Conference Session

Educational Research and Methods Potpourri I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sohum Sohoni, Oklahoma State University; Donald P. French, Oklahoma State University; YoonJung Cho, Oklahoma State University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

. His research focus is on biology education including the use of inquiry and tech- nology in the teaching introductory biology lecture and laboratories. He has published articles on the impact of teaching in reformed courses on graduate students.YoonJung Cho, Oklahoma State University Assistant professor in the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology at Oklahoma State Uni- versity. Her research is focused on students’ achievement motivation and self-regulated learning process as well as teachers’ motivation and its impact on instructional practices, both in traditional classroom setting and online instruction. She published articles on graduate teaching assistants’ professional devel- opment as well as

Conference Session

Distance and Web-based Learning in ECE

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yacob Astatke, Morgan State University; Craig J. Scott, Morgan State University; Jumoke 'Kemi Ladeji-Osias, Morgan State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

laboratory and design projects required in theElectric Circuits and Introduction to Electrical Laboratory courses. Tables 1 to 4 show thecontents of a sample laboratory experiment that was designed using the Mobile StudioIOBoardTM. Note that the concepts covered in this lab experiment are similar to those conductedusing the regular lab equipment although different test instruments are used. All students have toinitially complete a laboratory experiment that teaches them how to use the software andhardware of the Mobile Studio IOBoardTM , and how it can be connected to circuits they designon their bread-boards. The survey and feedback questions shown in Table#4 are given to thestudents at the end of each lab to get their feedback, comments and

Conference Session

Pedagogical Issues in Computing

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tumkor Serdar, Stevens Institute of Technology; El-Sayed Aziz, Stevens Institute of Technology; Sven K. Esche, Stevens Institute of Technology; Constantin Chassapis, Stevens Institute of Technology (School of Engineering and Science)

Tagged Divisions

Computers in Education

procedures that gobeyond those possible with the physical hardware.Second Life is classified by some educators as a Multi-User Virtual Environment, a term forvirtual worlds that lack the ‘game’ component 12. As 3D virtual community, Second Lifeincreased in popularity, teaching and meeting spaces were designed to compare 3D game with3D virtual world communities. This paper describes some of the methods used to overcome thetechnical obstacles in creating virtual laboratory experiments in Second Life, a popular virtualenvironment that so far has mostly been used for entertainment and social interactions.Overview of Second Life / OpenSimulatorAlthough Second Life looks like a 3D game, it is one of the most popular non-game, 3D multi-user virtual

Conference Session

Manufacturing Capstone and Design Projects

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Saeed D. Foroudastan, Middle Tennessee State University; Rachel Klapper, Middle Tennessee State University; Sandi Hyde, Middle Tennessee State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

Laboratory Experiences That Do Not Stifle CreativityLaboratory courses often supplement basic science classes in high school and college. Thehands-on activities provided in laboratories can challenge and excite students in a ways notachievable through traditional lecture-style teaching. Working in laboratories gives studentsopportunities to explore scientific concepts while applying knowledge gained classrooms. Page 22.941.2These experiences not only reinforce textbook ideas, but also instill students with confidence inboth their knowledge and abilities. The benefits of laboratory activities and their contributions toengineering-student retention

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kathleen Meehan, Virginia Tech; Robert W. Hendricks, Virginia Tech; Cortney V. Martin, Virginia Tech; Peter Doolittle, Virginia Tech; Justeen Olinger, Virginia Tech

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

function generator (Velleman PCSGU250) was adopted in Spring2009. Page 22.994.2 The first four laboratory exercises in the d.c. circuits course are designed to teach the students procedures on circuit construction and how to perform simple measurement techniques, using a DMM initially and, later in the semester, using

Conference Session

Int. Engineering Education: Developments, Innovations, and Implementations

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yue-min Zhao, China University of Mining and Technology

Tagged Divisions

International

, methods of coal preparation experimental research, design and management ofcoal preparation plant, mechanism of mineral processing. And a teaching group withhigh-level teaching faculty gradually forms by the teaching reform and specialty constructionof discipline of mineral processing engineering, so as to perfects the course development ofother disciplines, and improves qualities of teaching faculty. The faculty, laboratory andscientific research conditions of the discipline are introduced, and the personnel trainingscheme of the subject, and the courses system are also discussed in the paper. Recently, thediscipline of CUMT focuses on the practice of innovation teaching of the college students andconstruction of engineering application

Conference Session

Assessment Methods and Learning Pedagogy II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jyhwen Wang, Texas A&M University; Alex Fang, Texas A&M University; Michael Ryan Golla, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

“experiment first” approach. It is believed that depending on the course type and thestudent learning style, learning could be affected by the teaching approach. Further studyon the lecture-laboratory timing that could lead to an effective pedagogy isrecommended.IntroductionLaboratory exercises are an essential part of engineering technology education. In mostof the mechanical and manufacturing engineering technology courses, hands-on labs aredesigned to help student to acquire the knowledge and skills taught in the class. Sincepositive effects of lab activities on student learning have been recognized, engineeringand engineering technology professors continue to develop and incorporate laboratoryexercises into various courses.To introduce science

Conference Session

BME Courses and Learning Activities

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jennifer Vernengo, Rowan University

Tagged Divisions

Biomedical

. Page 22.135.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2011 Active and Cooperative Learning Activities for Introducing Undergraduate Students to BiomaterialsAbstractBiomaterials science is a relatively new interdisciplinary field. Because of the increasingprevalence of musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases, there is anecessity to engineer biomaterials that can be used to treat these painful and debilitatingdisorders. The overall objective of this initiative is to teach our undergraduate studentsconcepts in the research, development, and clinical application of biomaterials. Twoopen-ended laboratory activities, one developed for freshman and the other

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Susan L. Burkett, University of Alabama; John C. Lusth, University of Alabama; Sushma Kotru, University of Alabama

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

non-formulaic manner.These objectives helped to drive the evaluation activities for the project. Evaluation efforts werecoordinated by faculty in the university’s Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR). Theydeveloped a set of surveys to be given to students after each laboratory and a set of surveys forthe graduate teaching assistants at the end of the semester.Laboratory ModulesTo date, three laboratory modules have been created and offered in the following semesters: fall2009, spring 2010, and fall 2010. The fourth module will be created and offered in spring 2011.The design of lamps from musical instruments was the first lab to be offered. This lab wasrepeated from the pilot since it had not ever been formally evaluated. The second

Conference Session

Poster Sessions for Unit Operations Lab Bazaar and Tenure-Track Faculty

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael E. Prudich, Ohio University; Daina Briedis, Michigan State University; Robert Y. Ofoli, Michigan State University; Robert B. Barat, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Norman W. Loney, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Ali Pilehvari, P.E., Texas A&M University, Kingsville; Michael J. Elsass, University of Dayton; Robert J. Wilkens, University of Dayton; Danilo Pozzo, University of Washington; Jim Pfaendtner, University of Washington; William B. Baratuci, University of Washington; Jim Henry, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga; Bridget R. Rogers, Vanderbilt University; John F. Sandell, Michigan Technological University; Adrienne R. Minerick, Michigan Technological University; Jason M. Keith, Michigan Technological University; Horacio Adrian Duarte, Texas A&M University, Kingsville; David W. Caspary, Michigan Technological University; Charles Nuttelman, University of Colorado, Boulder; Pablo LaValle, University of Michigan; Naoko Ellis, University of British Columbia; Sergio Mendez, California State University, Long Beach; Arne Biermans, University of Washington

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

Jason Keith is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Michigan Technological University. He received his B.S.ChE from the University of Akron in 1995, and his Ph.D from the University of Notre Dame in 2001. He is the 2008 recipient of the Raymond W. Fahien Award for Outstanding Teaching Effectiveness and Educational Scholarship as well as a 2010 inductee into the Michigan Technological University Academy of Teaching Excellence. His current research interests include reactor stability, al- ternative energy, and engineering education. He is active within ASEE.Horacio Adrian Duarte, Texas A&M University-KingsvilleDavid W. Caspary, Michigan Technological University David Caspary is the Manager of Laboratory

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Darrin S. Muggli, Benedictine College; Brian Tande, University of North Dakota

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

On - Site Growth Engineering Laboratories Phase III General Engineering On-Site Specialization Engineering Specialties Laboratories Figure 2: Overview of BC Engineering Model implementationPhase IPhase I involves initiating an extremely low-cost engineering program in the four majordisciplines, using DEDP (or another distance education provider) to teach nearly all of therequired engineering courses. Institutions in Phase I will most likely offer five-year, dual-degreeprograms in which students concurrently pursue an ABET-accredited engineering degree viaDEDP with a complementary on

Conference Session

Distance and Web-based Learning in ECE

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dale N. Buechler, University of Wisconsin, Platteville; Phil J. Sealy, University of Wisconsin, Platteville; John Goomey, University of Wisconsin, Platteville

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

protected software system allowing students the ability to use softwareremotely. Once this is in place, the less expensive pen tablet technology will likely be utilizedby all SV students7. Our current office hour implementation combining Adobe Connect Pro andtwo-way written and audio communication has been viewed as positive by our students in recentsurveys and course evaluations.7On-site lab offeringsLaboratories play a major role in our electrical engineering curriculum. All but one of our EEcourses (Electric and Magnetic Fields) have an integrated laboratory component. Faculty teachboth the lecture and the laboratory portions of the class (no teaching assistants). Most of ourcourses have significant design projects. The laboratory aspect of our

Conference Session

Robot Mania!

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Austin Talley, University of Texas, Austin; Richard H. Crawford P.E., University of Texas, Austin; Christina Kay White, Columbia University; Kristin L. Wood, University of Texas, Austin

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

engineering design problem-solving processesto help students learn mathematics and science concepts. The DTEACh PDI is offeredthrough the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. Theprogram provides guidance to K-12 teachers on how to use open-ended problems in theirclassrooms. The institute teaches engineering concepts through the use of everydaytechnology, directed laboratory activities, and design briefs. Since 1998 DTEACh hasused LEGO MINDSTORMS robotics as the focus for hands-on experiences. Theprogram has its roots in engineering design theory and learning methodology research.To clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of this teaching approach, the entire program istaught using the methods the participants are

Conference Session

Incorporating Innovative Technologies into the Curriculum

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Wayne P. Hung, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Manufacturing

questions are common. Penetration of Clicker in science andengineering fields is observed since the latter version of Clicker allows students to respond witheither numerical answers for a work-out problems or alphabetical selections for multiple choicequestions.The role of Clicker as teaching and learning enhancement tool has been discussed in theacademic community since 1980s. There are few published papers on using Clicker onengineering subjects and no report on how Clickers can be used effectively in laboratory. Weimplemented Clicker in manufacturing classes with the following objectives: i) Creating a more dynamic learning environment, ii) Enhancing study outcome, and iii) Reducing tedious paperwork and workload in many repeating

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael G. Mauk, Drexel University; Vladimir Genis, Drexel University; Dhruv Sakalley, Drexel University; Holly Burnside, Drexel University

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

. The application of Lean Six Sigma to nanotechnology is part of atrend in extending the scope of Lean Six Sigma beyond the factory for use in hospitals12-13,research and service laboratories14-17, schools18-24, governments, military, financial institutions,and other service providers.To teach Lean Six Sigma, the laboratory facility is organized and operated on Lean Principles.To establish an educational laboratory for purposes of Lean pilot-scale production studies, weincorporate recent approaches used to implement Lean in machine/fabrication shops25-27 andLean analytical/clinical laboratories13-17 in addition to mainstream Lean Six Sigma developed formanufacturing. Adaptation of Lean for services, hospitals, and financial institutions

Conference Session

Industrial Collaboration and Applications

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aleksandr Sergeyev, Michigan Technological University; Nasser Alaraje, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

knowledge in power areas, as well as studentsfrom another universities and colleges pursuing power education. Concept of virtual laboratory isalso introduced here and provides addition flexibility in the class’s offering strategies. Due to therapid changes in the technological world, faculty involved in teaching the proposed courses mustbe informed of advances in technology currently used in the industry. On the other hand,industry wants to have qualified and well-educated employees who are ready to implement theirknowledge on day one of their employment. As a result, the initiative of power engineeringcurriculum development described in this paper is industry-driven.IntroductionMany electrical engineering technology programs have already started

Conference Session

Computer Science Applications

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ryan J. Meuth, University of Advancing Technology

Tagged Divisions

Computers in Education

. Processing provides a unique combination of cost (free), broad communitysupport, extensibility, and as a Java based environment, skills learned in processing can be easilyported to other environments.In the following sections we will summarize the capabilities of Processing, provide someguidelines for experience design, and explore two case studies on the use of Processing in theclassroom, as a method of demonstration in one case, and as a virtual laboratory in a second case.Processing CapabilitiesProcessing is a Java-based programming language and development environment targetedprimarily to electronic artists and visual designers, but is becoming popular with hobbyists andeducators, primarily for teaching introductory computer science. The

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Technology Curriculum

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alamgir A. Choudhury, Western Michigan University; Jorge Rodriguez, Western Michigan University; Pavel Ikonomov, Western Michigan University; Joseph McCoy Mydosh, Western Michigan University; Jason Michael Shane

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

Page 22.563.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2011 Energy efficiency and sustainability in engineering design curriculumAbstractThe knowledge and skills for the future workforce of an energy efficient industrialsociety are not fully nurtured in our current educational programs. Energy efficiency andinnovative design practices need to be an essential part of the learning experience inundergraduate engineering design programs. Current engineering design curriculum isreformed to teach the theoretical knowledge and hands-on practices in an integratedfashion. To study energy loss and overall energy efficiency of a system and itscomponents, laboratory

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Technical Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ali Khabari, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

also by highschool students through Wentworth’s outreach programs. The outreach program for high schoolstudents has been designed to teach students nanotechnology along with other STEM subjects atthe Summer STEM Discovery Program. The principle aim of this project is to give students, atundergraduate level, a fundamental understanding of nanoscale science. Wentworth Institute ofTechnology has received multiple government and private funding to initiate an undergraduatenanotechnology education and the establishment of a nanotechnology laboratory. The laboratoryis used to supplement the nanotechnology courses, undergraduate research at senior levelsthrough senior design offerings, and for teaching across engineering disciplines. This

Conference Session

Biological & Agricultural Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

lourdes gazca, American University, Puebla, Mexico; Aurelio Lopez-Malo, American University, Puebla, Mexico; Enrique Palou, American University, Puebla, Mexico

Tagged Divisions

Biological & Agricultural

. Page 22.207.2  Observed coursesThe first course we observed was Introduction to Engineering Design (EI-100), which is a first-semester 3 credit required course for almost every engineering program of UDLAP since springof 2001. UDLAP’s Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Food, Industrial,Mechanical, and Mechatronic engineering students have in EI-100 a great opportunity for amultidisciplinary collaborative experience. EI-100 is a team-taught course that uses active,collaborative and cooperative learning. Course content and classroom activities are divided intothree, two-hour sections (Modeling, Concepts, and Laboratory) per week. Students have sixdifferent EI-100 facilitators (an instructor and teaching assistant for each

Conference Session

Curricular Innovations in College-Industry Partnerships

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard T. Schoephoerster, University of Texas, El Paso; Ryan Wicker, University of Texas, El Paso; Ricardo Pineda, University of Texas, El Paso; Ahsan Choudhuri, University of Texas, El Paso

Tagged Divisions

College Industry Partnerships

). Page 22.913.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2011   Integrating Professional Practice into the Engineering Curriculum: A Proposed Model and Prototype Case with an Industry PartnerAbstractWe present a case for a dramatic shift in the university-industry relationship for engineeringprograms, following recommendations from two 2008 reports on the future of engineeringeducation. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching report1 EducatingEngineers: Designing for the Future of the Field established the “imperative for teaching forprofessional practice” in engineering education by providing the “engineering equivalent of theclinical

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

R. Roemer, University of Utah; Debra J. Mascaro, University of Utah; Eric R. Pardyjak, University of Utah; Stacy Bamberg, University of Utah

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

examples into the Numerical Methods lectures, laboratory tutorials, and homeworkassignments. These examples are expected to not only increase students’ understandingof and appreciation for numerical techniques but also improve comprehension of fluidscontent in the junior year. The new laboratory experiences equip students for thesustainability-themed design project by teaching CAD skills, manufacturing techniques,and microcontroller-based actuation and sensing. Finally, the design project enablesimmediate application of the engineering science principles (i.e., Numerical Methods andThermodynamics) being taught in the new course sequence, where the hands-oncomponent is expected to enhance learning and improve retention in the

Conference Session

Collaborations, Accreditation and Articulation Issues for International Engineering Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yuemin Zhao, China University of Mining & Technology; You-jun Tao, China University of Mining & Technology

Tagged Divisions

International

, and it has been important base for personnel training and scientificresearch of mineral processing in China, and has a higher international outstanding academicand influence. The major has achieved outstanding achievement in undergraduate teaching,experiments and practice teaching. It has two national content courses of ‘mineralprocessing subject’ and ‘concentration plant design’, six of them are top-quality coursesof Jiangsu; Laboratory of mineral processing is the key laboratory of ministry of education.And in 2009, it was awarded as national experimental teaching demonstration centers withmining engineering and safety engineering, and it has formed a training system of mineralprocessing to adapt the new century. Nearly 60 years

Conference Session

Information and Network Security

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Maurice F. Aburdene, Bucknell University; Kundan Nepal, Bucknell University

Tagged Divisions

Computing & Information Technology

AC 2011-657: SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS, DATA COMMUNICA-TIONS, AND SIMULATIONMaurice F. Aburdene, Bucknell University Maurice Felix Aburdene is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Professor of Computer Science at Bucknell University. His teaching and research interests include control systems, parallel algorithms, simulation of dynamic systems, distributed algorithms, computer communication networks, computer- assisted laboratories, and signal processing.Kundan Nepal, Bucknell University Kundan Nepal is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Bucknell University. His research interests span the areas of reliable nanoscale digital VLSI systems, embedded computing using

Conference Session

Experiential Learning in ECE

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mihaela Radu, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Clint S. Cole, Digilent, Inc.; Joe Harris, Digilent, Inc.; Mircea Dabacan, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

, Digital Systems, Design of Fault Tolerant Systems and Testing of Digital Systems. Her current research interests include Fault Tolerance of Electronic Systems, Programmable Logic Devices and new educational methods to teach digital system design and analog electronics.Clint S Cole, Digilent, Inc. Clint graduated from Washington State University in 1987 with a BS degree in computer science, and worked for Hewlett-Packard and Physio-Control before co-founding Heartstream in 1991. Heartstream pioneered the design of ultra-portable, low-cost defibrillators that are now deployed in millions of settings around the world. After Hewlett-Packard purchased Heartstream in 1997, Clint returned to WSU to complete a MSEE

Conference Session

ECE Division Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mariusz Jankowski, University of Southern Maine

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

computing. Dr. Jankowski has received awards from the Ames Laboratory, Wolfram Research, and University of Southern Maine for his scholarly and pedagogic work. He has received grants from the National Science Foundation, Maine Science and Technology Foundation, and Wolfram Research. Page 22.1219.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2011 Recent advances in computational technology in the classroomAbstractRecent advances in computational technology have made it significantly easier to create interactive demonstrations with pro-grammable tools that are fully

Conference Session

Professional Graduate Education and Industry

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carla C. Purdy, University of Cincinnati; Xuefu Zhou, University of Cincinnati

Tagged Divisions

College Industry Partnerships, Graduate Studies

changes in our environment and to better prepare ourstudents to be future academic leaders.IntroductionPreparing Future Faculty (PFF) programs typically meet three standard requirements: 1. they focus on the full spectrum of faculty roles and responsibilities with regard to teaching, research, and service, and how these responsibilities may be interpreted in different institutions; 2. they provide participants with multiple mentors and feedback not only on their research but also on teaching and service; 3. to accomplish these goals, they involve a cluster of institutions, with one doctoral degree-granting institution partnering with a variety of other institutions.The 12-year-old Preparing

Conference Session

Unique Developments in Engineering Technology

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Branislav Rosul, College of Dupage; Niaz Latif, Purdue University, Calumet ; Mohammad A. Zahraee, Purdue University, Calumet; Aco Sikoski, Ivy Tech Community College

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

Uni- versity he transferred to United States in 1987 where he continued his work in the Controls and Robotics area at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He obtained Masters and then Doctorate in the area of Robot Control and Modeling of Multibody Systems in 1997. In 1992 he started his career at College of DuPage. First, as an instructor in Electro-Mechanical Technology and then, as a coordinator in Electronics Tech- nology. In addition to practical engineering experience Dr. Rosul has significant teaching and research background. As a PI and co-PI Dr. Rosul has extensively worked with NSF on several projects. Dr. Rosul also served as an ABET evaluator for IEEE society.Niaz Latif, Purdue University, Calumet

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andy S. Zhang, New York City College of Technology; Iem Heng, New York City College of Technology; Sidi Berri, New York City College of Technology; Farrukh Zia, New York City College of Technology

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

Atmega328, Pic18 Micro-controllerThe software is installed in all labs; whereas, the hardware is kept in a few labs. New machinessuch as a CNC milling center, injection molding, water jet, and 3D printers have been purchasedin recent years. Funding will be used to establish the robotic laboratory that forms the core ofthe MTC.4.2. Timelines and ActivitiesWe estimate that it will take three years to fully implement the product design/MechatronicsTechnology Center. The timelines and activities are shown in the following Table 2:Table 2: Timelines and Activities Summer 2010 Fall 2010 Spring 2011 Professional development; Professional & curricula Teach new courses; Train Train

Conference Session

Distance and Web-based Learning in ECE

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Esteban Rodriguez-Marek, Eastern Washington University; Min-Sung Koh, Eastern Washington University; Claudio Talarico, Eastern Washington University; Jabulani Nyathi, Eastern Washington University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

., should be made available.Coincidentally, a system of community colleges exists in the country that typically provides allstudents services and teaches most supporting classes needed by engineering degrees. Many ofthese community colleges have laboratories used both for vocational and pre-engineeringprograms. These laboratories tend to be well equipped and grossly underutilized [1]. A logicalconclusion, then, suggests itself: The resources available through the community college systemmust be coupled with those of four-year programs to offer engineering programs. The solutionhas three main advantages. First, universities offering 4-year engineering programs can reach astudent population previously outside of their geographical scope without