Teaching Design Engineering Technology: Experiential Learning Activities John L. Irwin, EdD Michigan Technological UniversityAbstractThis research shows that experiential learning using problem-based simulation activitieswas perceived by students and teachers as a valuable tool to use in design engineeringand in the education of CAD/Drafting students. The simulation activities offer manyadvantages to the user in visualizing results and being able to predict more accuratelyanswers to problems. Results are shared from action research projects involving highschool design/CAD students, university workshop participants, and university

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Gale Allen

Hands-On Hardware and Simulation Experiences Used To Improve An Analog Communications Technology Course Gale Allen Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Technology (ECET) College of Science, Engineering and Technology Minnesota State University MankatoDuring the past three years teaching the analog communications course for technology studentsthe author with help from other faculty and students has worked to improve the learningexperience through use of simulation tools and hardware-building experiences. The course-improvement process is not complete and hopefully never

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Michele H. Miller; Kari L. Jordan

Engineering Design Curricula Review Michele H. Miller and Kari L. Jordan Michigan Technological UniversityAbstractEngineering curricula are being called upon to respond to changing global economics andincreasingly complex societal problems. The design component of engineering curricula is anatural place to address these new realities. As a prelude to examining and revising the designcomponent of the mechanical engineering curriculum at Michigan Tech (and before consideringwhat is needed in the future), we investigated current state-of-the-art in design curricula. Seniordesign projects are nearly universal on campuses across the country and abroad. To

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Tamer Ceylan

ENGINEERING ACCREDITATION: PROCESS AND CHALLENGES Tamer Ceylan University of Wisconsin-Platteville E-mail: ceylan@uwplatt.edu Phone: (608) 342-1367 ABSTRACT This paper summarizes the important aspects of the experience gained before, during, and after the recent ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accreditation visit for the engineering programs at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. From an engineering educator’s perspective, it provides information on the critical process issues and challenges with the

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

James E. Hertel; Amy J. Hamlin

Observing Student Migration between Engineering Majors James E. Hertel, Amy J. Hamlin Michigan Technological UniversityAbstract – This study aims to measure the movement of engineering students at Michigan Technological University(MTU) between majors. Specifically, what portion of students arrive without having decided upon a major? Of thosewho have decided, how many will change their major before graduation? Are some majors more likely to seechanges? Are there common migration paths between majors? A sample of approximately 829 students who enteredinto MTU's engineering program in 2000 is used to determine the frequency and direction of program changes

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Pasi T. Lautala; William J. Sproule

AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM IN RAILROAD ENGINEERING Pasi T. Lautala and William J. Sproule Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Michigan Technological UniversityIntroductionThe railroad industry has identified a need for engineers as many will be retiring over thenext few years and freight traffic is projected to increase. The challenge for railroads isfinding engineers when careers in railroad engineering have been forgotten on mostuniversity campuses. Michigan Tech University saw a unique opportunity for a six-creditsummer program that includes an introductory course in railroad engineering, a course ina foreign language and culture, and a study abroad component

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Zhanping You; Sanjeev Adhikari

Teaching a Civil Engineering Materials Class Zhanping You / Sanjeev Adhikari Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Michigan Technological University 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan, 49931 - 1295 zyou@mtu.edu, sadhikar@mtu.eduAbstractThe objective of this study is to present the experience of teaching a Civil Engineering MaterialsClass. This course is designed for junior and senior undergraduate students. This class coversdifferent materials such as steel, aluminum, various alloys, aggregate, portland cement, portlandcement concrete, asphalt, asphalt mixtures, and wood

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

William J. Sproule; William H. Leder

ADDING CONSULTING ENGINEERING TO THE CURRICULUM William J. Sproule and William H. Leder Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Michigan Technological UniversityIntroductionMany civil and environmental engineering students join consulting firms when theygraduate or join later in their career. If they start their careers with a government agencyor contractor they will undoubtedly work with consultants. Many students do notunderstand how a consulting firm operates but are attracted by the business aspects ofconsulting and management. In response to student requests and the opportunity toprovide an introduction to consulting engineering, a three-credit elective course

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Amber J. Kemppainen; Alex S. Mayer; Jacqueline E. Huntoon

Introducing Sustainable Design into First Year Engineering Education Amber J. Kemppainen, Alex S. Mayer, Jacqueline E. Huntoon Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931 Abstract Engineering students at Michigan Technological University are introduced to sustainability through completion of integrated coursework during their first semester engineering class. From this course, students are able to define sustainability, determine the sustainability of their individual lifestyles, and investigate the sustainability of technological advancements. In their second semester, students learn that engineers need to evaluate the economic, environmental and social aspects of their designs in order

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Kurtis G. Paterson

Assessment of Podcast-Enhanced Learning in Engineering Education Kurtis G. Paterson, Ph.D., P.E. Michigan Technological University Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringAbstractPodcasting, a technology that lets anyone create and distribute radio- or TV-like showsover the Internet, is growing at an exponential rate. Current estimates suggest there arenearly 20 million podcasts, up from about 3 million just five months ago, and only 200two years ago. While the technology offers exciting educational possibilities, universityfaculty are still ruminating about its use in learning.This paper outlines the integration of enhanced-podcast episodes into a

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Richard Smith

A Curricular Strategy for Information Security Engineering Richard Smith Department of Computer and Information Sciences (formerly QMCS) University of St. ThomasAbstractExisting textbooks and training materials in basic information security do not reflect theactual problem solving techniques and practices in the field of information securityengineering. In general, texts focus on memorization of a broad range of facts related tomodern information security practice. Analytical techniques, when present, often focuson mathematical foundations of cryptography, the inner workings of security protocols,and perhaps the logical derivation of formal security policy statements

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Nihad E. Daidzic; Vojin R. Nikolic

, constraints and material 52007 ASEE North Midwest Section Conference, Educating Engineers for a Sustainable Future, September 20-22, 2007 properties, and then analyze the state of stresses and deformations throughout the model. ¾ Touring mechanical and civil engineering laboratories. Touring electrical and computer engineering and technology laboratories. The thermal-fluids and materials testing laboratories were toured. During that time the students were able to see and understand to a good degree in what types of testing structural engineers as well as those engineers

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Susan Amato-Henderson; Jessica Mariano; Pete Cattelino; Brian Hannon

Who You Know Does Matter in Engineering Self Efficacy Susan Amato-Henderson, Jessica Mariano, Pete Cattelino, and Brian Hannon Michigan Technological University High performance in high school math and science are necessary prerequisites for successin science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) majors in college. However, of thesub-group of students who excel in these areas in high school, very few choose to pursue aSTEM degree in post-secondary education. Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory suggeststhat a student’s knowledge, skills, and previous accomplishments are not always the bestpredicators of subsequent

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Leonard Bohmann; Dana Johnson; Kris Mattila; Nilufer Onder; John Sutherland

Future Engineers: Leading the Charge in the Service Sector Leonard Bohmann, ljbohman@mtu.edu Dana Johnson, dana@mtu.edu Kris Mattila, mattila@mtu.edu Nilufer Onder, nilufer@mtu.edu John Sutherland, jwsuther@mtu.edu Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI 49931AbstractThe demand for engineers to support the service sector is growing, and academic programs areneeded to prepare students for these careers. This need was recognized at Michigan Tech and ledto a dynamic effort by faculty members from different

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Matthew Roberts; Philip Parker; Christina Curras; Michael Penn; Max Anderson

develop an area of competencyuseful to them in their future careers as citizen engineers. This theme requirement was in-spired by the curriculum ThreadsTM requirements employed by the College of Computing atthe Georgia Institute of Technology.7New Infrastructure Course(s)One goal of the revised curriculum is to create a new course (or series of courses) that intro-duces students to the infrastructure. The goals of the Introduction to Infrastructure class(es)and associated topics are shown below. Introduce students to civil engineering (including the history of civil engineering, the role of the civil engineer in society, and the concept of the infrastructure). • Field trips • Lab experiences • Field

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Yue Li; Qiong Zhang

A Framework for Incorporating Sustainability Design Concepts into Performance- Based Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering Education Yue Li and Qiong Zhang Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Sustainable Futures Institute Michigan Technological University Houghton, Michigan 49931 Abstract: The objective of sustainability design for human and industrial systems is to ensure that humankind’s use of natural resources and cycles do not lead to diminished quality of life due either to losses in future economic opportunities

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Peter J. Cattelino; Lynn A. Artman; Susan Amato-Henderson; John B. Lehman; Brian Hannon

YES! Expo – Inspiring Youth to Pursue Education and Careers in Science and Engineering Peter J. Cattelino, Lynn A. Artman, Susan Amato-Henderson, John B. Lehman, and Brian G. Hannon Michigan Technological UniversityIntroductionOur nation faces a serious crisis of youth losing interest in Science, Technology, Engineering,and Math (STEM). Michigan and other technology and manufacturing centers have alreadysuffered significantly from this decline. Additionally, women and minorities are vastly under-represented in STEM fields. Until these trends are reversed, the nation will struggle to develop ahighly skilled and knowledgeable workforce for

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Zhanping You

Recent Developments in Distinct Element Methods in the Civil Engineering Graduate Education and Research Zhanping You, P.E., Ph.D. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Michigan Technological University 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan, 49931 - 1295 zyou@mtu.eduAbstractIn this paper, the recent developments and experiences of the Distinct (or Discrete)Element Method (DEM) in Civil Engineering Education are summarized. The DEMprovided an economical approach in many complicated Civil Engineering problems. Theauthor of this paper was among the researchers who applied DEM in civil

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Valerie J. Fuchs; James R. Mihelcic

Engineering Education for International Sustainability: Curriculum Design Under the Sustainable Futures Model Valerie J. Fuchs and James R. Mihelcic Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI 49931Introduction: The complete description of this research can be found in the Proceedings of theAmerican Society of Engineering Education’s 5th Annual Global Colloquium (Fuchs andMihelcic, 2006). Further data analysis and conclusions are found in Fuchs (2007). Note that thisassessment is not an assessment of ABET requirements, although the programs, as part of

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

William S. Helton; Michele H. Miller; Robert Pastel

Barriers, Bridges, and the Trolls under the Bridge: Issues in Human Factors Education for Engineers and Others William S. Helton, Michele H. Miller, and Robert Pastel Michigan Technological University Houghton, MichiganAbstractHuman Factors (HF) is the scientific discipline concerned with the interactions amonghumans and built systems. HF requires the knowledge of both human experts(psychology) and machine experts (for example, computer science and mechanicalengineering). In this paper, we will present our observations of teaching HF from theperspective of a psychologist, a mechanical engineer, and a computer scientist. We willdiscuss our observations in

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Chinweike I. Eseonu

, Canada. He is interested in research on Knowledge and Fleet Management and on the effect of cultural norms on the Engineering Manager’s technology utilization, and leadership styles, among other factors. Contact: C. Eseonu, 105VKH, 1305 Ordean Court, Duluth Minnesota 55812; eseon001@d.umn.edu2007 ASEE North Midwest Section Conference, Educating Engineers for a Sustainable Future, September 20-22, 2007

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Qiong Zhang; Dana Johnson; James R. Mihelcic

Interdisciplinary Research for Graduate Education in Sustainability Qiong Zhang1, Dana Johnson2, James R. Mihelcic1 1 Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2School of Business and Economics Sustainable Futures Institute Michigan Technological UniversityAbstractAs the world faces increasing threats to the long-term health of the environment, society, andeconomy, sustainability has emerged and now is gathering the attention of undergraduate andgraduate education across many campuses in the U.S. Colleges and universities are beginning toincorporate the concept of sustainability in new curricula. Research experiences in

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

K. R. Haapala; M. J. Hutchins; J. L. Rivera; V. Kumar; A. R. Clarke; T. D. Eatmon; R. A. Harris; M. H. Durfee; J. R. Mihelcic; D. R. Shonnard; J. W. Sutherland

Education, Research, and Training Aspects of the Sustainable Futures NSF IGERT Project K. R. Haapala 1, M. J. Hutchins 1, J. L. Rivera 1, V. Kumar 1, A. R. Clarke 1, T. D. Eatmon 5, R. A. Harris 6, M. H. Durfee 2, J. R. Mihelcic 3, D. R. Shonnard 4, and J. W. Sutherland 1 1 Dept. of Mechanical Engr.-Engr. Mechanics, 2 Dept. of Social Sciences, 3 Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 4 Dept. of Chemical Engineering Sustainable Futures Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 5 Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Qingli (Barbara) Dai

A Computer-Aided Design Method Course to Improve Students’ Design Skills Qingli (Barbara) Dai, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering- Engineering Mechanics Michigan Technological University qingdai@mtu.eduAbstractNX Unigraphics is a key CAD/CAM/CAE software used in the mechanical engineeringcurriculum of Michigan Technological University (MTU). The elective Computer-AidedDesign (CAD) Method course instructs students in both practical and theoretical aspectsof using computers to aid in the design of mechanical systems. Computer-Assisted SelfTeaching (CAST

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Michael R. Penn

Making it real: oral communication skill development for undergraduates Michael R. Penn University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Platteville, WI 53818IntroductionEffective communication is paramount to being a successful engineer. Historically, employershave rated communication skills as a highly desired attribute of new graduates (Nguyen, 1998;Riemer, 2002), and have rated the skills of new graduates as deficient. Many universities re-quire that students complete a course in public speaking. Such courses give students presenta-tion experience, typically in a traditional

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Kurtis G. Paterson

Community-Based Learning: Student Outcomes Kurtis G. Paterson, Ph.D., P.E. Michigan Technological University Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringAbstractInitiated in Fall 2006 with the help of a NSF grant, this program engages engineeringstudent teams in community-based learning (CBL) outside La Paz, Bolivia. CBL isdefined as learning via working with and in a community in need of engineering (orother) services. This paper will present student participation, project results, and lessonslearned to date.The four main goals of this CBL experience are: (1) to produce engineers with a bettersense of the societal and global interconnections of

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Hetal Jasani

Developing an Innovative Mobile and Wireless Networks Course Hetal Jasani Assistant Professor School of Technology Michigan Technological UniversityAbstractAll over the world, mobile and wireless courses become increasingly popular in colleges(including community colleges) and universities. This paper discusses about developing theinnovative course of mobile and wireless networks using laboratory activities. It elaboratesinnovative projects that are suitable for laboratory work in network engineering (includingtechnology) curriculum. It explores both hardware and software components that are

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Paul J. Weber

applications and/or technologies that embodied thetheoretical class information. In order to do so, students were required to research topics of theirown choosing and then communicate their findings to their peers, thus developing “soft skills.”The other central objective was for students to analyze the engineering design process as a wholerather than focusing on one aspect without examining the broader consequences. By examiningthe physical materials used, potential societal benefits of the product, and the practices of themanufacturing/sales companies, students were to study the impacts of these decisions anddetermine which would be sustainable. Furthermore, these objectives were carried out in such amanner that encouraged sustainable learning.The

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

AnnMarie Polsenberg Thomas; J. Roxanne Prichard

students had previously read. Because the panel was unscripted, students werefree to ask any questions they wished. The discussion was quite fruitful, andconversations which began during the panel interview continued informally during lunch.The activities on Saturday afternoon were designed to deepen students’ understanding ofthe many stages of the design process. Faculty from the Schools of Engineering andBusiness, and experts from the field, offered a series of mini-lectures on topics whichincluded Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing, successful product marketing, acase study on lighting design for the elderly, and a hands-on activity on new materialsand technology. After these structured activities, students broke into their design teamsand