Conference Session

ELOS Best Paper Nominations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bijan Sepahpour, College of New Jersey

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

thecreation/adaptation of such measurement methods as needed in a research or an industrialenvironment.Numerous optical techniques are available for both quantitative and qualitative measurements.Many use sophisticated and expensive setups that include imaging components. A set of precisetechniques are based on a combination of inexpensive diode lasers, mirrors, and prisms. It is onadapting these techniques to laboratory experiments that this team will focus on.The following figures display the components of a preliminary design for creation and testing ofan apparatus for measurement of the angle of twist of bars by application of torque. A mirrorattached to the free end of the bar reflects the laser beam back on a scale before and after

Conference Session

Innovative Teaching Methods and Learning Models

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas Shepard, University of St. Thomas; Alison B. Hoxie, University of Minnesota Duluth

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

their design. Thefinal section was a reflective analysis in which each team discussed the process of designing andtesting their improvements; specifically what worked well and what did not. This section alsoincluded proposed future improvements for their design. Ideally, the students would recognizethat many of the irreversibilites in their design presented an opportunity for potentialimprovement. Finally, this included a comparison with other sources of conversion technologiesin terms of capital costs, fuel costs, and efficiency while including proper citations. Acomparison with current technologies demonstrated that the efficiency of the student designswere roughly 1000-10,000 times less than modern engines and power plants, thus adding

Conference Session

Pedagogical Innovations in Laboratory Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alyn Marie Turner, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Sandra Shaw Courter, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Shirley Dyke, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

shake table experience on student understandingof concepts and the development of skills in the classroom. There was a good deal of variation across institutions in students’ responses to theselearning outcomes. These may reflect the variation in course composition of the students, Page 22.883.10characteristics of the instructors, variation in implementation of the shake tables, developmentsover time in the technology, etc. While a larger sample and a more thorough data collectioneffort necessary to estimate associations between all possible variables were beyond the scope ofthis study, we are able to partition the variance into within

Conference Session

Pedagogical Innovations in Laboratory Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mysore Narayanan, Miami University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

ofproblem-based learning are reflected in every aspect of the learning environment created.Problem-based curriculum should document accomplishments at the upper levels of Bloom'sTaxonomy Triangle. Scholars in the area of cognitive science and educational psychology have Page 22.250.2identified four features that clearly separate a problem-based curriculum from a traditional,topic-based curriculum. Dr. Barbara E. Walvoord is Fellow of the Institute for Educational Initiatives andconcurrent professor of English at the University of Notre Dame. She has been the foundingdirector of four faculty development programs and consultant to more than

Conference Session

Mechanical and Architectural Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nancy K Lape, Harvey Mudd College; David L Harris, Harvey Mudd College; Matthew Joseph Keeter, Harvey Mudd College; Madeleine S Ong, Harvey Mudd College; Zachary Dodds, Harvey Mudd College

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

) • building a reaction timer game • building a “Simon says” memory game • generating Gold codes • detecting Gold codesIn Lab 5, students assembled a gearbox kit and mounted motors and gears on their chassis. Theysoldered resistors on their Mudduino board to interface with an IR reflectance sensor and aphototransistor. They attached a connector to their battery pack, stacked the battery and boardon the chassis, and bolted the whole robot together, as shown in Figure 4. In Lab 6, studentslearned to control the robot in C. They developed their own library of motor control functions.They learned to read the sensors, and programmed the robot to drive toward a light, stopping if itwere about to dive off the lab bench. They attempted to drive in

Conference Session

Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mohammad N. Amin, National University; Ronald P. Uhlig, National University; Pradip Peter Dey, National University; Bhaskar Raj Sinha, National University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

students with the tools necessary to achieveprofessional success in both theoretical and practical aspects of the field of wirelesscommunication and to prepare them for lifelong learning in a field that will be in a state ofcontinual advancement throughout their lifetimes14. This program prepares graduates foremployment in research organizations, computer centers, and wireless communicationsbusinesses and enterprises. All MSWC program missions are reflected in the MSWC programoutcomes, which are designed to ensure that MSWC graduates are proficient in analytical,technical, and critical thinking skills, that they have a sense of professionalism, and that they are

Conference Session

Innovative Teaching Methods and Learning Models

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yasser M. Al Hamidi, Texas A&M University, Qatar; Reza Tafreshi, Texas A&M University, Qatar; Mahmoud Hammad El Zamli, Texas A&M University, Qatar

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

experiment and while dragging it on the object’s flat surface. Also,many limitations were imposed on the designed VI, all of which were crucial. The first one wasthat the corresponding measured object had to be flat and with a relatively rough surface. If theobject subject to measurement had a smooth surface, it would be harder for the mouse to Page 22.766.11function normally knowing that the reflection of the emitted light from the mouse will beinfluenced and will affect its tracking performance.Another issue that threatened this VI’s performance was the maximum length it could measure.It is known that the mouse can move a maximum distance equal to

Conference Session

Mechanical and Architectural Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hamadou Saliah-Hassane, University of Quebec, Montreal; Maarouf Saad, Ecole de Technologie Superieure; Willie K. Ofosu, Pennsylvania State University, Wilkes-Barre; Karimou Djibo, LICEF Research Center; Hassane Alzouma Mayaki, UCAD and LICEF Research Center, Montreal, Canada.; Mamane Moustapha Dodo Amadou ing., École de technologie supérieure

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

allows learners to access,through computer networks, equipment in teaching labs using software interfaces formanipulating real devices via the web [1,2,3]. Self-study mode can be individualized withassistance provided for each learner. These remote laboratories do not yet reflect themodel we propose in this article. In this case, the equipment is no longer centralized in aremote laboratory room. The apparatus consist essentially of measuring, analysis, or Page 22.995.2signal generation instruments. This affordable equipment can be miniaturized and currenttechnology offers networking hardware and software interfaces for which ubiquity isomnipresent

Conference Session

Innovative Teaching Methods and Learning Models

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rupa Purasinghe, California State University, Los Angeles; Peter Dusicka, Portland State University; Jeffrey W Berman, University of Washington; Edgar Bautista, California State University, Los Angeles; Michael Noddings, Portland State University; Linda My Hanh Nguyen; San Yu Aung, California State University of Los Angeles; Lang Anh Dam

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

Earthquake Engineering SimulationResearch (NEESR) Program of the National Science Foundation under NSF Award NumberCMMI 0830414. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in thismaterial are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the National ScienceFoundation. Help from H. Lum, M. Mester, A. Bhaumik, K. Gebhart, and K. Wadia are greatlyacknowledged.References1. Einde, L., Deng W., Wilson P., Elgamal A, Hubbard P, “NEESit MacBook Accelerometer and Video SensorPlatform for Education and Research,” 38th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, NY, 2008.2. Dusicka, P. and Iwai, R., “Development of Linked Column Frame System for Seismic Lateral Loads”, SEIStructures Congress, American Society of Civil

Conference Session

Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nael Barakat, Grand Valley State University; Lihong (Heidi) Jiao, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

binding of biomolecules, such as DNA or antibodies that stick to one another or to other molecules?  How could these molecules be used to cause aggregation of the nanoparticles?Results were reported by the students within their lab reports for this activity.Figure 1 Gold nanoparticles synthesis and the different colors they reflect depending on the concentration ofelectrolyte in the mixture. b. Synthesis and application of silver nanoparticles: The objectives of this lab were tosynthesize yellow colloidal silver nanoparticles and to study their aggregation effects. Silvernanoparticles are on demand for several uses in medicine and technology. They can be used asan anti-microbe agent to effectively eliminate fungus, bacteria, and

Conference Session

ELOS Best Paper Nominations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Loren Limberis, East Carolina University; Jason Yao, East Carolina University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

that contains a thermistor, a few resistors, andan operational amplifier. In general, the bridge circuit is used to detect small changes in theresistance of any of the resistors, which is reflected as a change in the output voltage. Thestudents are asked to derive the expression of the output voltage, Vo, as a function of the inputvoltage and the Wheatstone bridge resistive network, which contains the thermistor. The studentsare encouraged to refine their expression into the fewest terms possible to make MATLABprogramming and downstream design much easier to handle. The students are then required towrite a MATLAB script to simulate the thermistor and the Wheatstone bridge circuit. They are touse the thermistor formula (Equation 1) and the Vo(T

Conference Session

ELOS Best Paper Nominations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Ridgely, California Polytechnic State University; Brian P. Self, California Polytechnic State University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

. Page 22.1072.9The first statement was intended to test whether the students felt that the MEA was a less valu-able assignment than a more traditional assignment without the simulated client. 52% of therespondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with the first statement and 20% agreed; because thestatement is written so as to reflect negatively on the MEA, this response suggests a preferenceby the students for the MEA rather than a more traditional cookbook approach. 65% of therespondents agreed or strongly agreed with the second statement, while 23% disagreed, nonestrongly. Taken together, the results of the two survey questions indicate that most studentsrecognized the need for the use of good communication skills in the MEA assignment

Conference Session

ELOS Best Paper Nominations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Huettel, Duke University

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

needs, e) identify, formulate, andsolve engineering problems, and k) use techniques, skills, and modern engineering toolsnecessary for engineering practice –neither motivated the change in the laboratory experiencenor reflect the goals of our pilot project. Rather, one would expect to observe greater differencesbetween the groups on criteria such as h) understand the impact of engineering solutions inglobal and society context which, unfortunately, is not measured using this specific tool.Fortunately, the complete set of ABET criteria were included in student surveys, as discussed in Page 22.374.9the following section, so a qualitative