engineering practices, engineers must betrained to consider the views of all stakeholders while planning projects, including the local andunderrepresented communities whose feedback is rarely considered [1], [21]. To address thissocial injustice, students participated in a two-stage research project. In the first stage, theyidentified and analyzed environmental challenges affecting their local neighborhoods, applyingtheir engineering and technical knowledge to develop practical, cost-effective solutions. At thispoint, considerations of environmental justice were intentionally omitted. In the second stage,students conducted a more comprehensive analysis, focusing on the communities residing in thetargeted areas, with particular attention to
-leveltransportation and environmental factors when working on this project. The Hyperloop missionstatement says: ‘We don’t sell cars, boats, trains, or planes. We sell time. We’re creating aseamless experience for a passenger that starts the moment you think about being somewhere –not going somewhere. Door to door faster than ever before.’ There are a variety of larger positiveand negative impacts that need to be considered when looking at high-level transportation.Positive impacts include reduced travel time, decreased traffic congestion, and more. Negativeimpacts include high costs, possible land displacement, and more. Lastly, students shouldconsider how high-level transportation affects urban planning and urban design.”These examples illustrate the types
16model, demonstrates the model’s effectiveness in increasing the interest, confidence and knowledge ofAfrican American STEM learners, while affirming their cultural identity and fostering cultural pride. Future Work Data analyzed from the 2023 and 2024 summer cohorts of the UACI STEM Camp demonstratethe effectiveness of the program’s culturally grounded practices and instructional strategies, which wereinformed by the African-Centered STEM Education (ACSE) model. Based on these findings, we plan toresearch, implement, and evaluate additional practices and strategies. This will involve exploring moreAfrican cultural practices, as well as African cognitive and epistemological frameworks. Our
,including layout planning, typography, color theory, and audience analysis, crucial for creatingcompelling and informative infographics. These activities not only reinforce technical skills butalso emphasize the importance of design thinking a key component of engineering problem-solving.Literature ReviewInfographics, as visualizations that amalgamate text and imagery to elucidate data andinformation, play a pivotal role in disseminating complex concepts across various fields,including healthcare. Li and Molder [3] emphasize that well-designed infographics, particularlywithin a scientific context, can serve multiple functions: they illustrate intricate concepts, clarifydata patterns, offer aesthetic engagement, and bridge the knowledge gap between
. Her research focuses the impact of motivation on performance and persistence in mechanical engineering, design cognition and neurocognition, and manufacturing training in design courses. Elisabeth is an active member of ASEE, ASME, Tau Beta Pi, and Order of the Engineer. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025EVALUATING SELF-EFFICACY IN INTERDISCIPLINARY CAPSTONE DESIGN EXPERIENCESABSTRACTEngineering programs have long recognized the importance of capstone design as a culminatingexperience for students. This course is typically taken toward the end of students' degree plan andallows them to work on an open-ended, real-world project that primarily focuses on innovationwithin
to enhancing students’ learning while programming. As WebTAaims to help students through the processes of programming and improving their code. By onlyproviding explanation of the antipatterns and hints to solve them, the above evidence of studentslearning to fix antipatterns is promising for the continued development of WebTA.7 Future WorkFuture plans include: (1) robust usability testing with both students & instructors, (2) validation& further prototyping of interactive help documentation, (3) continuation of rewriting/improvingcritique messages, (4) amending the lack of easy autonomy for professors to set up their assign-ments on their own in WebTA, (5) creation of a customizable experience with WebTA’s patterndatabase
) [3]. For this reason,properly conducted SLRs are often more time consuming, require a larger team, and morefunding. In other words, Scoping Reviews consider the “breadth” of available information on atopic, whereas Systematic Literature Reviews consider the “depth” of the studies. In myexperience, research tools such as Covidence can help expedite the process by automaticallyremoving duplicates from search results, streamlining the literature review process, and allow forinterrater reliability by allowing multiple researchers to collaborate and conduct their ownliterature screening on the project. I had originally planned to conduct a systematic literature review but switched over toconducting a scoping review upon reflecting on the
the professional skills rubric each week. When concern arose with student engagement, we specifically referred to the rubric and outlined steps the student could take to address the concerns.Program EvaluationThis paper reports on a component of a holistic program evaluation triangulating multiplequantitative and qualitative data sources [12] to examine the program’s influence on students’research skills, attitudes towards STEM, STEM postsecondary and career planning, and keymentor outcomes.Evaluation QuestionsFour evaluation questions addressed in this paper were: 1. To what extent did students and mentors report students grew in their research skills (understanding of the research process, working collaboratively and
Power SystemsIn this exercise, students plan to study the effect of short, medium, and long transmission linesand determine the error in the models for different distances. In addition, students explore voltageprofiles as a function of loading and distance and reactive power compensation techniques. Dueto space limitations for this paper, this project can be found at the GitHub page in [reference leftout for double-blind purposes].4 Analysis of ResultsTwo surveys were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the course teaching: a midterm survey andan end-of-term survey, both administered by the University Center for Teaching and Learning.These surveys provided an indirect assessment of student learning.4.1 Midterm SurveyThe midterm survey
calculations efficiently, facilitates integration acrossmultiple engineering domains, and provides hands-on experience with industry-relevant problem-solving.Despite its strengths, feedback from students has highlighted the need for enhancements,particularly in user support and accessibility. Addressing the steep learning curve throughcomprehensive documentation, tutorials, and in-class training will ensure broader adoption andeffective utilization. To further support students, we plan to prepare detailed video tutorials andwritten instructions for the CHE CALCULATOR®, making it more accessible and user-friendlyfor diverse learning styles. Additionally, improving compatibility and expanding functionality willposition CHE CALCULATOR® as a versatile
it was an interesting class that I plan to go back at in the summer either through my notes or through the textbook.” “Taking multiple classes, having 16 hours made the course load difficult. At times the material did not make sense the first time around so having to take even more time to understand the concepts was very difficult. Moreover, this class was more challenging than any other course I had taken.” “I had not properly managed my time between work, school and personal family matters this semester, and as such I fell behind in this course. Unfortunately, I fell behind in many of my studies, however it was the dynamics course that received the least attention. The course material is very interesting, and every
, with each group selecting a different continent tofocus on. Each week, they would give presentations lasting 10 to 15 minutes that covered theform of power generation relevant to their assigned continent. These discussions aimed toenhance understanding of the topic and provide technical background on the technologies andtheir applications. Working collaboratively, the students would use the information gathered toconduct research and present the current state of power generation technology in their respectivecontinents.The presentations were required to include: • Summary Statistics o Total generation (MW), largest installations, comparison to other energy sources o Generation potential o Future outlook (planned
: Special attention should be paid to increasing the severity ofsafety requirements for the roofing industry and investing in technology and the training ofworkers (fall arrest systems such as harnesses, guard rails etc.). Protective Measures: Reduceserious injury by utilizing personal protective equipment more often, especially those protectingthe head and spine. Young Worker Safety Programs: Conduct age-sensitive safety programs tomeet the accidents rates challenges associated with young generation employees. ImprovedReporting: Extend data categories, for example, “Unknown” in roof height and the extent ofinjuries to provide efficiency in risk evaluation and planning for the interdisciplinaryintervention. When the above critical areas are
' areas of interest, • Strong and engaging communicators, and • Willing to donate their time to support student development. To potential mentors, we emphasize the structure and value of the program, highlighting its carefully planned activities as an efficient and meaningful investment of their time and energy. A minimum commitment of four contact hours during the fall semester is requested, including participation in three informal student meetings and attendance at the students’ final presentations. The proposed schedule, outlined in Table 2, is shared with mentors to ensure transparency and alignment of expectations. Table 2. Mentorship Program Schedule Meeting
gripper and the mold. Thefuture plan is to implement a pre-workshop training on COMSOL simulation and SOLIDWORKSdesign, perhaps with the adoption of video tutorials and some pre-workshop assignments.The workshop primarily focused on the design and development of soft grippers. Hence, sensorintegration and controls were out of the scope of this workshop due to time constraints. Futureworkshops will include a pre-workshop survey to get a better understanding of the students’existing skills and their expectations from the workshop. However, since most of the studentshad little to no prior mechanical engineering experience and were oblivious to soft roboticsconcepts, this survey was not conducted.5. ConclusionThe students were able to develop
interpretwaveform data, relay logic responses, and overall protection element responses. Fig. 2 shows thetestbed for teaching power system protection in IBR-penetrated grids.4 Teaching Instruction Methods for the Lab.The teaching approach is designed to give students a thorough hands-on learning experience inpower system protection for systems with IBRs. The lab activities are carefully planned togradually help students understand how digital relays work, use real-time simulations, andconduct playback testing. Prior to these exercises students have performed transmission 5 Figure 2: Laboratory set up for protection
). o Supports ABET Student Outcome 7: an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies [4]. • Class Ending o It is envisioned that the final day will end with students realizing that… Well, the complete story plot and ending have yet to be implemented, but the author has the ending planned and hopes readers of this paper are intrigued to look forward to the final work.Quantitative FeedbackAs previously described, the dramatic story plot is not complete and has only been implementedto date in approximately 8 classes or 27% of the course content. However, qualitative andquantitative feedback has been solicited from the students in
): 𝛼𝛼𝑐𝑐 = � 𝑣𝑣𝑛𝑛 (2) 𝑛𝑛Here, 𝛼𝛼𝑐𝑐 , reflects the cumulative impact of all course interdependencies on students’ abilities toprogress and complete the program. Figure 1 illustrates an example calculation of a course’scruciality using these two factors. Figure 1. Example calculation of a course cruciality using the delay and blocking factors from [12]MethodsData SourcesWe collected the degree plans data from publicly available engineering handbooks for sevenengineering programs at a private Northeastern institution for the class of 2015-2019. Theseprograms are Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), Computer Science (CS
ability to navigate and utilize digital tools is fundamental to thriving in educational andprofessional settings.Due to challenges in both personal and professional spheres, it is now essentially required forindividuals to possess some level of computer literacy, regardless of when they were born.Education, as a critical aspect of societal growth, is crucial in addressing the issue of literacy,particularly computer literacy [6].Computer literacy has become an essential component of effective teaching and learning,particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic [19]. The sudden shift to online education highlightedthe importance of being proficient in using computer software and navigating the internet. Teachershad to adapt their lesson plans and
, emphasizing the impact of proper sleep routines onstudent performance. It encourages education scholars and administrators to recognize thesignificance of healthy sleep in educational system planning and design.Keywords: Engineering, Education, Sleep Routine, Circadian Rhythm, PerformanceIntroductionSleep deprivation is a common and widespread problem that affects both personal andprofessional life. Many people of different ages struggle with sleep issues and seek remediesthrough various means. These issues, however, are associated with a set of determinants, stimuli,and catalysts. Many of these factors are controllable to some extent, and individuals can copewith their sleep issues by managing them. These stimuli and catalysts are often
between AI and students or how the AI platform learned from students' activity.To summarize, researchers have tapped into the use of AI agents as a peer and companion forlearning in education, yet its application for design thinking and open-ended problems appears tobe a largely untapped area. As we continue to synthesize articles in this space, we plan to generatedetailed guidelines for supporting interactions between AI agents and learners for complex-spacedesign thinking for open-ended problems.AcknowledgementsThis work was funded by NSF award # DRL-2201215. All findings and opinions are those of theauthors and may not reflect the views of NSFReferences[1] R. K. Sawyer, “The New Science of Learning,” in Cambridge Handbook of the
, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 27, no. 5, pp. 1065–1092, Jun. 2020, doi: 10.1108/ECAM-06-2019-0283.[6] J. Mansuy et al., Transitioning to a circular economy Changing Business Models and Business Ecosystems. ASP editions-Academic and Scientific Publishers, 2022.[7] M. Arora, F. Raspall, L. Fearnley, and A. Silva, “Urban mining in buildings for a circular economy: Planning, process and feasibility prospects,” Resour Conserv Recycl, vol. 174, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105754.[8] OECD, Decarbonising Buildings in Cities and Regions. in OECD Urban Studies. OECD, 2022. doi: 10.1787/a48ce566-en.[9] United Nations Environment Programme, “Buildings and Climate Change: Summary for
"double-edged sword," noting, "Specialisation is nice, but also a double-edged sword...Access to facilities and resources can be challenging sometimes." Large class sizes furtherexacerbate these challenges, creating additional complexity in ensuring equitable access toresources. As ID-3 pointed out, "Scale is the other challenge... sometimes, accessing facilitiesand resources can be difficult." Balancing the needs of diverse and large student groups whilemaintaining equitable access to resources requires careful planning and institutional support.Physical constraints also limit the scope of hands-on projects and iterative processes essential todesign thinking. ID-5 emphasized logistical difficulties, stating, "Access to facilities andresources
. 3. Implement a point system and other features in future iterations of the game.Now, in February of 2025, a new team of game design students is incorporating this feedbackinto Version 2.0 of Mission to Europa, and both the RPG design course and the astrobiologycourse have been scheduled in the same time slot. This allows game designers to attend lecturesin the first half of the course, and in the second half of the course these designers will becomegame masters and actors who run the RPG that they have redesigned.Measuring impact on student learningDr. Freeland plans to teach the first seven weeks of his course in a traditional lecture format, thenthe Mission to Europa RPG will begin after Spring Break and run for six weeks. An exam will
traditional frameworks and sensor-based measures to assess team efficiency andeffectiveness, emphasizing factors like team composition, coordination, and prior VR experience[12]. On the other hand, a unified framework was proposed that integrates VR with human-robotsimulations to enable human interaction with production equipment to address the challenges indesigning flexible, adaptable, and safe human-robot workspaces [3]. By employing event-drivensimulations, these frameworks support human-robot cycle time estimation, process planning,layout optimization, and robot control programming.A study demonstrated the use of VR technology to simulate digital factories and enhanceproduction efficiency by employing simulation software [11]. It showed how VR
Computer Scientists for the Challenges of Hybrid Quantum-Classical Computing," 2024 IEEE 24th International Symposium on Cluster, Cloud and Internet Computing (CCGrid), Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2024, pp. 626-635, doi: 10.1109/CCGrid59990.2024.00075.[6] National Science Foundation, “Quantum science and engineering expands across the nation with $39M from NSF,” NSF - National Science Foundation, Aug. 29, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://new.nsf.gov/news/quantum-science-engineering-expands- across-nation-39m-nsf[7] Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science, “Quantum Information Science and Technology Workforce Development National Strategic Plan,” Feb. 2022. Accessed: Jan. 13, 2025. [Online
introducing adaptive expertise frameworks early in the engineering curriculum. Bydoing so, students begin to internalize the iterative, reflective, and adaptive processes that will becritical throughout their academic and professional careers.However, the implementation of these strategies is not without challenges. Some teams struggledwith early prototyping stages, often rushing through conceptual design or overlookingmanufacturability considerations. These difficulties highlight the importance of reinforcingfoundational design principles and encouraging reflection throughout the process. Structuredcoaching interventions proved effective in addressing these challenges, but they also underscorethe need for careful planning and consistent support in
engineering programs who are accredited by theAccreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). ABET Outcome 5 of the sevenstudent outcomes states that graduating engineering students should attain, “an ability to functioneffectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative andinclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives [1].” Therefore, it isimperative for the University of Pittsburgh engineering programs to engage their students ineffective teamwork throughout their undergraduate education.Teamwork is important in interdisciplinary projects as it brings diverse ideas, skills, andapproaches together. Likewise, different students have different skills, and their personal trialsand
: [Contributing to society as an active citizen] (Focus is Character)30. How confident are you in implementing activities that develop collaboration, communication and character of your students by: [Identifying personal passion and a plan for professional development] (Focus is Character)
Computing Machinery, May 2024, pp. 331–341. doi: 10.1145/3639474.3640076.[15] A. Scholl and N. Kiesler, “How Novice Programmers Use and Experience ChatGPT when Solving Programming Exercises in an Introductory Course,” Jul. 30, 2024, arXiv: arXiv:2407.20792. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2407.20792.[16] S. Lau and P. Guo, “From ‘Ban It Till We Understand It’ to ‘Resistance is Futile’: How University Programming Instructors Plan to Adapt as More Students Use AI Code Generation and Explanation Tools such as ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot,” in Proceedings of the 2023 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research - Volume 1, in ICER ’23, vol. 1. New York, NY, USA: Association for Computing Machinery, Sep. 2023, pp. 106–121. doi