Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

Waddah Akili

Problem-Based Learning in Engineering Education: Reflections, Practices, and Challenges Waddah Akili, Ph.D., P.E. Professor of Civil Engineering (Retired) Principal, Geotechnical Engineering, Ames, IA, Email:w.akili@isunet.netAbstractThis paper focuses on the utilization of problem–based learning (PBL) in an engineeringprogram, and argues that implementation of problem-based learning needs to be placed in acontext and must be developed with careful consideration of the social, economic, and ethnicdiversity of the student population and the university academic culture and prevailing norms. Thepaper includes a brief history, selected PBL

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

Swaminathan Balachandran; Justin Kile

of enhancing learningthrough service learning activities. The initial motivation for increasing student engagement inthe industrial engineering program was to satisfy the criteria for accrediting engineeringprograms by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The more recentdevelopment is the establishment of PACCE at UW-Platteville. The paper presents a summary ofPACCE service learning projects and student reflections. INTRODUCTION TO IE PROGRAM AT UW-PLATTEVILLE The College of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science consists of seven departments:Chemistry and Engineering Physics, Mathematics, Civil and Environmental Engineering,Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Software Engineering, General

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

Deborah Nykanen; Rebecca Bates; Marilyn Hart; Mezbahur Rahman

input factors and output development for a MAX scholar. Figure 1: A model of the input factors and output skills gained by MSU MAX scholars.Along with interdisciplinary project work, a typical set of seminars for a semester includes: 1) Introductions and assignment of reflection papers describing students’ goals and obstacles 2) Resume formats and preparation 3) Preparing goals and small group discussion of resumes 4) Learning styles 5) Small group discussion of goals (grouped by year) 6) Job fair preparation and summer internship discussion 7) Interview skills with paired practicing 8) Mentoring 9) Guest speakers from industry and faculty 10) Study skills 11) Graduate school preparation 12) Assessing progress towards goals

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

B. D. Braaten; D. A. Rogers; R. M. Nelson

capacitor fields with teledeltos (conductive) paper, and (4) impedance matching usingtransmission line stubs. The transmission line experiments had as objectives the measurement ofline attenuation, characteristic impedance, and reflection coefficient for practical transmissionlines. The creation of distortionless lines with the use of periodic loading coils could also bestudied. Teledeltos paper is a two-dimensional paper with an approximately uniform resistanceper square. A conductor is established by painting appropriate regions with conductive paint.Then a voltmeter is used to establish the surfaces of equipotential. The method of curvilinearsquares (Hayt & Buck, 2006) could then be used to calculate the capacitance. Similarexperiments were

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

Daniel Ewert; Ron Ulseth; Bart Johnson; Andrew McNally

State University Mankato, who are mostly graduates ofMinnesota's community colleges. IRE students do not take classes;100% of their learning is donein the context of the industry/entrepreneurial projects. The PjBL model readily lends itself toregional economic development making the IRE program an education/economic hybrid system.OverviewSince the publication of Engineer 2020 [1] (and before) there have been numerous calls for anew-look graduating engineer. With guidance from some of the most respected leaders inengineering education, the IRE model has been developed to utilize industry-based project-based-learning (PjBL), outcome-based assessment, just-in-time interventions, self-directedlearning, and emphasis on reflection to graduate

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

Frank M. Kelso

process? • Where could error enter in to the data reduction process?All of these questions prompt students to reflect more deeply on the analytical model as well asthe measurement process and its limitations. This is the value of a laboratory associated with alecture-type class: it keeps the theory grounded in reality. Proceedings of the 2010 ASEE North Midwest Sectional Conference 8Example: Rethinking the ModelIn reviewing the development of equation (1), most students immediately identified theassumption of a massless L-Square as a simplification they could easily eliminate. Severalproposals were put forward for determining

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

Robert W. Williams; Salam F. Rahmatalla

and results.One way in which to help streamline hands-on laboratory education in terms of objectives,equipment, and products is to make the lab activities as relevant as possible to their interests,goals and future careers. This involves giving the students ownership of their lab experience.The concept of student ownership has many facets, including letting students plan educationalobjectives and activities, select educational materials, teach other students, and reflect criticallyon their expectations and experiences (Fletcher 2008). One of the objectives of the civil and environmental curriculum at The University ofIowa is to produce graduates who have a strong foundation of scientific and technical knowledgeand are equipped with

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

Byron Garry

Proceedings of the 2010 ASEE North Midwest Sectional Conferenceassessment including student surveys during and at the end of the course, self-reflection entriesin journals, self-reflection papers, alumni surveys, notebooks, log books, student written user’smanuals, exit surveys, and assessments by a consortium of faculty.Gloria Rogers, ABET's Managing Director of Professional Services, writes extensively on thetopic of assessment. In an article entitled “When is Enough Enough?”8, she says that datacollection activities must be examined in light of good program assessment practice, efficiency,and reasonableness. She says several questions need to be asked, such as, “Is there a clear visionof why specific data are being collected?” She answers

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

Melanie I. Cashin; Saeed Moaveni

the skills they displayed in their earlier English and communication coursework, or studentgrades fail to reflect students’ lack of grammatical correctness and clarity in these courses. Webelieve that an increased focus on correctness and clarity in ENG 101, ENG 271, CMST 102,and CMST 233 combined with regular interventions and reinforcement in other courseworkwould ensure that students continually improve their communication skills between freshmanand senior year. The details of our intervention as well as a suggested system of intervention andreinforcement are discussed below. Figure 1 The grade distribution in ENG 101, ENG 271, CMST 102, and CMST 223. Proceedings of the 2010 ASEE North Midwest Sectional

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

D. A. Rogers; O. R. Baiocchi

lightly.The advice to the candidate given above reflects the expectations commonly held by facultypromotion and tenure committee members and unit administrators. Correspondingly, evaluatorshave the obligation to do a fair and balanced evaluation of each candidate in each area ofperformance mentioned or hinted at in the above list.A difficulty with earlier reviews (or even annual reviews), which in many institutions aremandatory, is that candidates ge e all d like c i ici m. The ca dida e e e migh beessentially defensive. The review then produces few u ef l e l f he ca dida e career andmight even generate a lawsuit against the institution or its administrators. This points out howimportant it is to clearly inform prospective faculty

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

Thomas Shepard

benefits from aninstructor’s standpoint. By getting feedback from the class and pacing it accordingly, as well asoffering extra credit, the class appreciated that the instructor had compassion and was willing toconsider their input. This was reflected in comments in the teaching evaluations at the end ofeach semester. It also minimized concerns over the class not being curved by allowing studentsto bolster, or insure their grade prior to the final exam. Additionally, by allowing for improvedstudent grades one may expect improved evaluations in general as well as improved retention ina given field of study. It is important to reiterate that these grade improvements did not come atthe expense of grade inflation, which may produce a similar effect

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

AnnMarie Thomas; Amy Miller; Heather Spicuzza

a dance will be choreographed around. Y e ece be ab e be b f e ee ece f d, 8 4 1/16 . Y de g e e e e of any fasteners, with the exception of fasteners made out of the plywood itself. (Note that if your design is chosen for construction, we will work with you to design supports for it which may include the use of additional wood and/or fasteners.) We will then be building 1/12 scale models using thi d a d e UST De g Lab a e c e . A this project, please reflect on the lectures, readings, discussions of the engineering design process that we had at the beginning of the semester!T e e e e e ec de e ables were

Collection

2010 North Midwest Section

Authors

Waddah Akili

lecture method is a helpful start.Lectures have a number of characteristics that makes them, for the right subject matter, desirablein the classroom (Bonwell and Eison 1991). It does, to a great extent, depend on the abilities andexperience of the lecturer. An able and committed lecturer can accomplish the following: Proceedings of the 2010 ASEE North Midwest Sectional Conference 4 1. Relate the material proficiently and effectively, in a manner that reflects lecturer’s personal conviction and grasp of the subject matter; 2. Provide students with a thoughtful, scholarly role model to emulate; 3. Supplement the subject