Conference Session

Teaching Dynamics

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David R. Mikesell, Ohio Northern University; John-David S. Yoder, Ohio Northern University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

project. Unfortunately these students have little engineeringbackground to apply to the solutions. At the other end of their college program, all ONU seniorswill complete an intensive design process as part of their year-long capstone course. Butbuilding skill and experience in the design process, item “c” of the ABET list of criticalengineering program outcomes,6 is best achieved when continually reinforced throughout thecurriculum. Thus the design project in Dynamics, a course currently taken by all engineeringstudents, provides an important bridge of continuity in the heart of the four year curriculum(typically the sophomore year) to keep the design process fresh.Project DescriptionThe Dynamics design project has taken many forms over the

Conference Session

Teaching Mechanics

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dean Q. Lewis, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College; Mary Lynn Brannon, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

solutions. This opened the possibility of the students to be moreinnovative and encouraged creativity in the design process.The freshman Introduction to Design course was used to teach a formal process for conductingengineering design with specified steps and documentation that was collected from students asthey worked on their projects. The previous project did little to encourage following this formalprocess, and many students ended up using a trial-and-error method to find a solution.Deliverables were included in the new project that required the students to follow the sameformal design process as their freshman course. Revisiting these design steps reinforces theprocess that they were taught and are expected to use again on their capstone