Conference Session

Why Industry Says that our Engineering Students Cannot Write

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kathryn Mobrand, University of Washington; Jennifer A Turns, University of Washington

Tagged Divisions

Liberal Education/Engineering & Society, Mechanical Engineering

AC 2011-2241: REVISITING COMMUNICATION EXPERIENCES TO PRE-PARE FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICEKathryn Mobrand, University of Washington Kathryn Mobrand is a doctoral candidate and research assistant in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington. She is working with Dr. Jennifer Turns on preparedness portfolios for engineering undergraduates; her focus is on the communication of practicing engineers.Jennifer A Turns, University of Washington Jennifer Turns is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington. She is interested in all aspects of engineering education, including how to support engineering

Conference Session

Why Industry Says that our Engineering Students Cannot Write

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey A. Donnell, Georgia Institute of Technology; Betsy M. Aller, Western Michigan University; Michael Alley, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; April A. Kedrowicz, University of Utah

Tagged Divisions

Liberal Education/Engineering & Society, Mechanical Engineering

the best practices to teach and for students to learn. For instance, such is thecase with the design of presentation slides.39Finally, we do not need yet another study that comes to the final conclusion that communicationskills in engineering are important. No one disputes this. What we need is a study that minesdown to determine what important things about communication we are teaching well and whatwe are failing to teach, based on students’ needs and professional activities beyond theclassroom. Much could be handled through individual department surveys of visiting boards andrecent graduates, and by using surveys already given out by co-op offices. If these surveys could

Conference Session

Outstanding Contributions: Mechanical Engineering Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Patrick W. Pace, University of Texas, Austin; Kristin L. Wood, University of Texas, Austin; John J. Wood, U.S. Air Force Academy; Daniel D. Jensen, U.S. Air Force Academy; Brian K Skibba, Air Force Research Laboratory

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

to understand the existing technology, where the results are examinedto determine the impact and utility of the tool in design and as part of engineering designcurricula. A second experiment is also conducted with graduate students from The University ofTexas (UT) at Austin to further analyze the effectiveness of the tool on quantity and quality ofthe concepts generated. These experiments aim to demonstrate that state-of-technology designtools provide an effective foundation and platform for designers to generate a larger quantity ofconcepts, with higher quality and novelty. There exist significant implications on engineeringdesign education from this process. For example, the systematic mapping of the state-of-the-artin a field is an

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Laboratories I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard J. Ruhala, Southern Polytechnic State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

designs andbuilds custom apparatuses, such as a rig for 2 DOF torsional system developed by Souza et al.4Also, with a custom apparatus, custom instrumentation and transducers are required – which mayor may not be research caliber instruments. One unique apparatus that the author experienced asa graduate student at The Pennsylvania State University in the 1990’s used an air-hockey liketrack to connect mass elements with springs and measured using accelerometers and a 2-channelHP analyzer. It worked well, but a leaf-blower like device was required to produce enough airflow, which was noisy and sometimes would break down. When parts break down on customapparatuses, repair or replacement is usually more difficult than a commercially

Conference Session

Why Industry Says that our Engineering Students Cannot Write

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

William K. Durfee, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Benjamin Adams, University of Minnesota; Audrey J. Appelsies, University of Minnesota; Pamela Flash, University of Minnesota

Tagged Divisions

Liberal Education/Engineering & Society, Mechanical Engineering

drawn from student work and evaluated by a group of threeor four faculty members. The evaluation uses a rubric with metrics based on the desired writingabilities. Writing samples may include a portfolio, a lab report, a design report and one or more Page 22.125.4problem sets. The sampling takes place on the biennial cycle that matches assessment of coursematerial for ABET purposes.At periodic intervals, the curriculum committee reviews the department writing programresources such as the style guides, grading rubrics and instructor resources, and recommendschanges. A small sample of students in the major, department faculty and practicing

Conference Session

Active and Project-Based Learning

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John S. Lamancusa, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Laura L. Pauley, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

 Improvement Objectives for Mechanical Engineering 1) Improve Delivery ‐ To encourage deeper student learning by:  a. Integrating theory with practice  b. Integrating concepts across courses  c. Requiring fewer courses/semester to increase depth  d. Enhancing lifelong learning skills 2) Enhance Content ‐ Increased student exposure to:   a. New and emerging technologies   b. Professional skills (societal impact, ethics, team skills, project management, global  issues, economic justification)   c. Computer and numerical skills   d. Design methodologies and tools Following intensive discussions and two faculty retreats, a major revision of the MechanicalEngineering curriculum was approved in October

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Raghu Echempati, Kettering University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

, presses, metal cutting machinery, etc., or to an automotive lab) to demonstrate how the load bearing components are assembled in those devices (including an understanding of the role of their function and form). 4. Engage students to do research on an existing engineering case study and present it to the class for discussion. This method helps both in motivating and involving students to learn the subject well as it applies to real-world. It also helps to relate design with current and contemporary issues and how the overall design of a component or a system impacts the society as a whole. This is one of the most powerful methods of innovative instructions. 5. Bring industry speakers to make presentations on a

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Laboratories II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John M Mativo, University of Georgia; Natasha Smith, University of Southern Indiana

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

views ofthe rigor of the course and its impact on their learning experience. Results indicate theyperceived to have a superior grasp of concepts after designing and implementing their ownexperiments.IntroductionThe ultimate objective of any academic program is for students to gain the ability to transferclassroom learning to practice, for which they will be required to construct and apply knowledgetowards problem solving. For example, the consensus outcome for engineering graduates is theability to apply principles of engineering, science, and math to design and analyze real systemsor processes2 . Much debate however exists on the best learning practices to build these skills.Proponents of problem-based learning (or project-based learning

Conference Session

Student Learning and Assessment I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michele Miller, Michigan Technological University; Anna Pereira, University of California, Berkeley; Benjamin Mitchell, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

and high school girls to mechanicalengineering, the number of women mechanical engineering graduates has been persistently low;in 2009 women received just 11.4% of mechanical engineering degrees in the United States.1Viewing the skilled trades as cousins of the engineering professions may help to explain the lownumbers of women in mechanical engineering. The percentages of women2 auto mechanics(1.6%), carpenters (1.5%), and machinists (6.9%) are so low that most of us have never met awoman in one of these professions. One approach to attracting more women may be to marketmechanical engineering as being much different than a skilled trade. However, if some of thosetrade skills are valuable in engineering work, alternative approaches for

Conference Session

Active and Project-Based Learning

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lauren A. Rockenbaugh, University of Colorado, Boulder; Daria A. Kotys-Schwartz, University of Colorado, Boulder; Derek T. Reamon, University of Colorado, Boulder

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Partnership Program and an Instructor in the Department of Mechanical Engi- neering at the University of Colorado Boulder. She received BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineer- ing from The Ohio State University and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Kotys-Schwartz has focused her research in engineering epistemology, engineering student learning, retention and diversity. She is currently investigating the use of Oral Discourse Method for con- ceptual development in engineering, the impact of a four-year hands-on design curriculum in engineering, the effects of service learning in engineering education, and informal learning in engineering.Derek T Reamon, University of Colorado

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Eric C. Dierks, University of Texas, Austin; Jason M. Weaver, University of Texas, Austin; Kristin L. Wood, University of Texas, Austin; Kendra Crider, U.S. Air Force Academy; Daniel D. Jensen, U.S. Air Force Academy

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

students to design and develop an energy harvesting prototype that will be used to power health monitoring systems.Daniel D. Jensen, U.S. Air Force Academy Dr. Dan Jensen is a Professor of Engineering Mechanics at the U.S. Air Force Academy where he has been since 1997. He received his B.S. (Mechanical Engineering), M.S. (Applied Mechanics) and Ph.D. (Aerospace Engineering Science) from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has worked for Texas Instruments, Lockheed Martin, NASA, University of the Pacific, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and MSC Software Corp. His research includes development of innovative design methodologies and en- hancement of engineering education

Conference Session

Outstanding Contributions: Mechanical Engineering Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen R. Turns, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Peggy Noel Van Meter, Pennsyvlania State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

the main principles students must learn in thermodynamics. ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF PRACTICAL DEVICES AND SYSTEMS CONSERVATION OF MASS CONSERVATION OF ENERGY ENTROPY AND EXERGY (1st Law of Thermodynamics) BALANCES (2nd Law of Thermodynamics) PROPERTIES OF MATTER: STATE RELATIONS Figure 1. Key thermodynamic principles provide the basis for the analysis and design of practical devices and systems. Psychological research reveals significant differences in the knowledge organization ofexperts and novices in a domain. Expert’s knowledge is fused

Conference Session

Student Learning and Assessment I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas J. Vasko, Central Connecticut State University; Nidal Al-Masoud, Central Connecticut State University; Peter F. Baumann, Central Connecticut State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

usingengineering courses to address the soft skills lifelong learning, communication, professional andethical obligations, and the global impact of engineering. Page 22.259.2Lifelong Learning OutcomeThe fast pace of advancement in science and technology makes it vital for all professionals tostay up-to-date with contemporary advances and innovations in various fields of technology. Themultidisciplinary nature of engineering practice puts engineers at the forefront of meeting thispressing demand. At some point in their practice, engineers will need to solve a problem ordesign a component that requires research, learning new software, knowledge of

Conference Session

Active and Project-Based Learning

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David H. Jonassen, University of Missouri, Columbia; Sanjeev K. Khanna, University of Missouri

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

particular because they feltthat how the various scores were weighted did not appropriately reflect what they had spentthe most time on. There were also concerns over group grades versus individualcontributions. Implementation of PBL in the Course MAE 3200 Engineering MaterialsSupported by a NSF grant (DUE-0836914), we have designed, developed, and initiallyimplemented a PBL version of MAE 3200, Engineering Materials. The initialimplementation of the course for purposes of research was a traditional lecture courseenrolling 62 students in the fall of 2009. That version of the course introduced conceptswith instructor lectures following the textbook (Callister, 2007). Topics covered are shownin Table 1. The course is taught by two instructors

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sergio Celis, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

peopleinterested in sciences, who have the “energy” necessary for the classroom, from research andteaching. As he suggested: All my subsequent experience showed me that the Council's choice of new professors on the basis of written appraisals, from experts, of the candidates' scientific work is the best method of filling a chair. Promoting assistants and teachers to professor on the basis of length of service and teaching experience is an incomparably worse method. So long as American schools employ that method, they cannot acquire satisfactory teaching staffs. Under that system the talented young are held back, become professors only when they are older-when the energy and enthusiasm of youth, so important in teaching

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Allan T. Kirkpatrick, Colorado State University; Scott Danielson, Arizona State University, Polytechnic campus; Robert O. Warrington, Michigan Technological University; Richard N. Smith, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Karen A. Thole, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; A. Kulacki, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; William J. Wepfer, Georgia Institute of Technology; Thomas Perry, P.E., American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering department. His research interests include machining, effective teaching and engineering mechanics. Before coming to academia, he was a design engineer, maintenance supervisor, and plant engineer. He is a registered professional engineer.Robert O. Warrington, Michigan Technological University Robert O. Warrington is currently Director of the Institute for Leadership and Innovation, which houses the Enterprise program and the new Pavlis Institute for Global Technological Leadership at Michigan Technological University. Dr. Warrington was Dean of the College of Engineering from 1996 to 2007 and was the founder and Director of the Institute for Micromanufacturing at