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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Peter C.M. Burton; Fred Payne; Dinesh Kant

Session 3448 New Practically Focused Graduate Programs in Electronics offered by RMIT University. Peter C.M. Burton, Fred Payne, and Dinesh Kant, RMIT University, Melbourne, AustraliaAbstractThe Department of Communication and Electronic Engineering at RMIT University has alwayshad a practical “hands on” approach to teaching undergraduate engineering courses. Theprograms are industrially oriented with the aim of reducing the learning curve for graduatesentering industry.In 1997 the Department, in consultation with industry, introduced

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Stephanie Goldberg

group officehour). Especially in the beginning, the recitations will be formal mandatory scheduled sessionswhere group support will be nurtured. An equipped laboratory will be available for the womento work on hands-on projects.In the following section, some background information is collected from existing surveys andinterviews of students. A description of overall program structure follows. Section 4 highlightsspecial curriculum issues and Section 5 involves the recruitment of women students.Monitoring and evaluating the program is discussed in Section 6.2. BackgroundThe technical education of women and minority students is continuously highlighted as animportant piece of our overall technical growth as a nation for reasons ranging from

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Leonard Sokoloff

circuits aregenerally very costly to design and build. If a circuit has to be modified, it must be tornapart and rewired, thus making modifications very costly.This application is part of an effort at DeVry to include into the curriculum importanttechnologies such as the virtual instrumentation and the programmable logic controllers.The PLC Stepper Motor Controller is one of several projects that are being added to theupper trimester laboratory. Page 3.447.1 1 Stepper Motor OperationThe shaft of a stepper motor rotates one step at a time. This type of motion is called adiscrete motion. The step angle is determined

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Christopher R. Carroll

systemsdesigned by students in the second quarter digital circuit design class at the University ofMinnesota Duluth. Designs such as multipliers and other arithmetic circuits, stacks, queues, andother data structure implementations, and standard circuits meant to teach digital circuitcapabilities have used this instrument to provide user interface to the systems, so that studentscan concentrate on the specific task involved with their system designs and just use the availableinput and output tools provided here to get data into and out of their systems. This approach hasresulted in improved student ability to master digital system design without undue focus on theuser interface.Presented here is the design of this instrument, and the techniques used to

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Stephen A. Fulling; David L. Barrow

theirpresentation. Other topics, such as multiple integrals, orthonormal bases, ordinary differentialequations, and numerical approximation of derivatives and integrals, can be introduced in amotivated way in preparation for their more in-depth treatment in later years. Following“learning cycle” and “learning style” ideas, we have made an effort to provide more motivationand practice within the mathematics course; but the most effective and efficient motivators andpractice fields are coordinated courses in other disciplines where the mathematics is actuallyused.INTRODUCTION We were recently presented with the challenge of rethinking how to teach calculus tofreshman engineering students as part of an integrated curriculum. We immediately saw this

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Julia L. Morse

which built onexamples familiar to the students resulted in an activity which sufficiently engaged the interest ofhigh school students. The use of step-by-step procedure sheets to guide student teamworkproved to be an efficient means of managing the project in a classroom setting. Self-guidedgroupwork also encouraged student questions and exploration. Student questions and hands-onexploration led to discussion of engineering concepts aimed at the students’ level ofunderstanding and points of interest.Time flies in the classroom, and one or two hours is really a short time to acquaint students to anapplication they’ve never really seen before, even if the math is simple. Since the goal of theseprojects was not to teach new concepts, but to

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Lueny Morell de Ramírez; José L. Zayas; Jorge I. Vélez-Arocho

that presents eight steps in developing an assessment plan4. But regardless ofhow the assessment plan is developed, an effective plan must start with the identification ofspecific goals and objectives, definition of performance criteria, followed by the data collection1 Penn State University, University of Washington, and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez in collaboration with SandiaNational Laboratories. Project sponsored by the Technology Reinvestment Project. (TRP Project #3018, NSF Award #DMI- Page 3.500.19413880)2 John S. Lamancusa, Jens E. Jorgensen, and José L. Zayas, The Learning Factory – A New

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Lueny Morell de Ramírez; José L. Zayas; Jorge I. Vélez-Arocho

that presents eight steps in developing an assessment plan4. But regardless ofhow the assessment plan is developed, an effective plan must start with the identification ofspecific goals and objectives, definition of performance criteria, followed by the data collection1 Penn State University, University of Washington, and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez in collaboration with SandiaNational Laboratories. Project sponsored by the Technology Reinvestment Project. (TRP Project #3018, NSF Award #DMI- Page 3.501.19413880)2 John S. Lamancusa, Jens E. Jorgensen, and José L. Zayas, The Learning Factory – A New

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Peter D. Heimdahl

showed the campers real and prototypeCoke cans, as well as other packages. They discussed the good and bad aspects of packages andthe designs, functions of packaging and importance of eye-catching graphics. Next, The camperswere given a tour of the packaging laboratory complex where they were able to operate some ofthe equipment, including a drop test, burst test and crush test using various types of packages.Two hands-on activities were conducted in the lab. The first activity involved designing theshrink-wrapped package to hold a notepad and pencil. The campers developed their own artisticdesign for the supporting paperboard using colored magic markers. They then assembled thematerials, covered them with a clear plastic film, and operated a

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Marc A. Mesmer; Elizabeth A. Eschenbach

evaluation form. The students listed thefollowing categories as the most important: Attendance, Time on Project, Quality of Work,Communication with Team, Team Player, and Shows Initiative. Holter [6] develops a peerevaluation method for implementing a formal method to remove irresponsible team members froma team. Singh-Gupta and Troutt-Ervin [7] review literature on collaborative writing and discusshow peer review techniques can be used in group writing projects.Design Team Peer Evaluation ProcessThere are four course components of ENGR 111 that contribute to team building and the peerevaluation process: four one hour laboratories on team work, emails of weekly team progressreports, midterm evaluations, and endterm evaluations. This paper Ôs focus

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Peter A. Koen

skills” which are: the ability to identify, design andconduct experiments as well as analyze results; formulate and solve engineering problems; toengage in life-long learning; function on a multi-disciplinary team and communicate effectively.This survey indicates that engineering schools will need to improve on the “softer skills” whilemaintaining their strength in teaching the “harder” technical skills. As engineering schoolsembrace the assessment requirements of ABET 2000 they need to develop a survey processwhere the results will be embraced by the faculty and implemented into curriculum change. Thekey issue is not the survey, but the process utilized. I. IntroductionEngineering schools are becoming

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

P. David Fisher

modified and new ones would have to be created.During these deliberations in the fall of 1996, it became clear that the ABET-2000 document wassilent in a very important area. It made no mention of the need for Course Learning Objectives.We concluded that each key course in the engineering-student's program of study needed to havelearning objectives associated with it. While traditional course-catalog descriptions and coursesyllabi each has its purpose, they were not course learning objectives. Catalog descriptionsdescribe topics covered in a course. The course syllabi describe reading assignments, the flow oflectures/laboratories, grading policies, etc. Course learning objectives identify what students areexpected to learn during the course. The

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Randall A. Yoshisato

, the rate ofchange is accelerating as companies attempt to increase productivity of existing operations whilestill investing strategically for future growth. Government, too, is under increasing pressure to domore with less. Balancing domestic issues of crime, health care and deteriorating infrastructurewith a leadership role in foreign affairs is a daunting task. It is especially challenging when facedwith a tax resistant citizenry, a staggering national debt and the expectation of huge expenditureswhen social security entitlements skyrocket in the next decade.To the academic community, it may appear that their historical benefactors have reneged on theirunwritten obligation to fund the teaching and research activities that are so important

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Alex Kirlik; Jennifer Turns

prerequisite for a class, (3) diagnose why astudent is having difficulty in a class, (4) direct students attention at a particular facet of thematerial to be learned, and (5) trace students development of knowledge and abilities over time.At a school level, the new ABET 2000 accreditation standards will soon make it necessary forschools to be able to demonstrate what students have learned (outcomes based assessment) ratherthan simply demonstrating that they are teaching an acceptable complement of courses. This hascreated a need to develop strategies, and possibly even new assessment instruments, for assessingengineering students knowledge and abilities as they move through the curriculum.Assessment is, and has always been, very difficult. Some of the

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Stephen R. Fleeman

credit hour is awardedfor each lecture hour. In contrast, two laboratory hours are required to produce one credit hour. These Page 3.233.6general guidelines are modified occasionally in unique course situations. -6-The class hours listed in Table 3 are given on a per-week basis. Each semester is 15 weeks long (notincluding final examination periods). Consequently, we must multiply each of the total class hours by 15.When the number of class hours is tallied, we obtain a total of 1,392 hours. While this seems to bewoefully short of the total training hours provided in Table 2, we must

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Alice Agogino; Ann McKenna

. Cognitive apprenticeship: Teaching the craft of reading, writing, andmathematics. In Resnick (Ed.), Knowing, Learning, and Instruction: Essay in Honor of Robert Glaser, 453-494.Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum (1989).6. Special thanks to Julia Claeys for her demonstration of this activity. Original author unknown. Page 3.350.137. Special thanks to both the Synthesis Coalition and the Electronics Research Laboratory at UC Berkeley for theirdonation of old disk drives. 138. Yu, D. & Agogino, A., "Virtual Disk Drive Design Studio," CD ROM, Synthesis Coalition, 3112 EtcheverryHall, UC

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Josef Rojter

broad parameters. The inquiry undertook the Page 3.245.4study of all engineering education providers in terms of their academic staffprofiles, researchand consultancy activities of the staff members, quality of laboratory and researchequipment,and engineering curriculum development. Recommendations from the Institute of 4Engineers and its various disciplinary components, surveys undertaken by employer groupsand university centres for higher education studies were also evaluated by the inquiry. In thesummary of its conclusions the Williams Committee

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Mary Ann McCartney; Maria A. Reyes; Mary Anderson-Rowland

engineering student will usually take in their curriculumand is a four semester hour, open-ended design course. The course has three components;laboratory, projects and modeling; and consist of six contact hours.During the summer of 1996, 44 students participated and completed the program. As arecruitment tool, the program was an overwhelming success with 43 of the 44 studentscompleting the academic year (one chose not to because of the family’s financial situation).During the summer of 1997, 39 students also completed the program. Currently, 38 of the 39from the 1997 program have enrolled in the CEAS (one choosing not to enroll until the spring Page

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Douglas G. Schmucker

necessarily measured in monetary units. One particular concern is that as students becomeincreasingly competent with computers, their understanding and comprehension of “structuralreality” may suffer.This author firmly believes that physical models are an essential part of a balanced structuralengineering curriculum.† This belief is particularly made firmer in light of the increasing use ofcomputers in all facets of engineering practice and education. Physical models also appeal todifferent modes of learning. Testing laboratories traditionally provided opportunities for “hands-on” learning yet are expensive in both equipment, space, and labor needs. At the University ofAlberta, eleven short demonstrations of basic fluid mechanics principles have been

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Sanjiv Sarin

, howCriteria 2000 is different. These changes are summarized below.What remains unchanged?1. Required professional component of 1 year of Mathematics/Basic Sciences and 1½ year of Engineering Topics2. Need for documented processes for admissions, transfer, graduation of students3. Need for General Education component that complements the technical content of the program4. Emphasis on the number, qualifications, experience, and diversity of faculty5. Adequacy of classroom, laboratories, and computing facilities6. Strength of institutional support and leadership of program7. Adequacy of financial resources for facilities, maintenance of equipment, and development of facultyWhat is new in ABET 2000?1. No required minimum Humanities/Social Sciences

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Marybeth Lima

description of this freshmenlevel course was as follows: effect of variability and constraints of biological systems onengineering problem solving and design; engineering units; engineering report writing; oralreport presentation; laboratory demonstration of biological engineering analysis. Thirty studentswere enrolled in this course. One major facet of the course was the class design project. This semester long, guidedexercise introduced students to the engineering method and attributes of design. Emphasis wasplaced on “big picture” concepts involved in design, including the engineering design method,methods of evaluating decisions, and consideration of different perspectives and how they affecta design. The tiger project was chosen

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Alan K. Karplus

, selection of load scales, and therecording of data. John Stambaugh, a volunteer high school student from Wilbraham, MA, assistedwith several trials and contributed operational suggestion for the text.Author:ALAN K. KARPLUSAlan K. Karplus is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Western New England College, Springfield,Massachusetts. He has a Bachelor's degree from Tufts College, a Master's degree from Iowa State University and aPh.D. from Colorado State University. He has been involved with the freshman engineering program, coordinatesthe senior mechanical engineering laboratory program, teaches Materials Science and supervises M.E. SeniorProjects. His interests include materials and design. He is a member of ASME, ASEE and ASM International

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Robert Batson

knowledge for the State of California Professional Engineering (PE) Exam in Quality Engineering;& Two reports on quality education for engineers in Japan: 1. “Quality Practices in Japan” 8, a 1988 report on a study mission to Japan by a team of researchers from AT&T Bell Laboratories and the University of Wisconsin. 2. “Total Quality Control Education in Japan” 9, a 1989 report by the GOAL/QPC Sustaining Members’ Research Committee. Page 3.51.4 4These last two reports each contained sample curricula in quality topics for all engineers, created andtaught by members of

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Stephanie Goldberg

important goal is to keep students involved with the textbook. More class time will bespent referring to the textbook and database. Lectures and laboratories will involve the textbookwhenever possible. An interactive component may be added to the course requirements. Links tomanufacturers' data sheets, professional organizations and IEEE journal abstracts will be added tothe database.1. J. J. Bellon, E. C. Bellon, and M. A., Blank, Teaching from a Research Knowledge Base, Macmillan, 1992.2. R. D. Murphy, "Hypertext and the EET Student", in Proc. ASEE Annual Conference, pp. 69-70, 1992.3. A. S. Sedra and K. C. Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, Oxford University Press, 1998.Stephanie Goldberg is an assistant professor in the Technology Department at

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Rebecca K. Toghiani

for studying the phenomena. Supplies for this demonstration are modest: three large beakers, a stirring rod and about100-200 cc each of water, ethanol and toluene. Ethanol and toluene are commonly used inchemistry laboratories and thus are readily available on most campuses. For demonstrationpurposes, one can use food color in the ethanol or water to enhance the visual impact of thedemonstration. Before any mixtures are prepared, the students (in groups of two or three) areasked to discuss and hypothesize what will happen when they mix: 1) ethanol and water; 2)ethanol and toluene; and 3) toluene and water. The class is polled and their guesses are tallied onthe board. 50-100 cc each of water and of ethanol are mixed in a beaker. These

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Kenneth L. Tuttle

Session 2478 Computer Models Using Spreadsheets to Study Heat Engine Thermodynamics Kenneth L. Tuttle U.S. Naval AcademyABSTRACTMarine Power Systems is the second term of a two term course in thermodynamics at the U.S.Naval Academy. This is an applied thermodynamics course and is taught by the MarineEngineering faculty. One of the primary objectives of this thermodynamics course is to teach thethermodynamics of heat engines. Marine Power Systems takes the study of Heat Engine Cyclesbeyond the first step, introduction of how to work the Heat

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Narayanan Komerath

movies and picnics, which delayed the weeding-out of Page 3.187.1those who would not survive the “real” courses. A few years ago the course was re-worked and 1taught by several senior faculty, using different approaches. In 1996-‘97, the course was movedinto the Freshman 3rd quarter to strengthen the motivation of the new recruits. This course had toappeal to people who had little background in calculus or mechanics. Options included ideassuch as hands-on projects, lab demonstrations, multimedia, invited speakers, industry tours, andan approach which had been laughed off in the past: teach Aircraft

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Katherine E. Scales; Michael S. Leonard; Donald E. Beasley

allocating the necessary resources to help accomplish thegoals. If an academic unit has not developed a strategic plan, it should do so early in thecurriculum renewal process. This will enable the subsequent stages in the renewalmethodology to proceed efficiently and to help the CDT develop program objectives whichcontribute directly to achievement of the goals of the academic unit.Curriculum renewal goals are changes that must be made in the academic curriculum tocontribute to the academic unit’s strategic goals. The curriculum renewal goals may include:desired subject area competencies, specific laboratory or classroom experiences, and/or theintegration of selected curriculum elements.Performance measures are established to evaluate candidate

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Thalia Anagnos; Michael W. Jennings

sponsored on campus at which one of the experts in the field laidout the justification for assessment, and provided introductory materials and suggestions for how to get started. Acontinuing program for innovative teaching techniques has included several experts in the area of classroomassessment. One faculty member spent a sabbatical developing a post-graduation assessment tool for the COE. Anumber of books and other resources were purchased to establish a small “Assessment Library”. All of theseactivities combined to expedite implementation of the COE assessment program.The assessment coordination committee has also been collecting Information from other Institutions. Most programshave been doing some form of assessment in the past, but have not