Conference Session

Programmatic Issues in Physics or Engineering Physics Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anca Sala, Baker College; Raghu Echempati, Kettering University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

general education requirement by most colleges anduniversities. However, as implied by the a)-k) general ABET program outcomes, and the l)-n)outcomes specific to Mechanical Engineering programs, a solid preparation in Physics isrequired in order for students to be successful in the further study of engineering disciplines, andultimately become accomplished engineers. Thus a good direct assessment of studentachievement in physics is as important as the direct assessment in the core engineeringdisciplines. With this in mind we decided to use recent methodologies applied for directassessment of engineering courses to develop a direct assessment for calculus-based physicstaught to undergraduate mechanical engineering students.The paper describes our

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

ResearchGroup at Kansas State University [37] - [38]. Traditionally, topics in Modern Physics are highlymathematical in nature. However, the VQM materials are very unique in that they weredesigned specifically with the non-major in mind, and hence, require only a minimumbackground in mathematics.III. THE ENGINEERING 0012 COURSEEngineering 0012 is a second-semester course in the required core for engineering students at theUniversity of Pittsburgh. All students are required to take four core Engineering courses duringtheir first year. There are two zero-credit seminar courses and two three-credit introductoryproblem solving courses that are a part of this core. ENGR0012 is a three-credit problem solvingcourse that students typically take during the

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

available sensors t such as color sensors, ultrasonicsensors, and compass sensors. The goals were allowed to be very flexible so as to give thestudents the chance to use their imagination and fully experience the brainstorming process.Phase II was conducted in 13 days; during which time students were involved designing aconceptual working model of a mind sweeper robot. Since the students had learned, throughlectures and hand outs, the engineering design process and other required skills needed to Page 13.697.3produce a working model, they exhibited confident toward their conceptual working model.They were encouraged to brainstorm and propose any

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

their high schools. During thethree-week program, students take science courses and are exposed to laboratory tours, facultylectures, and college admissions workshops.The creation and implementation of an integrated curriculum for a physics and introductoryengineering YESS course is the focus of this paper. The 2007 physics and engineeringcurriculum was designed with four main objectives in mind: to ensure that students had aconceptual understanding of mechanics fundamentals, to challenge students to use theirknowledge of mechanics in an engineering design competition, to expose students to advancedtopics in physics, and finally to provide students with an opportunity to conduct guided research.Several assessment methods were used to determine

Conference Session

Technology in the Physics or Engineering Physics C

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nataliia Perova, Tufts University; Patricia Hogan, Suffolk University; Walter H. Johnson, Suffolk University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

Complex Systems. The Journal of the Learning Sciences, 9, 247-298.9. Hobbs, R., Perova, N. P., Rogers, C. B., Verner, I. M. (2006). Teaching Basic Cardio-Vascular Mechanics with LEGO Models: A High School Case Study. American Society for Engineering Education Conference, Chicago, IL., June 18-21, 2006. Conference Proceedings.10. Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of mind: the theory of multiple intelligences. New York: Basic Books, Inc.11. Gray, J.T., Camp, P.J., Holbrook, J., Owensby, J., Hyser, S. and Kolodner, J.L. (2001). Learning by Design Page 13.1369.9 Technical Report: Results of Performance

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

AC 2008-1562: USING LEGO BASED ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVEUNDERSTANDING CONCEPTS OF SPEED, VELOCITY, AND ACCELERATIONNataliia Perova, Tufts University Natasha is currently a graduate students at Tufts University majoring in Mathematics, Science, Technology and Engineering education. She previously earned her M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University in 2005 and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Suffolk University. Natasha is currently a research assistant at the Center for Engineering Outreach where she is involved in using engineering approaches to teach high school students science and mathematics.Walter H. Johnson, Suffolk University Walter got his PhD and M.S. from

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

AC 2008-1166: IMPLEMENTING AND ASSESSING A MODERNINTRODUCTORY PHYSICS COURSE AT A LARGE UNIVERSITYMatthew Kohlmyer, Georgia Institute of TechnologyMichael Schatz, Georgia Institute of TechnologyRichard Catrambone, Georgia Institute of TechnologyMarcus Marr, Georgia Institute of Technology Page 13.707.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 Implementing and Assessing a Modern Introductory Physics Course at a Large UniversityAbstractSince 2006, the Georgia Institute of Technology has offered sections of an introductory physicscourse for scientists and engineers using the Matter & Interactions curriculum. Matter &Interactions (M&I