Conference Session

Programmatic Issues in Physics or Engineering Physics Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Winston Jackson, California Institute of Technology; Jennifer Franck, California Institute of Technology; James Maloney, California Institute of Technology; Juan Pedro Ochoa-Ricoux, California Institute of Technology; Julian Rimoli, California Institute of Technology; Luz Rivas, California Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

AC 2008-2378: PHYSICS FUNDAMENTALS, ENGINEERING DESIGN, ANDRESEARCH: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATHREE-WEEK SHORTCOURSEWinston Jackson, California Institute of Technology Winston Jackson received his BS in Civil Engineering from Southern University and A&M College and his MS degree in Applied Mechanics at the California Institute of Technology, where he is currently continuing his PhD work. His research is in the area of experimental solid mechanics, and he has been a teaching assistant for a course in solid mechanics as well as the Physics Curriculum Coordinator for the 2007 YESS Program.Jennifer Franck, California Institute of Technology Jennifer Franck is currently a

Conference Session

Technology in the Physics or Engineering Physics C

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Raymond Winton, Mississippi State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

representations within different device models arecompared, all of the exercises represented were directed assignments that were used toacknowledge the role of technology in CMOS logic and CMOS analog circuits. Theexercises also served as an example of the simulation factor in the integrated circuit designcycle, since they relate directly to ongoing MOS foundry runs.At MSU the MOS device course is a specialty course that is directed toward themicroelectronics option of the ECE (Electrical and Computer engineering) curriculum. Thetechniques and simulation algorithms described by this paper were developed in the fallsemester of 2003 and the next time that the course was deployed (due to enrollments) was thefall semester of 2007. The effect of having the

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Phy

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Teresa Larkin, American University; Dan Budny, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

closely paralleled one or more of the topics covered on the course syllabus. Inaddition, their chosen topic had to be congruous with the new millennium conference theme.Students were encouraged to research past, present, and future applications of their chosen topic.The key idea was to have students explore a topic(s) in more depth than would be covered inclass, thus making them the “experts.” Each student in the AU course wrote a single-authorpaper.The theme for papers prepared for the Pittsburgh conference was a little different. Given thatPitt uses an integrated curriculum approach for their freshman courses, students were told thatwhere possible, their papers should relate to topics covered in the fall or spring semester of theirPhysics

Conference Session

Programmatic Issues in Physics or Engineering Physics Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeff Jalkio, University of St. Thomas; Arnold Weimerskirch, University of St. Thomas

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

course learning outcomes is a key part of assigning student grades.Second, accomplishment of course learning outcomes is used as an assessment tool for assessingthe curriculum. Third, assessment of how well students have accomplished the course learningoutcomes is used to improve the course in future offerings. It is the use of course data in this lastform as feedback for course improvement that is addressed in the fourth, course level, Demingcycle.Since each instructor is responsible for assessment of course learning outcomes, various methodsare used including portfolios, reflection papers, feedback from follow-on courses, pre and posttests or concept inventories, and grading systems that tie grades directly to accomplishment

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Phy

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Adrian Ieta, Murray State University; Arthur Pallone

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

is now an Assistant Professor at Murray State University in the Department of Engineering and Physics. Page 13.988.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO PROJECT-BASED LEARNING INCORPORATING PEER FEEDBACK IN ORDER TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY IN ENGINEERING COURSESWe report on innovative approaches to integrating student feedback into teachingengineering physics courses. Project-based learning, presentations, and peer-feedbackcontributed to an enhanced class experience. This interactive method was applied inOptics and Engineering Measurements courses. The Optics course was mainly focused

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Phy

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew Kohlmyer, Georgia Institute of Technology; Michael Schatz, Georgia Institute of Technology; Richard Catrambone, Georgia Institute of Technology; Marcus Marr, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

(e.g.nanotechnology, material science) and that will require computer modeling as well as analysisfor solving complex problems.As a result, faculty in the School of Physics at Georgia Tech became interested in modernizingboth the content and pedagogy of the introductory physics course. Beginning in Summer 2006,the School has been offering sections of its introductory physics course for scientists andengineers using the Matter & Interactions1,2 curriculum. Matter & Interactions (or M&I),developed by R. Chabay and B. Sherwood at North Carolina State University, is an innovative Page 13.707.2introductory calculus-based physics curriculum. It has

Conference Session

Technology in the Physics or Engineering Physics C

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Baha Jassemnejad, University of Central Oklahoma; Wei Pee, University of Central Oklahoma; Mathew Mounce, University of Central Oklhoma

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM ) among the incomingfreshmen so that they will be encouraged to pursue a degree in Engineering, Physics, orcomputer science. The duration of this research activity was four weeks, during which time thesestudents become familiar with research, teamwork, problem based learning, and the proceduresinvolved in engineering design and building. The first phase of the activity, lasting for one week,involved an introduction to basic theory focusing on electronics, mechanics, programming, andengineering design processes. The second phase of the activity, lasting the remaining threeweeks, involved researching, designing, and building a conceptual model and prototype of aminesweeper robot. With the

Conference Session

Technology in the Physics or Engineering Physics C

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nataliia Perova, Tufts University; Walter H. Johnson, Suffolk University; Chris Rogers, Tufts University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

principles through inquiry,collaboration and hands-on learning. We developed several LEGO-based activities to beimplemented in the secondary schools and first year college science curriculum. LEGO andROBOLAB are an effective set of tools for learning physics with this hands-on approach. LEGObricks, wheels, and other parts make it possible for students to make their own simpleexperimental apparatus, and LEGO robotics microprocessor (RCX) and associated sensors,together with the ROBOLAB software, create an environment for data collection and analysis.We have found that the LEGO workbench provides enough flexibility that the students can becreative in their engineering solutions, yet advanced enough that they can get quantitative datafrom their