Conference Session

Innovative Mechanics Education Programs and Projects

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James Morgan, Texas A&M University; Luciana Barroso, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

at least 2 possible designs and make a recommendation in their final report.This approach forces the students to think about the significance of their results, rather thanblindly crunching numbers.It is essential that the instructor balance the student need (or desire) for explicit instructions withthe learning which comes from struggling with: • Choosing the best approach/theory to tackle the problem; • Making appropriate assumptions; and • Evaluating (often conflicting) results.It also should be emphasized that the link between the theories and concepts presented in classand the real world projects is not obvious to the students! Some students fail to see anyconnection between the homework, exams & the projects even when

Conference Session

Innovative Mechanics Education Programs and Projects

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Phillip Cornwell, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Charles Farrar, Los Alamos National Laboratory; Peter Avitabile, University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is a Registered Professional Engineer with a BS, MS and Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering and a member of ASEE, ASME and SEM. Page 12.1411.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2007 The Dynamics Summer School – A Unique Educational ProgramThe Los Alamos Dynamics Summer School (LADSS), which is funded by Los Alamos NationalLaboratory (LANL), is a unique nine-week program that was initiated in 2000 to focus a selectgroup of upper level undergraduate students and first year graduate students on the broad fieldsof engineering dynamics with specific