Conference Session

Computer-Assisted Lab Studies

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rick Haub, South Dakota State University; Robert Fourney, South Dakota State University; Steven Hietpas, South Dakota State University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

, Robert Fourney and Steven HietpasAbstractFor six years South Dakota State University has implemented major revisions to the EnergyConversion Course to include advanced topics in the area of electric drives. With these changes,the course name has been changed to Electromechanical Systems (required 400-level course withlab) to better reflect the content of the course that emphasizes a systems approach to teachingmachines, power electronics, and the use of microprocessors in an electric drive system. Overthese six years the development of DC permanent magnet and AC inductions motor drivesystems has provided more advanced study within the lecture and required laboratory course,wherein students model power electronic drives and motors, conduct

Conference Session

Unique Laboratory Experiments and Programs Poster Session

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lanny Griffin, California Polytechnic State University; Victor Yu, United States Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

identify these portions due to the distinct boundary observablefrom samples of cross-sectional specimens which had not been further cut to produce cubiccentimeter cortical specimens.IV. Reflections After teaching the course and conducting the first iteration of the bone laboratoryexercise, one of the primary faculty completed the 1st semester of medical school, and felt someadditional changes could be made to the format of the biomaterials block by incorporating thestudy of cartilage and bone as a lead into the bone lab. If the students were able to learn aboutcartilage and the formation of cartilage from chondroblasts through appositional or interstitialgrowth, then they would be able to more clearly understand the development of bone

Conference Session

Design of Lab Experiments II

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gerald Recktenwald, Portland State University; Robert Edwards, Pennsylvania State University-Erie

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

advantage to exposing students to preconfigured hardware thatdemonstrates a concept introduced in lecture, such laboratory experiences do not reflect thepractice of engineering. The goal of typical laboratories is to reinforce ideas presented in lectureand to “prove” that the theory does apply to the “real world”. An unfortunate consequence of thistype of laboratory exercise is to reinforce the misperception that the only purpose of a laboratoryexperiment is to set up a compare-and-contrast exercise for testing the agreement between theoryand measurement. Of course, alternative models for laboratory experiences exist. Bilal et al. describe alaboratory-based course designed to improve understanding of the theory of mechanicalvibrations1. The