Environment in STEM Education Junior A. Bennett1, Jason W. Morphew1, & Michele McColgan2 1 School of Engineering Education, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 2 Department of Physics, Siena College, Loudonville, NYAbstractStudents struggle with developing conceptual understanding of abstract concepts in Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses. Two-dimensional (2D) figures arecommonly used during instruction in textbooks and multi-media presentations such as PowerPoint,or in computer animation. The use of 2D visualizations during instructions lacks opportunities forstudents to meaningfully explore these concepts by rotating three
students. However, giventhat these institutions consist almost completely of engineering students, they are more akin tostandalone versions of the engineering schools that normally fall under the umbrella of a largeruniversity when it comes to size and mission.Some liberal arts colleges (typically highly selective institutions such as Swarthmore College[1])have long embraced engineering, offering full bachelor’s degrees. Another common strategy isto partner with universities to offer hybrid degree programs where the student starts theireducation at the liberal arts school and completes it at the university. While specific details ofthese programs vary, a common model is for the student to take three years of foundationalcoursework at the liberal
students to use Python code to complete initial analysis of data and to performcalculations related to the implementation of the activity. This paper will discuss several issuesassociated with the use of JN as the laboratory notebook. Student preparation prior to the classand their mastery at the end will be discussed along with the implementation of this approach.This is a work in progress.Introduction Students in the Engineering Physics program at the University of Central Arkansas arerequired to take an electronics course during their 2nd year. During the spring semester of 2022students were introduced to the use of Jupyter Notebooks (JN) as a tool for automating datacollection and analysis [1]. A JN is a web-based platform that allows
forces and high-order thinking skills)and elastic potential energy, an analysis of the students' development was performed byusing tree algorithm. Additionally, a qualitative comparison between the measured elasticconstants and the manufacturer's predictions showed good agreement, with approximately97.0% of students correctly identifying the maximum resistance for the black tubes.Regarding student perception, we asked about their thoughts on the activity: a) how muchnew information they felt it brought, and b) how interesting they found it. Students couldrate their responses on a scale from 1 (not interesting or no new information) to 5 (veryinteresting or a lot of new information). Out of the 246 students who responded, 82.6%found the activity
buttons beneath the mouthpiececontrol power and Bluetooth pairing, facilitating seamless connectivity to the app for data storageand display. Additionally, the device includes a USB charging port and three LEDs on the leftside. When powered on, the LEDs illuminate to indicate battery life, providing a visual cue inaddition to viewing the battery life accessible through the mobile app. The design of this compactspirometer device integrates various physics principles, including material science, fluiddynamics, electronics, optics, and wireless communication, to create a functional and user-friendlyproduct. Figure 1: Final design AutoCAD sketch and paper prototypeGraphical Model Figure 2: Graphical
-time and discrete-time systems, analog or digital filter design, and hybrid power system design. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2024 Project-Based Learning on Diverse Concepts in a Power Electronic LaboratoryAbstractThis paper presents a project-based learning approach to teach the fundamental aspects of a DCmotor, half-wave, and full-wave rectifier circuits in a laboratory. The lab's objectives include: 1. Learn about the essential components of a DC motor by constructing a low-cost DC motor kit. 2. Explore practical methods to enhance the design and performance of the DC motor. 3. Explore and build half-wave and full-wave rectifier circuits to
andartificial intelligence (AI) as a basic tool engineers need to understand and utilize, even in anundergraduate engineering setting. Our paper shows how this course can be implemented in anew College of Engineering. The course uses the PyTorch machine learning framework as focusto guide students from basic ML concepts to the full deployment of models relevant to differentareas of engineering.1. IntroductionIn the 21st century, a vital role for universities is to guarantee that by the time of graduationstudents have learned essential skills required to excel in a dynamic technological landscape.This is also true in engineering where our incoming students, though they have sometechnological experience, lack a specialized understanding of computers and
type of assessment can help identify gaps in the curriculum, allowing us to be more deliberate about how we develop students’ communication skills.1 IntroductionWriting is an important skill for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)professionals, as evidenced by its inclusion in accreditation criteria and reports from the NationalAcademies (e.g. [1, 2, 3]). Communication is an important engineering competency, alongsideproblem solving and teamwork [4]. Anecdotal reports from employers continue to suggest thatSTEM curricula need to do more to develop core competency in communication, and engineeringgraduates report similar needs [5, 6]. Communication skills are one of the four primary skill setsphysics majors need to
theeffectiveness of immersive (panoramic) videos with hotspots as pre-class materials withinthe flipped classroom approach. This paper presents the implementation of thistechnology in a classic physics experiment on oblique launches, conducted withapproximately 400 first-year engineering students at XXXXXX. These students weredivided into laboratory classes, working in teams of 3 to 4.The paper tests the hypothesis that an immersive video—explaining in detail theexperimental apparatus, the concepts involved, and the experimental procedure throughhotspots—before the class, would promote greater autonomy in modeling and executingthe experiment. The proposal aimed at analyzing: 1. The increase in student engagement with the flipped classroom methodology
. Overall, the students’ increasedidentification as scientists raised the stakes of instruction in experimental methods, laboratoryand publishing ethics, and technical writing. This increase in identification as a professionalscientist or engineer helps the students to gain authentic practice in these skills in a controlledenvironment and build their confidence for when these skills are needed in their future careers.The publicly available end product of the course, now published online as Physics in Progressissue 1, served as a motivating factor and now serves as a time capsule containing writingartifacts that students take pride in and can share in portfolios or as otherwise appropriate.IntroductionAt what point does one cease to be an
,ranging from hydrogen (1 proton) to iron (26 protons and 28 neutrons). These findings havesince established cosmic particles as a subject of significant scientific interest. Today, it isestimated that approximately 13% of the ionizing radiation affecting Earth’s biosphere originatesfrom extra-solar cosmic rays.Among these particles are muons—charged particles with a mass approximately 200 timesgreater than that of electrons. Muons decay via the weak interaction μ±→e(±) ν ῡ with anaverage lifetime of 2.2 microseconds, making them longer-lived than many subatomic particles.These muons are primarily generated in the upper atmosphere through collisions between cosmicrays and atmospheric molecules, which produce pi mesons (pions) that subsequently
discusspotential improvements for future iterations and highlight the educational benefits of theengineering process and iterative testing.IntroductionProsthetic technology, which dates to around 950 BC, has long played a crucial role in improvingthe lives of individuals with physical disabilities, including those with missing limbs. Over thecenturies, prosthetics have evolved from basic designs to highly sophisticated systems that enhancemobility and functionality. Recent developments have led to the creation of fully functionalprosthetic robotic arms that closely mimic natural limb movements, significantly enhancing userautonomy [1]. Additionally, the incorporation of multimodal embedded sensor systems hasimproved the dexterity and responsiveness of
understanding of three-phase power systems.Numerous outstanding textbooks are available that delve into the fundamentals of electricalengineering circuits, electrical power systems, and electrical machinery [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], and[6]. These resources provide a comprehensive understanding of essential theoretical concepts.Furthermore, many universities globally have embraced laboratory-based software to enrich theeducational experience in electrical machines and three-phase systems, fostering a more hands-on approach to learning. Sarkar et al. introduced a teaching model as a learning model, guidinglearners to acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes effectively [7]. This paper aims to design asuccessful instructional model with three phases: pre
stakeholders in QISE education for amore diverse QISE workforce. We suggest strategies based on the findings of this study such asintegrating QISE into existing engineering courses, investing in the development of QISE coursesand programs at non-PhD-granting institutions, and making courses with QISE content accessibleto students from a variety of majors.IntroductionIn recent years, quantum technology has emerged as a federal priority driving investment inQuantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) research and education. The NationalQuantum Initiative (NQI) Act was one of the first pieces of legislation in the US to establish thepriority [1]. Although it emphasized primarily the need for financial investment in research, theNQI act also calls
disciplines, highlighting the foundational role of physics in shaping theseperceptions and skills [1]. Furthermore, the relationship between physics and mathematics isemphasized in educational frameworks that aim to enhance student's understanding of bothsubjects, facilitating a more cohesive learning experience [2] [3]. This interconnectedness isessential for engineering students, as they often encounter complex problems requiring a solidgrasp of physics and mathematical principles.However, several studies have pointed out that students often perceive these subjects aschallenging, affecting their motivation and performance. Research indicates that students usuallyview physics as one of the more difficult subjects within the STEM (Science, Technology
NILdesktop equipment; selection of a template; making the sample; characterization of samples byoptical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy; lab report; literature search exercise;classroom presentation. In addition, students learn about career opportunities related tonanoimprint lithography and semiconductor industry. The course activities are well aligned withthe ABET general criteria for engineering that include requirements for both basic science andbroad education components, instruction on modern equipment, and development of leadership,and written and oral communication skills.IntroductionThe CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 [1] has provided funding specific for the development andin support of domestic semiconductor and
self-efficacy and attitudes toward physics) in the developmentof spatial reasoning skills among secondary school students. The research addressed three corequestions: (1) How do educational environments, indicated by school types, influence spatialreasoning development? (2) What is the predictive power of physics performance on spatialreasoning abilities? (3) How do students’ self-efficacy and attitudes toward physics, influenced bypersonal and teacher factors, impact their spatial reasoning performance?This study employed a quantitative approach using penalized regression models (Lasso and Ridgeregression) to identify key predictors of spatial reasoning performance. The sample consisted of251 senior secondary school physics students from
article as supporting text. The combination of hands-on practice andsubsequent research equips students with enough information to discuss the phenomenon.Learning outcomes are assessed through a group presentation about the phenomenon to classmatesand instructors. This project-based learning (PBL) methodology was previously discussed byCutri, Eiras and Mattasoglio Neto [1]. In summary, the authors reported that the laboratorypractices enhance student's understanding of theory in addition to reading and interpreting ascientific article and reproducing an experiment reported in that scientific article. During projects,students act more independently and develop skills to experiment and research, to collect, interpretand use data, and, consequently