Collection

2009 Spring ASEE Middle Atlantic Section Conference

Authors

Raluca I. Rosca

Preparing a Diversity Statement- An Introduction to Diversity Issues for Future Faculty Raluca I. Rosca Engineering Sciences and Mechanics Department, Pennsylvania State UniversityAbstractWhile the diversity in engineering classrooms strives to mirror the diversity of the society atlarge, our future engineering faculty are not explicitly prepared to deal with it. Using a mixeddata approach, this paper describes how a writing exercise (preparing a diversity statement) andthe associated peer-review discussion expanded the definition of diversity and the plans toaddress it in academia for two groups of participants in the Engineering Teaching PortfolioProgram at

Collection

2009 Spring ASEE Middle Atlantic Section Conference

Authors

Alfred A. Scalza

There is no doubt that peer pressure works to motivate most students. The avoidance of embarrassment seems to be in direct correlation with Maslow’s Safety Need. It’s not the avoidance of physical harm but the avoidance of emotional harm; that is, embarrassment. This has some interesting dynamics as a motivator. The professor can use “peer review” to allow students to read one another’s paper. They write at a higher level when it is known in advance that their peers will read their paper. In Construction Management classes we use low and high stakes writing to interest the students in the subject. They do better and more meaningful research when their peers are about to read and comment on their paper. I allow

Collection

2009 Spring ASEE Middle Atlantic Section Conference

Authors

Neville Jacobs

that of their peers. The final results, as well as photos ofall participants, are posted on our web site, www.robotchallenge.com.THE CHALLENGE The design of the robot is purposelymarginal, so that not only is it difficult to buildperfectly (see Figure 3), but each robot is almostcertain to encounter problems that will createtroubleshooting opportunities similar to those anengineer will encounter. The judges grade howteams cope with these problems, especially whenthe team is under stress as it participates in theTrack (or Demonstration phase) event. It should be noted that the Robot Challengeis not a simulation of an Engineering project. It is anactual project by itself, just smaller in scale, andmanageable at a school

Collection

2009 Spring ASEE Middle Atlantic Section Conference

Authors

Josh Coffman; Sachin S. Terdalkar; Joseph J. Rencis; Jiancheng Liu; Ashland O. Brown

group discussions and report writing. These types of assignments requirethe students to reanalyze what they have done and reflect “Why?” they have done these things inthe three previous stages. Finally to complete the cycle, students will take what they havelearned from the module and want to know “What?” other problems can be modeled and solvedwith FE methods. The students now have used commercial tools and developed skills to analyzemore complex problems with further practice. It is in this manner they will be able to beginproviding solutions to new problems using self conceived ideas in new areas.Fatigue FE Learning ModuleOverviewThis module was integrated into the senior level MECH 125 Machine Design II course at theUniversity of the