Conference Session

Design Throughout the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum II

Collection

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Elliott Vega, University of Washington, Bothell; John William Bridge P.E., University of Washington, Bothell

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

incorporate a material selection design textbook with an associated professional-level software program. Materials selection concepts and methods were interspersed throughoutthe course and integrated into three student-group design projects involving springs, bearings,rotating shafts, and gear elements. This approach resulted in a practical and effective method ofintroducing materials selection into the design process and provided needed skills for the follow-on, senior-level capstone design course. At the end of the class, an easy-to-follow, student-written material selection reference guide (with examples) was produced to provide guidance forfuture classes and students needing a quick overview of the materials selection process and useof the

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Amy C. Bradshaw, University of Oklahoma; Zahed Siddique, University of Oklahoma; Patricia Lea Hardre, University of Oklahoma; Farrokh Mistree, University of Oklahoma

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

cur- rent education focus is on creating and implementing, in partnership with industry, a curriculum for educating Strategic Engineers those who have developed the competencies to create value through the realization of complex engineered systems for changing markets in a collaborative, globally dis- tributed environment. It is in this context that he enjoys experimenting with ways in which design can be learned and taught. Farrokh is a Fellow of ASME and an Associate Fellow of AIAA. Email URL http://www.srl.gatech.edu/Members/fmistree Page 22.681.1 c American Society for

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Technical Session: Curriculum and Education

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Michele Miller, Campbell University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

common polymer manufacturing processes, the newmodule has these student learning objectives: • Demonstrate curiosity about the manufacturing of plastics products that are all around us • Integrate information from multiple sources to gain insight about the pluses and minuses of plastics manufacturing processes • Predict the plastics manufacturing cost for a small part based on quantity • Choose an optimal manufacturing process to meet customer requirements • Mitigate the occurrence of flaws in the manufacture of a plastic partThe module pursued these objectives with three main activities: • Question Formulation Technique (QFT) • Jigsaw • Mini-design project and business proposal for producing a plastic swag

Conference Session

Teams, Teaching, Leadership, and Technical Communications in Mechanical Engineering

Collection

2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth W. Van Treuren, Baylor University; Cynthia C. Fry, Baylor University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

opportunities to work on teams. The literaturemostly deals with specific instances of teams in a course or curriculum. The literature tends tofocus on how to assess teams with little consensus on the method to accomplish assessment or itseffectiveness.16-19 A comprehensive approach to teams and team training throughout thecurriculum was not readily apparent in the literature. Sheppard et al. have proposed developingteamwork through a core design thread starting in the freshman year and continuing through thesenior year.20 An assessment is done at each level to document student progress. While theirdesign thread was not completely implemented at the time their paper was published, this doesspeak to the need for integrating teamwork throughout the

Conference Session

Design Projects in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Angkee Sripakagorn, Chulalongkorn University; Kuntinee Maneeratana, Chulalongkorn University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, UK as well as a B.Ed. in Educational Measurement and Evaluation from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Thailand. Her area of expertise is computational mechanics. Page 15.351.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 Design as the Priority for Engineering Education: An Implementation in a Senior Project CourseBACKGROUNDThis work originated from a restructuring effort at the Mechanical Engineering Department,Chulalongkorn University, Thailand to revise the curriculum in the face of challenges from thetransformation of the status of

Conference Session

Uses for MATLAB in Mechancial Engineering

Collection

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kyle Frederick Larsen P.E., Eastern Washington University; N.M. A. Hossain, Eastern Washington University; Martin William Weiser, Eastern Washington University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Paper ID #16496Teaching an Undergraduate Introductory MATLAB Course: Successful Im-plementation for Student LearningDr. Kyle Frederick Larsen, Eastern Washington University Dr. Larsen currently teaches mechanical engineering at Eastern Washington University. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from California State University Sacramento and his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University.Dr. N.M. A. Hossain, Eastern Washington University Dr. Hossain is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering and Design at Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA. His research

Conference Session

Capstone Design Projects in Mechanical Engineering

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kelley Racicot, Washington State University; Charles Pezeshki, Washington State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

, programs and corporate interests. This social network issupported by an implicit incentive system that benefits everyone. Our study characterizesthe incentive-benefit network of a small-scale group assessment project.Another important concept is the development of an assessment technique for averagedgroup assessment when the concepts to be measured do not lend themselves easily to Page 11.237.9classical methods of testing and grading. Taking a client out to lunch may, in manyways, influence the success or failure of a professional’s career more than rememberinghow to solve a complex integration problem—yet educational programs shy away fromteaching the

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering: Curricula and Courses

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Benita M. Comeau, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Rohit Karnik, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Sang-Gook Kim, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

3-dimensional flows32-33.Another module in development uses a home-built microstereolithography apparatus for makingpolyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel structures.In conclusion we are pleased that most students find the course interesting and useful, as we feelthat nano/micro scale manufacturing does have an important place in the ME curriculum. Wewill continue to update the course to keep it novel and relevant as this field is still rapidlychanging. Our main goal for the short term is to make the course transparent and teachable by awider range of faculty so we can maintain a good learning experience as the course continues togrow.AcknowledgementsThis course would not have been possible without the generous support of the LufkinFoundation

Conference Session

Manufacturing and Machine Component Design

Collection

2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sandra Anstaett Metzler P.E., Ohio State University; Blaine W. Lilly, Ohio State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

the design of mechatronic applications and devicesthroughout their career21, it is important that they have an understanding of not only theengineering science governing mechatronic functions, but also how they are designed andmanufactured. In addition, both alumni and prospective employers have recently voiced a desirefor additional coursework and education in hands-on engineering skills and knowledge.Furthermore, alumni and graduating students at Ohio State, as along with many other voices inthe literature, often bemoan the lack of integration between an academically rigorous engineeringscience curriculum and the application of this subject matter to real world problems and models.This lack of integration and application is often cited as a

Conference Session

Design Throughout the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

Collection

2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert T. Bailey P.E., Loyola University Maryland

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

to identify when these results do not make physical sense.Another concern about the coverage of FEA in our program was that the curriculum did notinclude an opportunity for students to exercise FEA as it is used in industry in terms of guidingthe development of prototypes which are then fabricated and physically tested. Our departmenthas a machine shop with versatile manufacturing and fabrication equipment, but we lackedgenuine, cost-effective, rapid prototyping capabilities. To address this issue, which was broaderthan just achieving effective instruction in FEA, the department purchased a Stratasys ObjectModel 30 three-dimensional (3D) printer in the spring of 2013. 3D printing is an additivemanufacturing technology where physical parts

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division Technical Session 3

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Pattabhi Sitaram, Baker College, Flint, Michigan; Anca L. Sala, Baker College, Flint

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

students to enter the job market earlier than in a quarter-based system, concurrently with most graduates from other colleges and universities. Most large employers align recruitment schedules to the semester calendar. In a Q2S conversion, it is paramount to ensure that the program and student learningoutcomes as well as benefits of the quarter system for student learning are not compromised.2. Q2S Conversion Process of the ME Curriculum The transition to semesters provided our institution an excellent opportunity to review allprograms of study we offer. In order to maximize efficiency, the institution decided to bring allbachelor programs to a total of 120 semester credits. In the quarter version, our ABET accredited BS

Conference Session

Mechatronics

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Horacio Vasquez, University of Texas, Pan American; Arturo A Fuentes, University of Texas, Pan American

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

teamwork assignments in the courses. This paper also describes studentchallenges used with the tool, including an Introduction to Engineering challenge with hands-onactivities, as examples of curriculum being developed in the engineering design curriculum.Integration of Sensors and MicrocontrollersA kit consisting of microcontroller and sensors was integrated to offer a simple to assemble andeasy to program option for students to perform experiments in the lab or at home. It consisted ofan Arduino Uno microcontroller and sensors to measure temperature, light intensity, anddeflection. Even though the microcontroller selected to read the sensors was an Arduino Uno,other microcontrollers or data acquisition systems (DAS) such as PIC microcontrollers

Conference Session

Outstanding Contributions: Mechanical Engineering Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bobby G. Crawford, U.S. Military Academy; Daisie D. Boettner, U.S. Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

: Practical Solutions to Issues of ConsistencyAbstractHistorically, the disciplines of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics have been taught as separatecourses using separately developed textbooks. Most undergraduate students form an early beliefthat these two aspects of thermal-fluid science and engineering are as far removed from eachother as cats are from dogs. It is not until the senior year or even into their graduate schoolexperience that the student begins to understand and appreciate the underlying physicalconservation laws upon which both of these disciplines are based. As a result of mechanicalengineering curriculum revision at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NewYork, separate courses in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Technical Session: Mechatronics & Simulation

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Xiaobin Le P.E., Wentworth Institute of Technology; Anthony William Duva P.E., Wentworth Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Courses,” 2001 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, June 16-19, Albuquerque, New Mexico.[4] Zecher, J., “Teaching Finite Element Analysis In An Met Program,” 2002 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, June 16-29, Montreal, Canada.[5] P. Chaphalkar, and D. Blekhman, “Introducing Finite Element Analysis In The First Course Of Statics And Solid Mechanics” ASEE 2007 Annual Conference, June 24-27, Honolulu, Hawaii.[6] Papadopoulos, J. M., Papadopoulos, C., and Prantil, V. C., "Philosophy of Integrating FEA Practice Throughout the Undergraduate CE/ME Curriculum," 2011 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, June 26- 29, Vancouver, BC, 2011.[7] Le, X., Duva, A. W., and Jackson, M., “The Balance of Theory, Simulation, and Projects for

Conference Session

Software and E-learning in the ME Curriculum

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Autar Kaw, University of South Florida

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

instructional technologies, integrating research in classroom, thermal stresses, computational mechanics, and mechanics of nonhomogeneous nanolayers. Page 12.869.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2007 INCORPORATING A RESEARCH PROBLEM IN A NUMERICAL METHODS COURSE FOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERSAbstract This paper presents an example of incorporating a research problem in a course -Numerical Methods for Mechanical Engineers. In bascule bridges, the fulcrum is assembled byshrink-fitting a trunnion into a hub. In one case, the trunnion cooled in a dry-ice/alcohol mixturefor

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yunfeng Wang, The College of New Jersey; Christopher Ault, The College of New Jersey; Teresa Nakra, The College of New Jersey; Andrea Salgian, The College of New Jersey; Meredith Stone, Independent Evaluator

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Page 15.166.3practices: theme-based learning and student-centered pedagogy.3.1 Theme-based learningTheme-based learning “shifts the role of curriculum from mastery of disciplinary content to thecritical integration of multiple bodies of knowledge relative to a specific question.”1The theme of our course is to develop robotic and/or graphic conducting systems to direct anorchestra. In order to fulfill this theme, students need to learn related subjects from severaldisciplines instead of a single one. At the very least, they need to equip themselves with notionsof robotics from mechanical engineering, conducting theory and practice from music,abstract/multimedia animation from IMM, algorithms, data structures, and artificial intelligencefrom

Conference Session

Design Projects in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tim Brower, Oregon Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

. The IAB reported that a seniorengineer with between 6 – 10 years of experience would be termed a systems engineerwithin their companies. The question becomes how can undergraduate students exitacademia without a formal systems engineering degree and still have an appreciation forsystems engineering concepts that are integral to industry?A Template for Teaching Systems Engineering using APP-B LearningOregon Institute of Technology has used a project-based education model for many yearsin their manufacturing and mechanical engineering technology programs. Projects areused to supplement the theory behind important engineering concepts used in industry. Aliberal mix of projects utilized throughout the “applied engineering” curriculum alwaystended

Conference Session

Software and e-learning in the ME curriculum

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joseph Rencis, University of Arkansas; Javed Alam, Youngstown State University; Venkata Seshada Aluri, University of Arkansas

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

. Page 11.478.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2006 Development of Online Multimedia based Prototype e-Lecture Interface using Human-like Animated Pedagogical Agents for Effective Dissemination of the Finite Element MethodAbstractMultiple e-Learning platforms have been designed, implemented and evaluated over the pastdecade for effective implementation of teaching and learning in engineering education. Thisstudy deals with the development of an interactive prototype interface for the finite elementmethod e-Lecture. The e-Lecture interface integrates life-like animated pedagogical agents,computer mediated communications and multimedia technologies. The use of animatedpedagogical agents in

Conference Session

Software and e-learning in the ME curriculum

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Benson Tongue, University of California-Berkeley; Eric Lew, University of California-Berkeley

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

differ-ent means [1],[2]. Because users with varying backgrounds will be accessing the MEOP, itsstructure has been designed so as to incorporate multimodal methods of learning. In addi-tion to written words, the page will contain static imagery, animations, and video. Thesecomponents will be cohesively integrated to provide a page which will be comprehensible toa wide range of users.One notable segment of MEOP is called Visual Path Finder (VPF). VPF is designed to aidvisual learners navigate the site. Figure 3 below shows an early version of PathFinder. Page 11.145.6Figure 2: Schematic of AWESOME home page Page

Conference Session

Software and e-learning in the ME curriculum

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yakov Cherner, ATeL, LLC; Arnold Lotring, Submarine Learning Center; Robert Klein, Submarine Learning Center; Thomas Campbell, Submarine Learning Center

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

2006-2146: INNOVATIVE SIMULATION-BASED ONLINE SYSTEM FORLEARNING ENGINEERING AND TRAINING SAILORS’ TECHNICAL SKILLSYakov Cherner, ATeL, LLC Dr. Yakov E. Cherner, a Founder and President of ATEL, LLC, combines 20+ years of research and teaching practice with extensive experience in writing curricula and developing educational software. He is the author of an innovative concept of multi-layered simulation-based conceptual teaching of science and technology. This instructional approach uses real-world objects, processes and learning situations that are familiar to students as the context for virtual science and technology investigations. To facilitate this methodology for corporate and military

Conference Session

Microcontrollers, Programming, and Data Acquisition

Collection

2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James A. Mynderse, Lawrence Technological University; Jeff Shelton, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

, if not expertise in, each of the four mechatroniccomponents.The course described in this paper, MSE 5183 Mechatronic Systems I at Lawrence Tech, servesas an entry-level graduate course for students enrolled in the Lawrence Tech Master of Sciencein Mechatronic Systems Engineering (MSMSE) program as well as a technical elective forundergraduate students in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and BiomedicalEngineering. For many undergraduate and graduate students, this course serves as a firstexperience with the integration of sensors, actuators, and microcontrollers. Control theory is notintroduced but is instead offered in subsequent courses.Mechatronic Design ProjectBefore discussing course modifications and assessment, the

Conference Session

Programming, Virtual Reality, and Dynamic Systems

Collection

2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Zaker Ali Syed, Clemson University; Tianwei Wang, Clemson University; Kristin Kelly Frady, Clemson University; Kapil Chalil Madathil, Clemson University; Jeff Bertrand; Rebecca S. Hartley, Clemson University; John R. Wagner P.E., Clemson University; Anand K. Gramopadhye, Clemson University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Assistant Professor in the Departments of Educational and Organizational Leadership and Development and Engineering and Science Education at Clemson University and Faculty Director for Clemson University Center for Workforce Development (CUCWD) and the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Center for Aviation and Automotive Technological Education using Virtual E-Schools (CA2VES). Her research and experiences include implementation of digital learning solutions, development of career pathways including educator professional development, and analysis of economic development factors impacting education and workforce development. Kris earned an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction in Education

Conference Session

Mechanics & Mechanics Related

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Sudeshna Pal, University of Central Florida; Ricardo Zaurin P.E., University of Central Florida

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

through project-based assignments. Students were askedif the assignments had helped them in enhancing their technical writing and oral communicationskills and if the assignments promoted teamwork and better relationship building amongst peers.In all three categories, approximately 55-64% of the students agreed that the project-basedassignments enhanced these soft-skills. Development of these skills are also an integral part ofthe learning outcomes outlined by the ABET accreditation board. 1 1 3 0 100 Strongly 23

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division Technical Session 9

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James E. Bluman, U.S. Military Academy; Aaron St. Leger, U.S. Military Academy; Christopher Michael Korpela, U. S. Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

research interests are in the flight dynamics of VTOL aircraft and UAVs and innovative teaching methods.Dr. Aaron St. Leger, U.S. Military Academy Aaron St. Leger is an Associate Professor and the Electrical Engineering Program Director at the United States Military Academy (USMA). He is also the Class of 1950 Chair of Advanced Technology. He received his BSEE, MSEE and PhD degrees at Drexel University. His research and teaching interests include alternative energy, electric power systems, modeling and controls. He has over 60 peer-review publications on these subjects. His recent work has focused on integrating alternative energy and demand response controllers to improve electric power systems for military forward

Conference Session

Microcontrollers, Programming, and Data Acquisition

Collection

2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Derrick Rodriguez P.E., Colorado School of Mines; Jenifer Blacklock, Colorado School of Mines; Joel M. Bach, Colorado School of Mines

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Paper ID #13942Letting students learn through making mistakes: Teaching hardware andsoftware early in an academic career.Dr. Derrick Rodriguez P.E., Colorado School of Mines Dr. Rodriguez is a Teaching Associate Professor at the Colorado School of Mines in the Mechanical Engineering Department. He has taught over 30 courses and specializes in Thermal/Fluid Systems.Prof. Jenifer Blacklock, Colorado School of Mines Dr. Jenifer Blacklock is the Assistant Department Head in the Mechanical Engineering department at Col- orado School of Mines. Jenifer is active in the Undergraduate Curriculum in the Mechanical Engineering

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division Technical Session 5

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nolan Tsuchiya P.E., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Zhaoshuo Jiang P.E., San Francisco State University; Alec William Maxwell, San Francisco State University; Zahira H. Merchant

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

using several questions designed to addressstudents’ self-efficacy as well as core knowledge competence. The data from all surveys areanalyzed and conclusions are drawn regarding the effectiveness of the remote laboratoryimplementation.1 Introduction Incorporating active learning in STEM based disciplines has been shown to improvestudent engagement and overall classroom performance [1], [2]. In particular, improvements instudent performance in engineering courses has been linked to the integration of an activelearning environment into the classroom [3], [4], [5]. This is well documented and it should notbe surprising that an active learning approach is especially beneficial for engineering students.One of the primary means of

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering (ME) Poster Session

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sanjay Jayaram, Saint Louis University, Parks College of Eng.

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Paper ID #6498Implementation of Active Cooperative Learning and Problem-based Learn-ing in an Undergraduate Control Systems CourseDr. Sanjay Jayaram, Saint Louis University, Parks College of Eng. Dr. Sanjay Jayaram is an associate professor in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department of Saint Louis University. He obtained his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Central Florida in 2004. He teaches control systems/mechatronics, space systems engineering and astronautics related courses as well as engineering sciences courses. He has published several peer reviewed journal and conference papers in

Conference Session

Laboratory Innovations

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Claire Yu Yan, University of British Columbia; Carolyn Labun, University of British Columbia

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering Education, 2012 Improving Student Engagement - An Approach Used in Kinematics and Dynamics of MachineryAbstractInstructors frequently ask themselves “What are the best ways for an instructor to support studentlearning? How can we assist students in engaging in deep learning? How can we help thembridge the divide between theory and practice?This paper discusses efforts to address these issues in a course on Kinematics and Dynamics ofMachinery. Kinematics and Dynamics of Machinery is a core course in the mechanicalengineering curriculum. One of the challenges in this course is to make students fully appreciatemechanism design by integrating the principles of kinematics and dynamics in real world designpractice. To

Conference Session

Software and E-learning in the ME Curriculum

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ali Mohammadzadeh, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

for constraint motion were then utilized to arrive at the second orderdifferential equations of motion. SIMULINK, as a user friendly graphical interface, wasused to carry out the integration to obtain angular position, velocity, and acceleration ofthe designed mechanism.The project, though rigorous, is an excellent way to force students to practice theirknowledge of dynamics and numerical methods. The project, certainly, meets the ABETcriteria for implementing design in mechanical engineering curriculum. The authorreceived positive feedbacks from his students with regard to this project.Problem StatementStudents in kinematics and dynamics of machinery class were, first, asked to design afour bar quick-return mechanism to meet a certain design

Conference Session

Dynamics

Collection

2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andrew R. Sloboda, Bucknell University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

coaster project allows students to investigate and creatively apply their analytic skillsto an ambiguous, real-world problem that they are highly motivated to explore. It both reinforcesthe underlying curriculum and also helps students develop intellectually, as the project isdesigned to teach that dynamics isn’t so much about looking for the “right answer” as it is aboutchoices and simplifications made in modeling reality.Although roller coaster design projects have been used as the basis for entire undergraduatecourses and also in STEM activities for pre-college students, the author is unaware of a similarproject being included as part of a first course in dynamics. For this project, students in teams ofthree were tasked with designing