Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching: Statics

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Christine Valle, Georgia Institute of Technology; Sue Rosser, San Francisco State University; Janet H Murray, Georgia Tech; Wendy C. Newstetter, Georgia Institute of Technology; John D. Leonard II, Georgia Institute of Technology; Laurence J. Jacobs, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

students, test versus control sectionsIt is very important to understand that these are preliminary results, and that within the overallcourse experience, the intervention is very small (less than 25% of the homework problems aredone online, and the homework grade is only 5% of the overall class grade – see Appendix A fordetails) so it can only have minimal effect on overall class grade. Also, not every statics topic isaddressed in the software as of yet (as stated earlier, both 3D and V-M diagrams are stillmissing). Still, those results are encouraging and we plan to continue the analysis as the softwareis finally fully developed. We also plan to probe deeper into gender and ethnicity information.We are encouraged that our intended target

Conference Session

Teaching Statics

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey L. Newcomer, Western Washington University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

-librium equations. For continuity, these two sections were given the same problems, but the ex-ams were carefully controlled, so students in the second class did not have access to exams fromthe first class.Linear regressions were conducted to see if any of the factors had statistically significant correla-tions with the grades on the final exam in the three areas. The plan was to use the model shownbelow: Page 22.974.4 y = μ + β1x1 + β2x2 + β3x3 + β4x4 + β5x5 + β6x6 + β7x7 + β8x8 + β9x9 + εwhere the terms are: μ is the grand mean βi are the regression coefficients x1 is the student GPA (normalized 0 to 1) x2 is WWU physics (0) or CC

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching: Mechanics

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffery S. Thomas, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Richard H. Hall, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Timothy A. Philpot, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Douglas R. Carroll, Missouri University of Science & Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

instructor’soffice. This office is adjacent to the laboratory, and the system was designed so that the camerascan be quickly repositioned for an experiment, while still being controlled and monitored fromthe office, and then moved back into the office. A combination of electrical, audio-visual, andmusical-instrument hardware was used to suspend the cameras, lights, and monitors. Certaincomponents from Pearl Drums and Gibraltar Hardware were found to be cheaper than similaraudio-visual hardware, still allowed for rigid but flexible positioning, and fit commonly availableEMT tubing and strut channel. The authors plan to use this setup for future recordings, and otherstudios on the campus are being modeled after it

Conference Session

Teaching Mechanics

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joseph J. Rencis, University of Arkansas; Hartley T. Grandin Jr, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

proposed approach has been used for small design homework problemsand the design projects discussed in this paper. The proposed approach can also be used infollow up design and non-design courses that includes advanced mechanics of materials,machine design, structural analysis, structural design, etc. The first author and other instructorshave observed that students who have used the proposed approach are more prepared to solvemore complex design problems than previously considered in the follow up machine designcourse than students who were not exposed to the proposed approach. Future research willassess how successful the proposed approach compares to the previous approach in terms ofstudent learning. Furthermore, we plan to assess how the

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching: Mechanics

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David B. Lanning, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

degree programs or leaving theuniversity (and perhaps higher education altogether). The prerequisite skills exam implementedin solid mechanics appears to offer such an indicator. The author plans to continueimplementing the exam in future semesters and monitor student outcomes during the final Page 22.88.11exams.Prerequisite skills exam learning materialsThe author is happy to provide any educator with the learning materials described earlier in thispaper. The four documents include the (1) list of skills, (2) practice exam, (3) final solutions,and (4) worked solutions to the practice exam, and are the same documents provided to all

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

over plans and thought processes. I realizenobody will be holding our hand in the „real world‟, but for now we are still in training; nomember or my tam felt extremely confident about what we were turning in at the end.” Theseand other honest comments by the students will be extremely helpful for future students workingon the project.Students were concerned about the amount of time spent on all the assignments for the course,with 78% of the students admitting they worked more than 3 hours per week, while 22% saidthey spent 2-3 hours per week.Aware of the world comments:When asked if the students felt that participating in this project increased their awareness ofworld issues and global needs, the outcome was 83% yes and 17% no. “This