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

AC 2007-42: THE DYNAMICS SUMMER SCHOOL – A UNIQUE EDUCATIONALPROGRAMPhillip Cornwell, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Phillip Cornwell is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1989 and his present interests include structural dynamics, structural health monitoring, and undergraduate engineering education. Dr. Cornwell has received an SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award in 1992, and the Dean’s Outstanding Teacher award at Rose-Hulman in 2000.Charles Farrar, Los Alamos National Laboratory Chuck Farrar has 25 years experience as a technical staff member, project leader, and team leader

Conference Session

Innovative Teaching Techniques in Mechanics

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rick Williams, East Carolina University; William Howard, East Carolina University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

-onexperiments and demonstrations. For many students, the concepts of vectors, particleequilibrium, and rigid body equilibrium can be difficult to comprehend. In order to improvecomprehension in these areas, we developed a single apparatus that provides for the operation ofat least five experiments relevant to the study of statics. These experiments are well-suited foreither laboratory studies or, due to the device’s portability, for in-class demonstrations.In this paper we present the complete design, including the bill of materials, assembly drawings,and assembly instructions for the apparatus. The apparatus is easily assembled from readilyavailable parts and materials, especially sturdy, easily expandable, and very affordable(approximate cost of

Conference Session

Improving Mechanics Courses

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Amir Rezaei, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona; Mariappan Jawaharlal, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona; Kyu-Jung Kim, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona; Angela Shih, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

students.The problems addressed by the hybrid courseThe ME department has addressed the failure problem in many different ways. One way was toprovide an additional one-unit Vector Statics Mechanics Laboratory, which was developed basedon the study on cooperative learning in engineering through academic excellence workshop [3].Under the cooperative learning environment, the students demonstrated significantly betterperformance in learning Vector Statics as noted in their final grade of 2.88 as compared with1.33 for those who only took Vector Dynamics [4]. In the laboratory, the students learnfundamental concepts of Vector Statics through teacher demonstrations, group projects &discussion, and additional exercises. However, it is a co-requisite to

Conference Session

Innovative Teaching Techniques in Mechanics

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rungun Nathan, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

under thirty students meeting for fifty minute period, threetimes a week during the fall semester. A total of three sections were taught in the fall thispast year. There were no laboratories as part of this class, though all the students had anengineering laboratory during their freshmen year in which they had built bridges frompopsicle sticks. This had made them aware of problems in statics in general. All studentshad a common final examination and there was no differentiation in grading for studentswho had challenges in the class.Typically most instructors pick a teaching strategy and continue to use this based onprevious experiences and successes they have had with this approach. The strategy isthen modified on an as needed basis, but

Conference Session

Internet Delivery of Mechanics Courses

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter Boyle, Saint Mary's University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

supplement. They were encouraged to read the supplement before the first day of lectures. About sixty interactive models and six animated screen videos prepared the student for self-test exercises. About ten hours were required for a student to assimilate the material in the software supplement, and the paper discusses the value of this time commitment. 7) The role of virtual laboratory exercises included in the ePAC is briefly described.IntroductionImprovements in online learning tools, evolving student demands and universal computer access,prompt the initiation of course delivery methods that challenge the hegemony of traditionalpresentation formats. The courses described here were not offered by distance delivery, but

Conference Session

Mechanics Division Poster Session

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Raghu Echempati, Kettering University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

-student interaction through assessment andreal-time feedback.Elahinia and Ciocanel5 presented a redevelopment method and process of the laboratoryexperiments for the Mechanics and Vibration Laboratory in which the objective was totransform the learning process from a subject-based learning to a problem-solvinglearning. Particular objective was to provide the students with more hands-on experienceand to challenge them by requesting the procedure for each laboratory experiment to bedesigned and carried out by each group of students. Their method was in line with theprogram objectives of their department.Integration of Concept Inventories is another method used by many researchers ingauging student knowledge. The commonly employed metrics (such as

Conference Session

Innovative Mechanics Education Programs and Projects

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jean Nocito-Gobel, University of New Haven; Gregory Broderick, University of New Haven; Samuel Daniels, University of New Haven; Michael Collura, University of New Haven; Richard Stanley, University of New Haven

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

Page 12.357.113. Nocito-Gobel, J., S. Daniels, M. Collura, and B. Aliane, “Project-Based Introduction to Engineering - aUniversity Core Course”, Proceedings, 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference andExposition, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 20 – 23, 2004.4. Holtzapple, M.T. and W.D. Reece, Foundations of Engineering, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2003.5. John Hopkins Virtual Laboratory, Bridge Designer, http://www.jhu.edu/~virtlab/virtlab.html.6. Col. S. Ressler, U.S. Military Academy, West Point Bridge Designer, http://bridgecontest.usma.edu7. Foundation Coalition Website:http://www.foundationcoalition.org/home/keycomponents/concept/introduction.html

Conference Session

What's New in the Mechanics of Materials?

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andrea Surovek, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

and Silverman’s categorizations7) that may not be engaged through a traditional lecture / homework format.When considering Bloom’s taxonomy, the traditional lecture, derivation, example, homeworkapproach (in the absence of a laboratory component) rarely elevates student cognition beyondlevel three of the taxonomy, application. Students learn basic concepts and are able to applythose concepts to typical textbook and exam problems. While there is no design component inteam project, it does require students to observe systems, determine and categorize the behaviorof the system (analysis), and begin the synthesis process by considering use, potential loadingconditions, material choice and aesthetics. This prepares students for