Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching: Mechanics

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jim M. Papadopoulos, University of Wisconsin - Stout; Christopher Papadopoulos, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus; Vincent C. Prantil, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

of Conventional Objections to Using FEA in Traditional ClassesWe open with an analogy, meant to caricature typical justifications for not teaching FEA practicewithin the core disciplinary courses:One can imagine a complicated and expensive mechanical calculator (ca. 1950) beingadvertised as a major advance in engineering. Structural calculations could be performed viarelaxation methods by filling out a series of tables according to precise rules. But students wouldneed many hours of training to learn to operate the calculator, lay out a particular type ofcalculation, and arrive at a result. And they probably wouldn’t have access to such an expensivetool in their careers if their eventual employer did not provide it. So if presented with an

Conference Session

Teaching Dynamics

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brianno Coller, Northern Illinois University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

AC 2011-1384: FIRST LOOK AT A VIDEO GAME FOR TEACHING DY-NAMICSBrianno Coller, Northern Illinois University Brianno Coller is an Associate Professor of Mechanical engineering. He started his research career ap- plying fairly deep mathematical ideas to gain insight into how complex physical and engineering systems work. His work was theoretical and somewhat abstract. Since then, his research has evolved toward studying a different type of complex system: how students learn and become excited about engineering. In this endeavor, Dr. Coller is mostly a ”nuts & bolts” practitioner, an engineer, and an experimentalist

Conference Session

Teaching Mechanics

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dean Q. Lewis, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College; Mary Lynn Brannon, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

throughout their college experience, including earlyin their undergraduate educational career. It is important to teach future engineers to be creativeand flexible, along with being curious and imaginative.1Traditionally, many engineering majors will include an Introduction to Design course forfreshmen to give them an understanding of the engineering design process which includes one ormore projects that the students work on in teams. Additionally, many students take a Strength ofMaterials course (a.k.a. Mechanics of Materials) at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College in thesophomore or possibly junior year. This course provides basic theory and application of therelationship between loading conditions on a body and the resulting stresses and strains