Conference Session

Outstanding Contributions to ME

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hakan Gurocak, Washington State University-Vancouver

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

-scale projects that centered around each core competency required by the second tierwhich is the main project in the course. Page 12.1052.3In the first tier, each student group is given four weeks to work on a tier-one project in thelaboratory. Then, each group teaches the rest of the class the details of the core competency theyworked on. This allows peer-to-peer learning. In this process, each group gave a 25-minutemini-lecture to the class and demonstrated their prototype. The design challenges andprogramming details were covered in great depth. This approach generated lots of questions andinteraction between the presenting

Conference Session

Meeting ABET Requirements

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth Van Treuren, Baylor University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

), specifically supported five of the 14 outcomes: a, b, e, g, andk. The assessment tools comprised prelab homework, exams, an experimental design project,written reports, oral presentations and team/peer evaluation. The senior capstone design course,taken in addition to ME Lab, accounted for another seven outcomes. It was decided by thefaculty that one or two courses are not sufficient to demonstrate the necessary assessment of theprogram outcomes. There were several outcomes, though, which made more sense to beassessed by a laboratory course. For instance, all accredited engineering programs must have acomponent of experimental design in their curriculum. ABET Criterion 3b states “Engineering

Conference Session

Introducing Active and Inductive Learning and Improving the Learning Curve in ME

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Emilia Bratschitsch, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Department of Automotive; Annette Casey, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Department of Automotive Engineering,; Günter Bischof, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Department of Automotive Engineering,; Domagoj Rubesa, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Department of Automotive Engineering,

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

language, which is usuallyEnglish.For these reasons we decided to develop a 3-phase multi subject didactical method, based on thewell known methodology of project based learning (PBL), see Figure 1.The main idea is to define engineering tasks according to the level of education and to equip thestudents with the necessary information and skills to solve them. This includes education inspecial technical subjects, processing of electronic data and writing of documentation andreports, project work and project management, preparing of power point presentations andpractice in English.During the first phase – in the second and third semester of the degree program – we mainlyconcentrate on the theoretical and language education. We do not require or

Conference Session

Innovations for the Senior Year of the ME Curriculum

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Showkat Chowdhury, Alabama A&M University; Abdul Jalloh, Alabama A&M University; Ruben Rojas-Oviedo, Alabama A&M University; Mohamed Seif, Alabama A&M University; Amir Mobasher, Alabama A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

faculty, and the survey completed by the graduating students in thisrespect. This serves as a tool for measuring the accomplishment of ABET requirements. Theresults also give some feedback for possible improvement in future.The Capstone Design course also serves to prepare the students to succeed as entry-levelengineers in industry, by acquiring technical design experience for appropriate careers. Thestudents are required to make several oral presentations with audio-visual aids (usingPowerPoint) about their project in front of the faculty and peers, during the semester. AProject Oral Presentation Evaluation Form has been developed which is completed by thefaculty and peers during each presentation. The results are compiled and analyzed. The

Conference Session

Improving ME Education: Trends in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Duffy, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Linda Barrington, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Cheryl West, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; John McKelliget, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Eugene Niemi, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Sammy Shina, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Hongwei Sun, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Chris Niezrecki, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Robert Parkin, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Majid Charmchi, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Peter Avitabile, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

projects including aFIRST robot design/built with high school students, systems for remote villages, and anassistive technology device. In total 366 student-course projects were completed, rangingfrom extra credit to 100% of the course.Assessment tools included several college-wide surveys and interviews of faculty,students, and community partners and student reports and presentations. The MEundergraduate student surveys from spring 2006 totaled 89 and do not include first yearstudents because of the common courses. The average number of S-L courses taken was2.4. To statements that S-L helped increase interest in learning, increase commitment tothe community, improved writing and speaking skills, leadership ability, personal abilityto “make a

Conference Session

Improving ME Instructional Laboratories

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sorin Cioc, University of Toledo; Constantin Ciocanel, University of Toledo; K Cyril Masiulaniec, University of Toledo; Douglas Oliver, University of Toledo

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

behind." The report of the Commission on theFuture of Higher Education1 mentions that today our universities are not preparing the workforceneeded to compete in a global economy. Employers often complain that "new graduates they hireare not prepared to work, lacking the critical thinking, writing and problem-solving skills neededin today's workplaces." Even sources not agreeing with the statement that higher education is in acrisis recognize that the most valuable strengths of our system, “initiative, independence,resourcefulness and collaboration” must be continuously cultivated3.The Department of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering (MIME) from theUniversity of Toledo, after numerous talks with the alumni and with

Conference Session

Innovations in Mechanical Engineering Education Poster Session

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Louis Everett, University of Texas-El Paso; Arunkumar Pennathur, University of Texas-El Paso

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Dynamics Course throughMulti-Intelligence Methods and Peer Facilitation, in ASEE Annual Conference.2005, ASEE: Portland, Oregon.3. Bransford, J.D., How people learn: brain, mind, experience, and school 2000,Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.4. Savery, J.R. and T.M. Duffy, Problem Based Learning: An instructionalmodel and its constructivist framework, in Constructivist Learning Environments:Case Studies in Instructional Design, B. Wilson, Editor. 1996, Englewood Cliffs,Educational Technology Publications.5. Linsey, J., et al., Methodology and tools for developing hands-on activelearning activities, in 2006 ASEE Annual Conference. 2006, ASEE: Chicago.6. Lefebvre, B., A constructivist experiment in particle settling andcentrifugation, in