Conference Session

ME Division Technical Session 2 - Harnessing AI and Machine Learning to Transform ME Education

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jason Daniel Christopher, U.S. Air Force Academy; Vincent Italo Bongioanni, United States Air Force Academy; Lauren V Scharff, U.S. Air Force Academy

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

language models (LLMs) AI that permeate popular discourse. Student familiarity andsentiments regarding AI are collected at the start and end of class to understand how the courseactivities influenced their perceptions of AI’s utility. By exposing students to many facets of AI,with a focus on engineering applications, we seek to develop student capabilities utilizing AI inworking through their academic and professional duties.1 IntroductionTechnology improvements are a part of the human story from the earliest of our historical records,controlled fire and rolling wheels in prehistoric times, to automobiles and computers in moderntimes. Each of these changes has brought about questions about the pros and cons of a giventechnology compared to the

Conference Session

ME Division 3: Modern Tools and Methods in Structural Analysis and CAD

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Shafique Khan, West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

their best time and lengthier exams may be givenfor the courses that require it. Since the study is conducted at a regional teaching campus of amajor state university, many students are working adults with full time jobs and in certain cases,full time families. This approach has also helped those students to stay on the course for theiracademic journey.IntroductionIn this study, the previous framework developed for online exams in Blackboard [1] will befurther advanced to make the online exams more randomized. In the previous work, detailedexamples were provided for three courses in mechanical engineering (Dynamics of machines,Machine design, Vibrations) and one general engineering course (Software tools). In thoseexamples, numerical values

Conference Session

ME Division 12: Innovative Approaches to Thermodynamics

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sean Sloan, Oregon Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Thermo for KeepsAbstractThermodynamics is often the most hated course in the mechanical engineering curriculum.Why? Because when you add up all the possible combinations of applied equations, they becomeoverwhelming, with often subtle differences that are hard to remember. To counter this, four keyprinciples become a foundation. If these are well understood, simple math operations on thesemay create the rest. These principles are: 1. Q = mC∆T, 2. Understanding latent heat, 3.Understanding P∆V work, and 4. Law of the Turbine (an artifice for student discussionestablishing constant entropy across a turbine, in a piston, etc). Even the confusing differencebetween

Conference Session

ME Division 5: Advancing Robotic and Mechanisms Education

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Shashwat Sharma, New York University Tandon School of Engineering; Vikram Kapila, New York University Tandon School of Engineering; Rui Li, New York University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

robotics principles.The feedback from the student participants indicated that the soft robotics workshop was able tosimplify complex robotics ideas, encourage hands-on learning, and stimulate design creativity.1. IntroductionPreparation and deployment of students and professionals in the rapidly evolving roboticsindustry pose several challenges to the field of robotics education. The highly interdisciplinarynature of robotics, combining mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science,AI, and more, make it challenging to develop curricula reflective of current trends and emergentneeds of industry. Designing curricula for learners of different age groups while ensuringengagement and technical depth is difficult. In addition

Conference Session

ME Division 10: Innovation in the Sophomore Year

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew Stephen Barner, University of Portland; Sean Lyle Gestson, University of Portland

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

those interested in doingsomething similar.Introduction The goals of this study were to provide students enrolled in post-requisite statics coursesan opportunity to develop learning activities or aids for future statics courses while exploringtheir perspectives throughout their curriculum design process. Providing students an opportunityto develop a learning activity or aid for one of their previous courses can have multiple potentialbenefits for students and instructors. First, and perhaps most obvious, is students will likelyimprove their own understanding of topics in the previous course [1-3]. Second, instructors maygain a learning activity or aid that they can adopt in their future courses. Third, and perhaps mostbeneficial, is

Conference Session

ME Division 15: Grading Practices and Student Performance

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Patrick M Comiskey, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

opportunity topractice new concepts and expand their problem-solving capabilities in a low-stakesenvironment. Unfortunately, the importance of homework is often not impressed upon incomingfreshman as 56.7% of them report spending less than six hours per week working on homeworkduring their last year of high school, a behavior of which was sufficient since 97.5% had anaverage grade of an A or B [1]. The disconnect of earning good grades while not needing to putin meaningful work towards achieving them is a learned behavior which can harm students inhigher education, and it’s a difficult behavior to correct. The problem is exacerbated sinceassigned grades in high school are poor indicators of content knowledge because grades areawarded not just for

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Poster Session

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sandra Anstaett Metzler, The Ohio State University; Annie Abell, The Ohio State University; Russell K. Marzette Jr., The Ohio State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

appropriate for theirgoals and objectives [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].In this Work in Progress report, we describe the approach currently being utilized at OSU’sDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and report on the progress to date as wellas future plans. The approach used in this report began with an initial faculty workshop that wasused to generate discussion and solicit input to better understand the perceived strengths andweaknesses of the current curriculum, as well as assessing the perceived needs of the facultyregarding curriculum redesign.Following that initial workshop, a committee of department faculty working with a professionalfrom the University Teaching Center began the process of evaluating and renewing thecurriculum. The

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Poster Session

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Guenter Bischof, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences; Benjamin Blank; Annette Casey, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences; Bernhard Fuchs, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences; Luka Grbeš, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences; Elia Osti

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

experiments, the development of the experimental setupand experiences from first experiments.IntroductionAs we navigate through the ever-evolving educational landscape, the integration ofinterdisciplinary and hands-on learning experiences is increasingly recognized as crucial, notjust for those with a predisposition towards engineering disciplines, but for all students. Thispaper deals with an aspect of a state-funded project designed to introduce the principles oflightweight design to pupils at elementary, middle and high school level. Lightweight designis an intriguing field focusing on developing materials and structures that are both light andstrong, which is crucial in industries like aerospace, automotive, and renewable energy (see,e.g., [1, 2

Conference Session

ME Division 14: From M&Ms to Air Quality: Engaging Students in Energy and the Environment

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Shehla Arif, University of Mount Union

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

difficult subject. One of the known challenges in learningThermodynamics and Heat Transfer is the abstract nature of concepts [1]. Quantities such asamount of heat, rate of heat transfer, temperature can be measured but not seen. No wonder,people explained heat transfer as the movement of a physical substance called “caloric” until the19th century [2]. Understanding heat transfer requires cultivation of abstract thinking abilities:e.g., conduction occurs as a result of lattice vibrations and movement of free electrons;convection occurs due to molecular collisions and diffusion alongside the movement of themedium as a continuum; radiation results from intra-atomic energy transitions.Engineering students have an earlier exposure to classical

Conference Session

ME Division 15: Grading Practices and Student Performance

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jonathan Weaver-Rosen, Texas A&M University; Arkasama Bandyopadhyay, Texas A&M University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

hours. Thus, instructors are able to utilize their time and effort to update lecture content,develop novel assessments, and devise active learning strategies to make the classroom moreengaging.Literature ReviewThe idea of automatic grading itself is not new. Publications from the 1960s discuss the use ofautomatic grading for programming assignments to manage growing class sizes [1-2]. Sincethen, many automatic grading tools have been introduced for various purposes including, but notlimited to, programming assignments [3-7]. Autograders have the potential to increase studentmotivation [8-9], enhance teaching and tutoring sessions [9-10], and improve student perceptionof the course [9]. However, developing autograders can be challenging since

Conference Session

ME Division 4: Broadening Participation and Building Resilience

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Siu Ling Leung, Pennsylvania State University; Christopher John Greer, The Pennsylvania State University; Margaret L. Byron, Pennsylvania State University; Bladimir Alvarado Ramos; Reuben H Kraft, Pennsylvania State University; Angela Dawn Lesko; Catherine G. P. Berdanier, The Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

providing engineering solutions that prioritizecustomer needs, with considerations on inclusion, justice, and belonging.1. IntroductionIt is becoming increasingly important for engineering students to develop awareness ofindividual differences, acknowledge human-centered values, and cultivate a belonging mindsetthroughout their engineering education. In this work, we define diversity broadly, encompassingawareness of human differences in social, cultural, economic, environmental, historical, andability aspects. Engineers should recognize that equal opportunities for individuals from diversebackgrounds are essential for creating sustainable solutions. World-leading companies havehighlighted the importance of the above criteria. Annie Jean-Baptiste

Conference Session

ME Division 12: Innovative Approaches to Thermodynamics

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Emmanuel K. Glakpe, Howard University; Aavash Budhathoki, Howard University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

equations becomes a cumbersome task often deterringstudents from understanding and applying these concepts to get a broader understanding of theirsignificance in engineering applications.The use of computational tools and software has been theorized to greatly simplify numericalanalysis while also being able to graphically visualize output for further analysis [1].Furthermore, the benefits of using computer‐assisted tools to improve student learning arewidely tested, in laboratories [2, 3, 4, 5], and learning teaching [6, 7, 8, 9]. In order to enhancethe teaching and learning of thermodynamics, the approach to teaching thermodynamics hasprogressed from the traditional method to a more sophisticated method such as using computertechnology and

Conference Session

ME Division 12: Innovative Approaches to Thermodynamics

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew Schell, United States Naval Academy; Andrew N Smith, United States Naval Academy

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

multiple instructors. Along with instructor surveys, data is presented based onfinal exam performance that highlights the value of a graphical approach.Background - Graphical Approaches to ThermodynamicsIntroductory engineering thermodynamics courses typically begin by providing two approachesto finding thermodynamics properties: the ideal gas law and property tables. Although notionalillustrations of thermodynamic processes and cycles on pressure-volume and temperature -entropy diagrams are common, obtaining thermodynamic properties graphically is notemphasized. For example,well established texts [1] and [2] use simplified phase diagrams tographically illustrate and explain cycle analysis, however they only introduce graphical methodsto obtain

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Poster Session

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rachmadian Wulandana, State University of New York at New Paltz; Graham Werner, State University of New York at New Paltz; Brandon Gardner, State University of New York at New Paltz

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

and lectures for the Division of Engineering Programs at SUNY New Paltz. He primarily develops curriculum for mechanical engineering laboratory courses, and is interested in promoting STEM education in local K-12 communities.Brandon Gardner, State University of New York at New Paltz ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025Integrated Wind Turbine Blade Design Education: Combining Theory, Simulation, CAD, and Experimental Testing 1. IntroductionRenewable energy is becoming an increasingly popular source of electricity due to its eco-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. For instance, in October 2023, GovernorKathy Hochul announced the nation's largest-ever

Conference Session

ME Division 4: Broadening Participation and Building Resilience

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sarah Barbrow, University of Michigan; Leena N Lalwani, University of Michigan; Angela Violi, University of Michigan

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

in the United States[1]. This underrepresentation is particularly pronounced in engineering, where women havehistorically faced significant barriers to entry and advancement. According to the Bureau ofLabor Statistics, only 3% of practicing engineers were women in the 1970s compared toapproximately 16% in 2023 [2]. Figure 1 shows how noticeably engineering as a field has agreater gender disparity, with women consistently making up far less of the workforce, comparedwith other occupational domains. In education, there is growth in the percentages of womengraduating with engineering degrees with current numbers hovering around 24% forundergraduate and 26% for graduate students across all areas of engineering, but the growth hasplateaued in the

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Poster Session

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Seyed Hamid Reza Sanei, Pennsylvania State University, Behrend College

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

. 1 2. Introduction:The landscape of engineering education is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by the needfor approaches that prioritize active engagement, critical thinking, and practical application ofknowledge. Traditional lecture-based instruction, while foundational, often limits opportunities forstudents to actively participate in the learning process, leading to gaps in conceptual understandingand retention. In response, innovative pedagogies such as the flipped classroom, project-basedlearning (PBL), Kolb Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) and peer learning have emerged, eachoffering unique advantages in fostering student-centered learning.The flipped classroom model emphasizes pre

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH) Poster Session

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jingru Benner, Western New England University; Michael J Rust, Western New England University; Raymond J. Ostendorf, Western New England University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)

, which focuses on the instructor’s delivery andconsiders the students merely the receiving end of the knowledge, active learning emphasize thestudents’ role in the process, and encourages them to think and learn actively, instead of justlistening. Bonwell and Eison in 1991 [1] defined that instructional activities involving students indoing things and thinking about what they are doing as techniques to promote active learning. Abroad range of activities can be considered active learning techniques under this definition [2].Some are simple and easy implement. For instance, the students may engage in ”think-pair-share”[3], where the instructor raises a question, ask the students to think about it, and then they arepaired with peers to discuss