(ABET) is “anability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create acollaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.”Teamwork skills are valued by future employers as an important skill set. However, teamwork isnot always well defined. Perusich et al [1] has defined teamwork as 1.) the ability to beinterdependent in tasks, 2.) to share responsibility for outcomes, and 3.) to work together as anintact social entity. Shuman et al [2] defined teamwork skills to include the ability to solicitinput from the team, the ability to build consensus and resolve conflicts, and leadership skills.Chowdhury and Murzi [3] defined teamwork by a set of attributes including: shared
experience.This project contributes to all seven ABET student outcomes, depending on how the assignmentis customized, making it a highly effective tool for both skill development and practicaleducation in mechanical design.1. IntroductionMechanical design-and-build courses at the sophomore and junior levels prepare engineeringstudents for practical applications in the field. These courses provide opportunities for hands-onlearning, where students translate theoretical knowledge into functional mechanical systems. Byengaging in design-and-build projects, students develop critical skills such as problem-solving,teamwork, and project management. However, in the face of their first function-driven designproject, it is easy for students to overlook the
pursuits include engineering education research, adaptive, blended, and flipped learning, open courseware development, composite materials mechanics, and examining the future of higher education. His research has received funding from the National Science Foundation, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Florida Department of Transportation, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Supported by the National Science Foundation, Kaw has led a national collaboration to develop, implement, refine, and assess online resources for open courseware in Numerical Methods (http://nm.MathForCollege.com). These resources gather over 1 million page views annually and 1.6 million YouTube lecture views, attracting more than 90,000
workplace more deeply. In subsequent studies, the authors intend to improve teachingtechniques such as animation to bridge the gap between the more detailed and theoretical conceptsand real-life applications.IntroductionHuman activities have indeed had a significant negative impact on the Earth's environment, leadingto widespread destruction of natural habitats, pollution, and ultimately, global warming [1]. Thescientific consensus is clear that human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels anddeforestation, have been the primary drivers of climate change over the past few decades. Theincreased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, resulting from these activities, have trappedheat and caused global temperatures to rise at an
assessments demonstrated that the lab significantlyenhanced students' understanding of both ultrasonic NDT principles and their relevance toindustry, particularly in the context of material testing and evaluation. The hands-on experienceprovided by the lab offers an essential educational experience, preparing students for the demandsof modern engineering practices where NDT plays a pivotal role in ensuring material quality andsafety. I. IntroductionNon-destructive testing (NDT) plays a critical role in industries such as aerospace, automotive,energy, transportation, and manufacturing, where ensuring structural integrity and reliability isessential [1]. By evaluating material properties without causing damage, NDT enables safer andmore
for trends, and second: the need for quantifying the learningpreparedness profiles of incoming freshmen to be able to design curricula that support thelearning of new groups with changing skills.A. ABET SO7 and its importance SO7 is ‘an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies’ [1]. The field of Engineering is dynamic, with new techniques, paradigms, and advances, such as artificial intelligence constantly requiring practitioners to train anew. Further, the multidisciplinary nature of most Engineering practices requires continuous learning. Many Engineering problems also include a global aspect which needs collaboration with people of different cultures and backgrounds—another
theclassroom [15]. Studies have further identified visual cuing as an effective instructional methodthat promotes learning at faster rates [1], [5], [6], [7], [8], [12], [16]. De Koning et al reportedhigher academic performance due to visual cuing, while Marquez and Garcia reported that visualsupplements enhanced student comprehension of complex engineering concepts [14].An alternative resource utilized by undergraduate engineering students is partaking in researchopportunities given its short- and long-term benefits [6], [8], [4]. According to literature findings,53% of students majoring in STEM majors are involved in research activities [5], [6], [7], [8], [13].Carter et al and Gregerman reported significant research and professional confidence by
studentunderstanding of the fundamentals of modeling mechanical systems and vibrations. Theequipment is portable and 3D printed at a tabletop 3D printer to reduce cost. The free pendulumportion of the kit was implemented in two sections of control theory courses. Students reportedmoderate learning gains and indicated the learning experience with the materials and equipmentwas enjoyable, while the biggest challenges were with coding and the use of Arduino tooperationalize the collection of data.1. IntroductionThe learning context for this work is centered around the challenge of helping students bridgetheory with practice. We have reported on this issue in multiple prior papers [1-9] but havechosen to summarize the issues here so that we can fully address the
preparation tool.IntroductionThe integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education, particularly inundergraduate engineering courses, has garnered significant attention in recent years. A 2024literature view of generative AI in higher education focused on 37 journal articles published from2023-2024, from a selection of more than 100 articles available in Scopus and Web of Science[1]. AI remains a hot topic in higher education with the potential for far-reaching benefits as thetechnology advances. Potential challenges and drawbacks are also being highlighted as bothstudents and instructors begin adopting these technologies and applying generative AI toteaching and learning, including over-reliance on AI [2, 3, 4].Multiple studies are
, equilibrium, and moments as common obstacles for engineering students [1]. Traditionalinstructional methods, such as lectures and textbook problems, may not always be sufficient tofacilitate deep comprehension, necessitating innovative pedagogical strategies that promoteinteractive and experiential learning [2].This study investigates the integration of hands-on learning tools and the principles ofentrepreneurially minded learning (EML) [3] to create studio-like environments that foster activeengagement and deeper comprehension. Previous studies have demonstrated that hands-onexperiments and interactive problem-solving exercises enhance student motivation andperformance in engineering mechanics: statics [4]. By incorporating problem-solving
Introductory Thermodynamics and Challenges in EducationIntroductory undergraduate thermodynamics is a cornerstone course in engineering and sciencecurricula. Often considered a “rite of passage” for engineering students [1], it serves as a criticaldeterminant of students’ interest and capability in their chosen fields early in their academicjourney. In some cases, it functions as a “weed-out” course, with significant implications forretention in STEM programs [2].The complexity of thermodynamics poses unique challenges for both students and instructors.The subject is conceptually rich, demanding mastery of domain-specific vocabulary and theintegration of multiple fundamental principles to solve intricate problems. Thermodynamicsoften relies on the
methods are increasingly being discussed [1] - [3]. Some concernswith grades include being an ineffective way to provide constructive feedback and demotivatingstudents [4]. Alternative grading strategies, including specifications grading, are gainingpopularity in higher education. Benefits of alternative grading methods include reduced studenttext anxiety [5], increased student self-efficacy [6], [7], similar or higher learning outputs [8],and higher grades in a subsequent course [9]. Many examples of alternative grading methods inengineering courses have recently been reported [10] - [15].In specifications grading, student work is scored pass/fail according to whether the assignmentsubmission meets the provided requirements, and the final grade
interesting outputof the engineering. The kit uses inexpensive components totaling about $26/robot USD (servos,origami, and an Arduino Nano) common in hobbyist communities so that learning how to usethese components can empower further exploration of actuated art. Our associated lesson planengages participants in the assembly and control of ANT and contextualizes it within a broaderoverview of robot system components and the use of origami in engineering. We successfully ranthe lesson as a 3-hour outreach workshop at a local arts organization.1 IntroductionThe emerging use of origami in robotics [1] is based on how it enables interesting relationshipsbetween 2D patterns and 3D structure, which is also the foundation of origami’s
developed and implemented in over a dozen Cornell engineeringcourses using industry-standard Ansys simulation software. This framework can be used withany engineering simulation tool.Applications for which we have developed online learning modules using this framework includepressure vessel static behavior, wind turbine blade buckling, turbine vibration as well asturbulent flow over a car and an airplane. These applications have been developed with inputfrom engineers at Ansys Inc. to ensure industry relevance. A couple of sample applications areshown in Figures 1 and 2. One can see from the figures that the geometries considered arerealistic which in our experience can help students connect with the material since they canreadily see the practical
the effectiveness of this teaching approach.1. IntroductionFinite Element Method (FEM) is a core course for Mechanical Engineering. This course isoffered in the first semester of senior year at the authors’ department. The FEM course taught bythe authors is developed using the textbooks written by Logan [1] and Lee [2]. In addition to thefundamental theories and manual calculations, ANSYS Workbench [3], a leading ComputerAided Engineering (CAE) software, is integrated into the course. This approach allows studentsto gain practical experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software and develop a highlysought-after valuable skill by employers. The students utilize ANSYS Workbench (Ansys Inc,Canonsburg, PA) for a wide range of analyses
unpredictable environments and overcome thelimitations of rigid systems [1-5]. Similarly, compliant mechanisms, which are considered thecore of soft robotics, consist of bendable links to deform and large-deflecting hinges to createrelative motion between two adjacent members. They offer several advantages, includingincreased precision, reduced cost, single-piece manufacturing, and the elimination of assemblyrequirements [6-8].Projections indicate that the U.S. soft robotics market is expected to reach $8.7 billion by 2030,with applications spanning diverse fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, bio-inspired design,and environmental exploration [9]. However, the challenges for both soft robotics and compliantmechanisms lie in meeting user experience
primary misconceptions. The methodsthat instructors and researchers used to identify misconceptions were collected and categorizedbased on assessment type. Similarly, the strategies developed to repair and prevent studentmisconceptions are presented. With this literature review, a more cohesive view of studentmisconceptions can be formed, so that instructors may anticipate these misconceptions in theirown courses and attempt to remediate them, as well as facilitating a deeper understanding ofstudent misconceptions that may be more generalized to engineering education as a whole.IntroductionMisconceptions are incorrect or incomplete understandings of concepts sometimes due to theovergeneralization of ideas [1]-[3]. These misconceptions can
images” [1], is an essential skill in STEMeducation and is closely linked to academic success. In engineering, particularly in fields like computer-aided design (CAD), the ability to mentally manipulate 3D objects is fundamental [2]. For mechanicalengineers, this skill is indispensable for tasks such as designing intricate mechanical systems, analyzingstress and strain distributions, and understanding the motion of rigid bodies. The capacity to visualizespatially enables engineers to predict the behavior of objects in various environments and to solvecomplex problems involving forces and motion effectively.However, many engineering students struggle to develop strong spatial visualization skills, a challengeattributed to several factors. These
multifaceted design project thisassignment was also used to help assess the junior level students’ progress towards meeting theABET program outcomes.Introduction Engineers seek to design new things. To help train upcoming engineers to successfullyaccomplish this, engineering faculty are always looking for new ways to invigorate their studentsand let them see how the material they are learning in class will be applied to their future careers,as discussed by Svensson [1]. While taking an idea from initial concept to a finished workingprototype is ultimately the goal, this is not always practical or feasible. This would requireintegrating material learned in most of the courses in the engineering curriculum to fullyaccomplish. This culmination of
there is little or no correlation. This reaffirms the importance of succinctness in technicalwriting to improve clarity and reduce ambiguity. The average grades achieved in both instanceswere comparable (67.6 % and 66.9 % respectively) with similar standard deviations (9.4 % and8.6 % respectively) demonstrating that imposing a word limit did not have a detrimental effect tothe assessment process and allowed student performance to be differentiated successfully. This ishighly beneficial to both staff and student workloads, whilst maintaining academic excellenceand ensuring that all intended learning outcomes are still met. 1. BackgroundClear, succinct communication is extremely important in any field or discipline and is a key skillthat
opened doors to innovative teaching and learning approaches that werepreviously unattainable [1]. Among these fields, mechanical engineering technology stands outas an area where technology can significantly enhance the educational experience. Mechanicalengineering technology requires students to develop a comprehensive understanding oftheoretical principles while also applying these concepts to solve real-world problems.Traditional methods of teaching in this discipline often rely heavily on lectures, textbook-basedlearning, and limited hands-on laboratory experiences. While these approaches providefoundational knowledge, they are often hindered by significant challenges. These include thehigh cost of advanced equipment, restricted access to
facultymembers collaborate to implement active learning and high-impact teaching practices in engineeringgateway courses to enhance Hispanic/Latino transfer student success. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Statics and Dynamics: A Case Study of Supplementing Traditional Lectures with High Impact Practices such as Multiple-Attempt-Testing and Project-Based-Homework Marino Nader1, Ricardo Zaurin2, Michelle Taub3, Sierra Outerbridge3, Harrison Oonge4, and Hyoung Jin Cho1 1 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 2 Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction
encourage high school students to takecollege-level courses [1]. Research has shown that dual enrollment programs can lead toimproved academic performance, as evidenced by higher college GPAs [2, 3]. Additionally, dualenrollment has been found to positively impact time-to-degree completion [4]. Furthermore,studies indicate that dual enrollment predicts better college enrollment, persistence, andcompletion rates [5].Despite these benefits, mixed-level learning environments—where both high school and collegestudents enroll in the same courses—present unique challenges and opportunities for instructors.These settings require teaching strategies that bridge the gap between differing levels of priorknowledge and learning readiness. High school students
Interactive Simulations for Dynamics Education (InSiDE). The goalis to improve students' intuitive understanding of motion for complex dynamical systems. Weheld a workshop to introduce InSiDE to other Dynamics instructors. We have assessed theimpact of these simulations through multiple means: comparing students’ performance in atreatment and control class, analyzing students’ surveys, and analyzing faculty workshopparticipant surveys.1. Introduction and MotivationsWe developed a set of Interactive Simulations for Dynamics Education (InSiDE)1 to enhancestudent understanding and encourage active learning. Simulations are used in various disciplines,allowing for visual representation of difficult concepts and interactivity. For example, studentsenter
, encourage resilience, and clarifycareer goals, aligning strongly with Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory. These outcomeshighlight the promise of iterative, collaborative, and cross-cutting LS to bridge theory andpractice in engineering curricula.IntroductionHistorically, engineering has been rooted in practical applications and has strived to bridge thegap between theory and real-world implementation[1], [2]. Given the field’s evolving nature,debates on the balance between theoretical depth and practical application remain ongoing [3]. Inthis context, theoretical knowledge can be used to design, build, and tackle complex problems.However, recent changes have shifted to place more importance on teaching the latest theoreticalknowledge [4], [5
, thermodynamics presents a practical challenge: it demands constantlookups of property values from massive data tables. Students and engineers must flip through © American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 2025 ASEE Annual ConferenceFigure 1 – A typical tabulated properties of a common substance in thermodynamics. The table is extractedfrom (Michael J Moran, 2010).these tables, find the right values, and then use them in detailed calculations. Even simple problemscan turn into lengthy processes as each new step requires another round of table lookups andnumber crunching.While there exist some commercial software such as EES (F-Chart Software, 2024), REFPROP(NIST, 2024), CoolProp (Ian H
foundthat 42% had a review course or review sessions available for students [1]. Newhouse et alpresented a discussion a decade long development of a FE review course for a civil engineeringprogram. In the study the authors documented how the course was modified during the time andhow it correlated to sustained high pass rates [2]. Swenty et al. studied the perceived confidenceand performance of students preparing to take the FE exam. The study involves studentscompleting FE style questions while taking a FE review course. It was found that students had anincrease in confidence after taking the FE review courses, but a correlation between theconfidence and performance was not distinguished [3]. These studies showed that thereinforcing of FE topics
the deviceaccess to a heat gun and standard shop-vac or any other vacuum cleaner is required. Manyschool theatre departments or woodshops, as well as janitorial staff, often already have access toshop-vacs. A common $20 heat gun will suffice. Finaly, the consumable material for this projectis recycled milk jug plastic, which comes at no cost to the school. Current research published atASEE conferences with vacuum forming has been mostly focused on using vacuum forming tocreate an experiment or experience but little on making the vacuum form itself [1-5].2. Vacuum Forming2.1 The Process of Vacuum FormingVacuum forming is a process in which a thin sheet of plastic is heated to a temperature just belowits melting point, in which it becomes
research, and team projects, have become integral components of manyundergraduate engineering programs. These activities are highly effective methods for enablingstudents to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical, real-world applications.They are grounded in the perspective that learning is a holistic process encompassing all lifeexperiences [1]. ELA provide students with superior learning outcomes, equipping them withindustry-ready skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, andcommunication, all of which are highly valued by employers [2]. While the benefits of individual 1ELA have been well-documented
large classes. Samples of studentwork demonstrate they can compare measurements to the geometric tolerances defined in anengineering drawing, make direct connections to the tolerance zones produced by each symbol, anddetermine the conditions for a fabricated part meeting or failing the design requirements specifiedin an engineering drawing. Students who participated in the course indicate in an end-of-semestersurvey how the measurement activities relying on these fixtures can bridge the gap between thesymbols in the engineering drawing and their physical meaning.1. IntroductionGeometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) is a complex language using numbers, letters, andspecial symbols implemented in engineering drawings to control a part’s