Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Transportation and Geotechnical Engineering

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James L. Hanson, California Polytechnic State University; David J. Elton, Auburn University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

teaming exercises that involvedstudents from two universities. Students were assigned to groups containing membersfrom both universities to complete laboratory assignments. Activities were established formeaningful and entertaining introductions between the individual team members prior totechnical interactions. Assignments were developed to require sharing of data andcollaborations amongst all team members, with special focus on inter-universitycollaborations and communications. Detailed electronic communications of the teamswere evaluated for assessment of project success. In addition, surveys were conductedand focus group discussions (facilitated by an external assessment coordinator) wereundertaken after the experiences to provide depth to

Conference Session

The Designer of 2020: Innovations in Teaching Design

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mikhail Gershfeld S.E., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Charles B. Chadwell, California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo; Sean P. Brophy, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

toward implementation on a broader scale.This introductory paper outlines the WEI framework as a work in progress vision consisting of aVirtual Classroom, Virtual Laboratory, and Virtual Studio as three pillars of the Virtual LearningEnvironment. At the time of the authorship of this paper, the Virtual Classroom model has beenlaunched and student assessment has been conducted at California Polytechnic State Universitiesat both Pomona and San Luis Obispo. Presented herein are details of the WEI framework, thepedagogy of the packaged curriculum with the available online streaming teaching modules,details of the launched pilot program, and students’ perceptions of the pilot program coursecontent and its delivery through the NEESacademy powered by

Conference Session

Reflections on the “Raise the Bar” Initiative (Part I) - Using a Decade of Experience to Chart the Future

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth J. Fridley, University of Alabama; Kevin D. Hall, University of Arkansas; James K. Nelson Jr. P.E., University of Texas, Tyler

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

Conference Session

Expanding Access and Opportunities for M/30

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andrea L. Welker PE, Villanova University; Leslie Ann McCarthy P.E., Villanova University; John Komlos, Villanova University; Alfred Andrew Fry

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

25.775.4rigorously assessed9, 10; however, improvements to the assessment process were made this pastyear. The next information literacy modules developed were for Foundation Design (CEE 4801),Soil Mechanics Laboratory (CEE 3901), and Solid and Hazardous Waste (CEE 4331). Themodules for Advanced Transportation Engineering (CEE 3525) in 2010 and TransportationFacilities Design (CEE 4224) in 2011 are the most recently developed. Although the informationliteracy modules for Foundation Design, Soil Mechanics Laboratory, and Solid and HazardousWaste have been in existence for several years, the assessment process is still developing.Although there are often intermediate assignments in each class, there is a major work productassociated with each class.Table 1

Conference Session

ABET: Reflections on Accreditation

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Allen C. Estes, California Polytechnic State University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

, participation in professional societies,and licensure as Professional Engineers. What constitutes an acceptable level in any of thoseareas is left almost exclusively to the judgment of the evaluator and team chief and there hasbeen nowhere near the level of discussion on these items as there has been on outcome and Page 25.1271.6objective assessment. Even the ABET evaluator training provides little guidance in this area.Similarly, the Criterion 7 on Facilities states, “Classrooms, offices, laboratories, and associatedequipment must be adequate to support attainment of the student outcomes and to provide anatmosphere conducive to learning.” There has

Conference Session

Civil Engineering Poster Session

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dan Cernusca, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Ghulam H. Bham PhD, Missouri University of Science & Technology

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

and an exit survey related to the tasks completed during the drivingsimulator laboratory activity. The teaching assistants administered both surveys online, in thedriving simulator laboratory, immediately after the completion of the task.The entry survey started with an assessment question that asked students to rate the three curvesin terms of the quality of their design using a three-level scale that included following options:“Bad design,” “Decent design,” and “Good design.” An open-ended question followed this firstassessment item and asked students to explain concisely the differences between the best and theworst designs they experienced on the virtual vertical alignment. The goal of this secondquestion was to collect some qualitative

Conference Session

Hey You: Effectively Engaging Students in the Classroom

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lelli Van Den Einde, University of California, San Diego; Samuel Holton Lee, University of California, San Diego; Jacqueline Linh Le, University of California, San Diego

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

minutes, and were expected to come to a consensus before answering again. • Discussion groups were pre-assigned based on laboratory teams (approximately 4 students each) and it was encouraged that teams sit together during lecture. Some teams did, but in the end, most of the discussions were ad-hoc (e.g. discussion with people around you). • The result of the first vote was always hidden from students before they entered into discussion. There did not seem to be a lack of interest in discussing the topic further without seeing the original results and it avoided students voting for the most popular answer when asked the second time. • The correct answer was not indicated on the slide after

Conference Session

Going Viral: Effective Instructional Techniques in an Online Environment

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Blair J. McDonald, University of Texas, Pan American

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

when necessary. Startedwith virtually no funding, laboratory space with 20% utilization was made available to studentsto study in during the unused 80% of the schedule. The program was initiated in the Fall 2011term. The academic performance of a targeted set of at risk students was observed during thesemester.The motivation for this program and its objectives are discussed. Data collected following thefirst semester of operation is presented and discussed. Conclusions are drawn regarding theenvironments impact on the program.IntroductionStudents at every academic level are prone to fall behind during the semester. Key to “keepingup” is having adequate prerequisite knowledge to comprehend and implement new concepts asthey are presented in

Conference Session

ABET: Reflections on Accreditation

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Karl F. Meyer, U.S. Military Academy; Allen C. Estes, California Polytechnic State University; Paul Francis Mlakar, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

, manyprograms fix the shortcomings and make necessary changes to the program that will earn anultimate NGR rating. Programs are encouraged to work with the ABET team chief to take fulladvantage of this due process period.810. Laboratory Safety. There are not a lot of shortcomings in the areas of facilities, resources,or faculty qualifications. One exception to that has been laboratory safety which seems to Page 25.313.7generate a lot of attention. Include it in the self-study and be ready to address it during thecampus visit when the evaluators are given a tour.11. Don’t embellish. There is a natural tendency for a program to cite its accomplishments

Conference Session

Civil Engineering Poster Session

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Edward F. Glynn P.E., Villanova University; Frank E. Falcone, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

these interactions.IntroductionThe Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Villanova University has recentlyrevised its curriculum. In particular, the Department reduced the number of credits in thecurriculum by consolidating several related topics into a few key courses. One of these courses,Civil Engineering Fundamentals, is taught in the fall semester of the sophomore year and servesas an introduction to the engineering program. The course includes three 50-minute lectures andone 3-hour laboratory session per week over a 14-week semester. There are two sections of thecourse, each of which has between 20 and 30 students. Fundamentals is designed to helpsophomores develop many analytical, interpretive and field-based skills and

Conference Session

Hey You: Effectively Engaging Students in the Classroom

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Glenn W. Ellis, Smith College

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

compaction. • Become familiar with: laboratory soil tests and field sampling and improvement techniques. • Improve your communication and group skills by participating in a discourse in knowledge building.Established in 2000, the Picker Program is the first engineering program at a women’s college inthe United States and one of only a small number of engineering programs set within a liberalarts college environment. The 2010 enrollment of the EGR 340 was 12 women (three seniors,five juniors and four sophomores) and included ten engineering and two geology majors. EGR340 introduces students to the engineering behavior of soil within the context of a variety of real-world applications such as constructing dams, roads and buildings

Conference Session

The Teacher as Manager: Best Practices for Culminating Design Experiences

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James B Guthrie P.E., California Polytechnic State University; Allen C. Estes, California Polytechnic State University; Jill Nelson P.E., California Polytechnic State University; Brent Nuttall P.E., California Polytechnic State University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

Architecture and Environmental Design at California Polytechnic StateUniversity in San Luis Obispo is the only college in the nation that has departments ofArchitecture, Architectural Engineering, Construction Management and LandscapeArchitecture in the same college. The institution has a 60 year tradition of collaborationbetween the engineering, architecture and construction disciplines, particularly at thelower division level. To enhance this collaboration, the college committed to providingan upper division, interdisciplinary experience to every student in the form of a projectbased, team oriented five unit studio laboratory that every student would take. Thecourse is now in its third year and requires small teams of architecture, engineering

Conference Session

The Teacher as Manager: Best Practices for Culminating Design Experiences

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

William P. Manion, University of Maine; Judith A. Hakola, University of Maine

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

AC 2012-3868: CIVIL ENGINEERING CAPSTONE CONSULTANTS: FROMRFP TO REALITYMr. William P. Manion, University of Maine William P. Manion, M.S., P.E., is an instructor in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Maine in Orono. He has taught courses in materials, soil mechanics, computer applications, graphics, and project management since 1998. He has also performed laboratory research, worked for a heavy earthwork construction company, captained charter boats, and managed a land development project. Al- ways interested in new effective teaching strategies, he employs many different pedagogical methods and techniques.Ms. Judith A. Hakola, University of Maine

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Transportation and Geotechnical Engineering

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yusuf A. Mehta, Rowan University; Leslie Ann McCarthy P.E., Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

laboratory activities, students will identify known variables, NGoal 2 - Objective 3: The Civil Engineering Program at formulate key relationshipsRowan University will produce graduates who between them and solvedemonstrate the ability to identify, formulate, and engineering problems.solve engineering problems (ABET E). Outcome 2: Students will students learned the identify, formulate, and solve new pavement design problems in

Conference Session

The Teacher as Manager: Best Practices for Culminating Design Experiences

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michelle Oswald Beiler P.E., Bucknell University; Arthur D. Kney, Lafayette College; David A. Veshosky, Lafayette College

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

classroom, and a conference room was used for the charrette. Teamwork sessions were primarily held in computer laboratories and study rooms. 4) Instructor’s Role: There were two instructors who acted primarily as liaisonsthroughout the project. They provided guidance and distributed project information to thestudents throughout each of the three phases. In addition, there was a charrette guide whoassisted with the integration of the charrette framework into the design course. Information waspresented to the students at the beginning of the course and guidance on resources anddeliverables was provided throughout.In order to explain the application of the charrette process in detail, the three phases of thecharrette framework are discussed in

Conference Session

The Designer of 2020: Innovations in Teaching Design

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew W. Roberts P.E., University of Wisconsin, Platteville; Michael K. Thompson, University of Wisconsin, Platteville; Philip J. Parker P.E., University of Wisconsin, Platteville; Barb A. Barnet, University of Wisconsin, Platteville

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

out under that grant includedthe planning of a civil engineering curriculum with an infrastructure theme. As part of the plan-ning process for the new curriculum, the team of faculty members created a framework of the I2Iclass to be taken by sophomores. This class was intended to provide students with a better un-derstanding of the challenges to be faced in improving, securing, and maintaining the nationalinfrastructure. Part of the planned course included student evaluation of infrastructure compo-nents in local communities from direct observation.In 2008, three faculty members from the department were awarded an NSF Course, Curriculum,and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) grant (DUE 0837530) to create and teach the I2I courseplanned under the

Conference Session

Reflections on the “Raise the Bar” Initiative (Part I) - Using a Decade of Experience to Chart the Future

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen J. Ressler, U.S. Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

; apply knowledge of four technical areas appropriate to civil engineering.2. An ability to Design and conduct field and laboratory 3(b) An ability to Conduct civildesign and studies, gather data, create numerical and design and engineeringconduct other models, and then analyze and interpret conduct experiments andexperiments, as

Conference Session

Reflections on the “Raise the Bar” Initiative (Part I) - Using a Decade of Experience to Chart the Future

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey S. Russell, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Thomas A. Lenox Ph.D., American Society of Civil Engineers

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

Conference Session

Reflections on the “Raise the Bar” Initiative (Part II) - Using a Decade of Experience to Chart the Future

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen J. Ressler, U.S. Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Transportation and Geotechnical Engineering

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Susan Conrad, Portland State University; Timothy James Pfeiffer P.E., Foundation Engineering, Inc.; Tom Szymoniak, Portland State University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering