Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 1: Foundations of Engineering Education

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James Hiram Cover, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Heidi A. Diefes-Dux, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Grace Panther, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

in a curriculum. Other researchers have found thatthere is a positive relationship between a feature’s perceived ease of use and instructor intentionto continue its use as a useful tool in assisting course delivery [11].Recent research has also shown a difference in LMS use in lower-level courses as compared toupper-level courses before and after a disruption. Findings indicated that the lower-level coursescontinued their LMS use while upper-level courses typically returned to pre-pandemic in-personinstructional modes [16]. This difference could be an effect of a decrease in student engagementduring the pandemic due to asynchronous and synchronous video recordings being used in placeof face-to-face learning [17]. When in-person learning

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 1: Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Breigh Nonte Roszelle, University of Denver; Jason Andrew Roney, University of Denver

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

. Prior to joining DU, Dr. Roney held both industry and academic positions. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2023Hair Dryer Design as a Synergistic Tool for Combining Thermodynamics and the Importance of Diversity in Design Team CompositionIntroductionThe past few years have shown an increasing emphasis on justice, equity, diversity, andinclusion (JEDI) within engineering curriculums [1]. This emphasis on JEDI, also referred to asdiversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), has been reinforced by changes made by the majoraccreditation body for engineering programs, ABET. In 2016, ABET proposed changes toinclude language highlighting an outcome of “creating a collaborative and inclusiveenvironment

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 10: Capstone and Design Education

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nathan Delson, University of California at San Diego; James Lynch, University of California at San Diego

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

among adultcuriosity, workplace learning, and job performance. Human resource development quarterly,11(1), 5-30.Roberts, R. M. (1989). Serendipity: Accidental discoveries in science ISBN 0-471-60203-5.Wiley-VCHSheppard, S. D. (1992). Mechanical dissection: An experience in how things work. Proceedingsof the Engineering Education: Curriculum Innovation & Integration, 6-10.Vigeant, M. A., Prince, M. J., Nottis, K. E., & Golightly, A. F. (2018, June). Curious aboutstudent curiosity: Implications of pedagogical approach for students’ mindset. In 2018 ASEEAnnual Conference & Exposition.Zappe, S. E., Yoder, J. D., & Hylton, J. B. (2018). Assessing Curiosity in the EngineeringEntrepreneurship Context: Challenges and Future Research

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 10: Capstone and Design Education

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alex C. Szatmary, King's College, England

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

existing validated instruments are used wherefeasible. This system was developed in a new program so it is not possible to compare with aprevious assessment system. With that said, we could see a more ideal approach beingworthwhile—but only with tools that are developed by an interdisciplinary team of researchersand educators.Perhaps the most robust project for developing and sharing assessment tools for engineeringeducation has been the Transferable Integrated Design Engineering Education (TIDEE) project;an early paper from that project reports rubrics for SOs 2, 3, and 5 [5]. The TIDEE projectdeveloped the IDEALS system, a collection of modules, assessment instruments, and online tools[6]. People associated with that project described a snapshot

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 13: Lab Experiences

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dave Kim, Washington State University, Vancouver; Charles Riley, P.E., Oregon Institute of Technology; Ken Lulay, P.E., University of Portland; John D. Lynch

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

rhetorical knowledge, critical thinking, and reading for first-year compositioncourses, composing, writing processes, and knowledge of conventions. The first-year 1composition curriculum emphasizes the rhetorical situation (writer, audience, purpose, andcontext), rhetorical appeals (logical, ethical, and emotional), and genre awareness in the writingprocess [1]. Most first-year composition courses are taught and/or administrated by English orCommunication departments.Although engineering undergraduates learn academic writing in first-year composition or othergeneral education writing courses, they often struggle to transfer the writing knowledge fromthose courses to engineering courses [2]. This is

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 10: Special Topics and Innovative Methods in Mechanical Engineering

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Fabian Sorce, Imperial College London; Idris Kevin Mohammed; Kate Ippolito; Marc Masen

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

approach to design teaching wasimplemented in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Imperial College London. DesignWeek was created to provide an experiential and immersive learning experience for students.It is an assessed, group-based exercise which is the sole focus of students for an entire weekand embedded into the curriculum. This project occurs in the second year of a four-yearundergraduate integrated Master’s program in Mechanical Engineering (typical ofengineering degree programs in the UK). The structure of this integrated Master’s course isprescriptive in the first two years, with more flexible options for students to choose in theirthird and fourth years.The Design and Manufacturing (DMF) pathway in the Department of

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 3: Student Success

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Muzammil Arshad, Texas A&M University; Rebecca R. Romatoski, St. Ambrose University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

instructional modelwas used to focus on the integration of six short, self-paced, e-learning modules into courses.Hylton et al. [12] performed a study to build the EM into the mechanical engineering curriculumwhich was motivated by the KEEN framework. Institutional definitions of the KEEN studentoutcomes as well as identification of courses for deployment of the outcomes was identified by acore group of college faculty to provide comprehensive, curriculum-wide exposure to the EM.Incentive and reporting structures were employed for onboarding faculty in an effort to ensurelong-term sustainability of the curricular modifications.EM-course structure poses a challenge of dealing with the student motivation. This studyaddresses the challenge and employs a

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 10: Special Topics and Innovative Methods in Mechanical Engineering

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kazi Md Masum Billah, University of Houston, Clear Lake

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

understanding of the presentation content to the students. 5. ConclusionAs a first-time offering this course at UHCL, AM lab played an important role in studentengagement for a hands-on-based curriculum. One of the major focuses of this course design wasto integrate the design and manufacturing of parts for 3D printing applications. Throughout thesemester, students had the opportunity to learn the full spectrum of the typical material extrusionAM process by learning design in Fusion 360 software, relevant 3D printing slicing software,and manufacturing using desktop scale 3D printers that are available at AM lab. A summativeapproach was employed to measure the learning outcomes. At the end of the semester, themeasurement results

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 12: Promoting Student Success and Motivation

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Elisabeth Smela, University of Maryland, College Park; Vincent Nguyen, University of Maryland, College Park; Natasha Andrade, University of Maryland, College Park; Andrew Elby, University of Maryland, College Park

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

interviews, ability and confidencein introducing these topics within traditional coursework is lacking. Firstly, faculty areoften unfamiliar with basic sustainability concepts (e.g. it’s not just about globalwarming) and information (e.g. the UN SDGs, the IPCC). Secondly, faculty have notonly not been trained in these topics, but also have not been trained in teaching themeffectively, and they do not generally have the time required to learn that independently.Thirdly, it is not usually obvious how these topics can be sensibly integrated into variouscourses without appearing to be extraneous add-ons. Thus, faculty training and supportare important components of curriculum transformation activities.There have been “train the trainer” efforts

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 14: Advanced Pedagogical Techniques

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Patrick Daly, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Mitra Varun Anand, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Curtis Abel, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Ahmet Can Sabuncu, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

University. Dr. Sabuncu’s professional interests spans from engineering education research, history of science and engineering, thermo-fluids engineering, and microfluidic technology. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2024Industry Perspectives on Mechanical Engineering TroubleshootingAbstractTroubleshooting is an integral part of iterative design processes that engineers undertake,involving continuous problem diagnosis and process optimization. Despite its significance in theworld of engineering, there are few studies and curriculum dedicated to teaching this skill at theuniversity level. This paper contributes to the need to enhance the training of troubleshooting inuniversity-level engineering

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 8: Sustainability and Interdisciplinary Learning

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Deepika Ganesh, University of Michigan; Carissa Yim, University of Michigan

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

. Can authoring an open source, case-based assignment (instead of a traditional term paper) capture self identity and lived experiences, create a stronger sense of agency in learners, and increase “stickiness” of the knowledge? 2. Can working collaboratively with other learners personalize the knowledge absorption process and build team based skills? 3. Does access to open educational resources facilitate integration of sustainability or social justice concepts into the engineering curriculum?This research discovered that student motivation is significantly improved through projects that extendbeyond the academic environment, particularly those that align with their interests in sustainability goals.Moreover

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 13: Technological Advancements and Applications

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bingling Huang, California State University, Fullerton; Chan Lu, University of Georgia

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

beyond text comprehension, a domain forwhich ChatGPT is renowned. It aims to nurture future engineers to become critical thinkers, whoare proficient in applying acquired knowledge to execute complicated engineering tasks. However,there’s an apparent gap in understanding how ChatGPT can be effectively integrated intoeducational practices within this specialized area due to a lack of detailed insights into its abilitiesand limitations. This research seeks to fill this void by exploring and assessing ChatGPT’sreasoning abilities and limitations within the context of mechanical engineering. It examines thecapabilities and constraints of ChatGPT in engineering reasoning by analyzing two mechanicalexamples, which are drawn from machine design and

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 10: Capstone and Design Education

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen Pierson; Benjamin Fleming; Han Hu, University of Arkansas

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

design.IntroductionThough the teaching of engineering science is and should be the dominant basis of modernengineering education, it is a reality that curriculum evolved during the 20th century tomarginalize the importance of engineering practice and key skills including design and teamwork.Resulting from a paradigm shift in the culture of American engineering colleges after World WarII and the dwindling ranks of faculty members with experience as engineers, this revolution inengineering curriculum sought to prioritize hard science fundamentals in a profession becomingrapidly more diverse. As an unintended consequence, newly minted engineers, while graduatingfrom college technically adept, began to lack many of the basic abilities needed in real-worldengineering

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Poster Session

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jheng-Wun Su, Slippery Rock University; Cameron Casey Constantine, Slippery Rock University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

mechatronics' transformativepotential in addressing campus sustainability challenges and engaging students throughexperiential learning. Projects range from energy-efficient automation systems to eco-friendlysolutions, illustrating students' creative problem-solving and the significance of interdisciplinarycollaboration. Furthermore, the paper examines the challenges encountered by the newlydeveloped mechatronics course for sustainable innovation. We also explore areas forimprovement, including curriculum enhancements and more effective integration ofsustainability principles, aiming to amplify the impact of such collaborations. This paper offers avaluable perspective for educators and institutions seeking to incorporate mechatronics

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 10: Capstone and Design Education

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Frederic-Charles Krynen, Stanford University; Carl E. Wieman

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

made during a four-week period inwhich they design and build a physical device—a candy dispenser in the control course and astamping machine in the intervention course. A set of metrics of performance were comparedwith those of students in the control offering prior to the redesign of the course. 1IntroductionIn 2015, Stanford University’s Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME)curriculum underwent significant restructuring [1]. The program was altered to be comprised of aset of core classes and a set of concentrations in which students could choose to specialize. In theprocess, ME102 - Foundations of Product Realization was created. An introductory course to therelevant fields, ME

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 15: Automation and Machine Learning

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rui Li, New York University; Victoria Bill, New York University ; Jack Bringardner, New York University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

Paper ID #39081Scaffolding Training on Digital Manufacturing: Prepare for the Workforce4.0Dr. Rui Li, New York University Dr. Rui Li earned his Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 2009 from Imperial College of London and his Ph.D in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2020 from the University of Georgia, College of Engineering. He is currently an industrial assistant professor, who works in General Engineering program at New York University. He taught first-year engineering course as well as vertically integrated project. He has strong interests in educational robotics, project-based learning and first-year STEM

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Poster Session

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jiliang Li, D.Eng., Ph.D., P.E., California Baptist University; Jinyuan Zhai, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

branches of mechanics. At CBU, MNSU and PNW, MSEand related courses have been designed not only on topics such as crystalline and non-crystalline materials, deformations, alloy types, ceramic types, composite types, etc., but alsoto use the information learned and apply it to materials used in real-world designs. Studentswho took this course were required to write term papers and deliver presentations over real-world design concepts and link the design concept to the course’s teachings. Artificial Organscompleted by Vavek et al (2018) [21] enriches their learning of materials science courses,provides the students with marketable skills, and integrates the use of the real-life engineeringproblems with curriculum. Our experience [9] finds that

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Poster Session

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yucheng Liu, South Dakota State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

help university teachers to improve the quality of seminar courses and make them more“useful” for college students.Keywords: Curriculum design, mechanical engineering students, senior seminar, classroominstruction, student feedbackIntroductionA senior seminar is a class that students take during their last year of study in college. The ultimategoal of the senior seminar is to prepare seniors for their careers by sharpening their employmentreadiness skills, helping them choose their career path and set career goals, enhancing theirawareness of school-to-career experiences, training them to engineer immediately upon graduation,and making them preferred candidates for jobs. It is an important class to prepare young peoplefor the next chapter in

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 1: Foundations of Engineering Education

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Amir H. Danesh-Yazdi, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

rigorous process is taught to students in their Statics andDynamics courses on how to draw proper kinetic, free-body, and impulse-momentum diagrams.While numerous techniques and mnemonics have been mentioned in literature, any experiencedinstructor can tell a correct free-body diagram apart from an incorrect one. Unfortunately, this isnot the case when considering scalar properties such as mass, energy, exergy, and entropy.Different fluid mechanics and thermodynamics texts have treated the diagrammatic representationof these properties either very poorly, or in the case of the latter two, not at all. In this paper, theconcept of the storage and interaction diagrams is introduced as a graphical tool to represent theaforementioned scalar properties

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 11: Project and Research-Based Learning Environments

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sara E. Wilson, The University of Kansas

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

musculoskeletal injuries. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2023 Mechatronics Research Projects: Engaging First-Generation Students and OthersAbstractRetention of students within Mechanical Engineering, particularly first-generation students, is achallenge for many Mechanical Engineering programs. Collaborative, project-based learning hasbeen shown to improve retention in first year students. Microcontrollers offer an increasinglyeasy to use and affordable platform for engaging project-based learning at all levels of theMechanical Engineering curriculum. In this paper, the use of microcontrollers for collaborative,project-based research projects in a first-year

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 13: Lab Experiences

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Christopher John Greer, The Pennsylvania State University; Devon Eichfeld; Brianne Hargrove; Siu Ling Leung, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

solution to an engaging, real-life problem. This paper will provide a teachingmodel for small and large class sizes and a laboratory course design strategy that motivatesstudents to apply their lower-order thinking skills, increase their confidence in transferring skillsto new applications, and realize the theory from their curriculum in real-world applications.Since Materials is a fundamental ME knowledge our program identified, we choose to emphasizeAmerican Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards in our laboratory course. Aftercompleting the four-week laboratory module, students will gain hands-on experience conductingmaterial property measurements by following standard procedures. They will understand relevantASTM standards by

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 14: Advanced Pedagogical Techniques

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Todd M. Fernandez, Georgia Institute of Technology; David Edward Torello, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

; kinematics, kinetics of particles, rigid bodies inone, two, and three dimensions, Newton-Euler equations, as well as Work-energy and impulse-momentumprinciples. The primary textbook is a custom edition of Engineering Mechanics, an Introduction toDynamics [16]. A syllabus prepared for ABET accreditation purposes is hosted on the department website[17]. The course is a part of the required ME curriculum and a prerequisite for multiple later courses. Theexisting course used a flipped classroom design wherein students watch video lectures before coming toclass and then use class time to complete problem worksheets.The motivation for this project was the lead author’s emergent dissatisfaction with grading in their course- with the experience of that

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 14: Advanced Pedagogical Techniques

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Israd Hakim Jaafar, Utah Valley University; Matthew J Jensen, Utah Valley University; Sean Tolman P.E., Utah Valley University; Amanda C Bordelon, Utah Valley University; Bennington J Willardson, Utah Valley University; Janis P Raje

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

progress toward a degree more quickly.Low Academic Preparedness. Many students enrolled in ME/CIVE majors are underprepared inSTEM subjects, particularly mathematics. ME and CIVE largely share the same curricular planfor the first two years, which assumes that first-year students enter the program “calculus ready.”Students who are unprepared to take calculus often take one or more semesters of preparatorymath which can delay their progress in their engineering curriculum or lead them to give up theirpursuit of an engineering degree. Also, in the first two years, students take the requiredmechanics core courses which include Statics, Dynamics, and Mechanics of Materials. Thesecourses are the students’ first experience with engineering analysis

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 5: Preparing the Future Workforce

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John T. Solomon, Tuskegee University; Sadegh Poozesh, Tuskegee University; Hang Song, Auburn University; Karen S. McNeal, Auburn University ; Lauren E. Beckingham, Auburn University; Kelly Lazar, Clemson University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

on campus, demographics, and external factors. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2016. 112: p. 3451-3463. 6. Redondo, I. and M. Puelles, The connection between environmental attitude-behavior gap and other individual inconsistencies: a call for strengthening self-control. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 2017. 26(2): p. 107-120. 7. Raivio, K., Sustainability as an educational agenda. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2011. 19(16): p. 1906-1907. 8. Lambrechts, W., I. Mulà, K. Ceulemans, I. Molderez, and V. Gaeremynck, The integration of competences for sustainable development in higher education: an analysis of bachelor programs in management. Journal of Cleaner Production

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 1: Foundations of Engineering Education

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jenni Buckley, University of Delaware; Amy Trauth, American Institutes for Research; Alexander John De Rosa, University of Delaware

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

Paper ID #41073The Mini-Mill Experience: A Self-Paced Introductory Machining Exercisefor Mechanical Engineering StudentsProf. Jenni Buckley, University of Delaware Dr. Buckley is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Delaware. She received her BS (2001) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware, and her MS (2004) and PhD (2006) in Mechanical Engineering from University of California, Berkeley. She is the Co-Founder and President of The Perry Initiative, an organization focused on diversifying the talent pipeline in engineering and orthopaedics.Dr. Amy Trauth, American Institutes for

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 4: Professional Preparation

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sommer Scott; Micah Lande, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

is similar to their career aspiration, identify other LinkedIn users whocurrently hold positions similar to the freshman’s career aspiration, and evaluate the backgroundof these professionals to create a 5-year plan of steps the freshman should take to achieve theirgoal. Responses were submitted for grading to D2L (Desire2Learn), “an integrated learningplatform designed to create a single place online for instructors and students to interact” [21].Responses were organized in Microsoft Excel. The student's name, aspiring position andcompany were recorded. Each student was assigned a number to anonymize theirparticipation.(n=127, 3 semesters). The 127 students surveyed are considered representative of asingle-entry class.Nearly every company

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 2: Enhancing Learning through Hands-On Design

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jenni Buckley, University of Delaware; Amy Trauth, American Institutes for Research; Alexander John De Rosa, University of Delaware; Heather Doty, University of Delaware

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

, disassembled size, cost, andassembly time, as well as to proof test the structural integrity of the frame by having one or moreteam members sit on the bike. Teams that passed the proof test could participate in an optionalbike race at the end of the semester.Figure 2. Example student work for final bike frame design: CAD assembly drawing (left) andassembled prototype (right).In addition to CAD modeling, Phases 3 and 4 of the EDP required students to perform astructural analysis of their bike frame. This analysis involved students abstracting their framedesigns into two-dimensional multi-body structures that were then decomposed into multiplerigid body subcomponents (Figure 3). Students were instructed to consider failure at both “pins”(bolt assemblies

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Technical Session 15: Automation and Machine Learning

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anurag Purwar, Stony Brook University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

, force and torque calculations, which presents a monotonous and (a) Six-Bar Mechanism (b) PrototypeFigure 2: A Six-bar mechanism (left) and prototype of the device (right) for STS motion shown inthe two extreme configurationspassive way to introduce a fascinating subject. Creation of mechanism design concepts is the mostcrucial step in the machine design process and usually requires creativity and experience. Synthesisrepresents the highest level of Bloom’s taxonomy [28], thus mechanism design exercises are typi-cally postponed to later stages in the course, and are integrated into an end-of-the-semester designproject. By this time, it may be too late to cultivate students’ interest in synthesis or

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Poster Session

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Cristian D. Jacome; Ting Dong, University of Florida; Matthew J. Traum, University of Florida

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

mechanics course,Capstone includes an entire module in DC motor, stepper motor, and servo motor control. Thismodule provides students the hands-on skill set needed to create functional mechanicalengineering prototypes that move as they do not learn it elsewhere in the curriculum. Interestingly, students report enhanced course enjoyment fostered by the opportunity tolearn new skills. So, it is positive that they do learn these skills somewhere in the curriculum andthrough hands-on application in Capstone rather than a pure theory-based exposure. It is, however,worrisome that they are having these experiences for the first time in Capstone rather than learningin a prerequisite course, bringing those skills into Capstone, and using the

Conference Session

MECH - Technical Session 2: Enhancing Learning through Hands-On Design

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew S Ballard, Utah Valley University; Taten McConahay, Utah Valley University; Brett Swain, Utah Valley University; Sarah Dayley, Utah Valley University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

impossible to truly learn without the learner being active in someway [2]. Active learning helps students to ascend above the initial cognition levels of rememberand understand from the revised Bloom’s taxonomy [3], requiring learners at the least to applyand analyze. Project-based learning is an important active learning technique, which allowsstudents to build upon what they already know from previous courses [1] and further deepentheir knowledge as they evaluate and create. In addition to deepening their knowledge of specifictechnical competencies from the engineering curriculum, project-based learning allows studentsto acquire skills that will be vital to them throughout their careers, including problem solving,communication, teamwork as well as