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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Benjamin Flores; Walter Fisher; Pablo Arenaz; Connie Della-Piana

students reported the lack of teaching strategiessupporting student learning and/or an academic culture withholding interactions withscience and engineering faculty until after completion of fundamental courses. Thesefindings support current and past recommendations for the reform of undergraduateeducation.6One curricular innovation that has promise for increasing students’ academic and socialintegration into the institution is the development and implementation of learningcommunities. In general, learning communities can be described as both curricular andorganizational innovations that “purposefully restructure the curriculum to link togethercourses or coursework” that supports coherence of instruction, material and assignmentsand increased

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Mark Plichta; Mary Raber

develop and implement an assessment plan that is strongly dependent on 'elective'courses, which may vary so dramatically from one student to another. As will be seen shortly, theentire Enterprise curriculum can be accommodated into any of the engineering (and non-engi-neering) degree programs through the appropriate use of the University General Education pro-gram, the major design requirement, and some of the technical, approved or free elective credits.It is also worth noting here that another curricular boundary condition has facilitated the imple-mentation of the Enterprise Program, namely the Common First-Year Engineering programrecently adopted by the College. All engineering students participate in the same curriculum dur-ing the first

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Elliot Douglas, University of Florida

a growing awareness of the need to introduce freshmen, who have declared engineeringas a major, to engineering concepts. In the traditional curriculum, the freshman year is devotedto sciences and humanities, with little, if any, engineering content. In response, a number ofapproaches have been developed, including engineering survey courses,1 freshman designcourses,2-6 and courses that focus on basic skills required of engineering students.7Of particular interest to this paper are efforts to created integrated curricula in the freshmanyear.8 These curricula attempt to integrate basic science (e.g. chemistry, physics, math) withengineering. The approach may involve individual courses, blocks of courses, or an entirefreshman curriculum

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Terry Derossett; Steven Nesbit; Scott Hummel

materials, mechanical design, manufacturing, thermo-fluids and instrumentationamong others. All too often, students compartmentalize their courses, failing to see therelationship between topics taught in different courses. In an effort to reduce thiscompartmentalization and increase overall knowledge and skill integration, a multi-courseproject was developed. The project requires the students to design, analyze, manufacture,instrument, and evaluate a load cell. The courses directly involved in the project are MechanicalDesign, Manufacturing, and Instrumentation, although many other courses were indirectlyinvolved. These three courses are taken concurrently during the first semester of the junior year.Working in groups of two or three, students

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Michael Ropp; Steven Hietpas

laboratory exercises. One such redesign, currently beingsupported under the Adaptation and Implementation track of the NSF’s CCLI program, is thesubject of this paper. An existing undergraduate “electric machines” course has been convertedinto an “EMEC systems” course in which power generation, power processing, and end-useequipment are integrated. A "just-in-time" strategy has been adapted and implemented into theEMEC course. Of particular interest is the need to provide students with end-to-end instructionon the analysis and design steps followed in the development of an electric drive system.I. IntroductionPower electronic devices have enabled unprecedented control over and flexibility of EMEC, andbecause of their advantages such devices have

Collection

2001 Annual Conference

Authors

William Mueller; Philip Pritchard

selectively de-emphasized, directing student attention to the essentials of problemformulation and interpretation. The approach integrates Mathcad’s many pedagogical advantageswith the accessibilty, flexibility, and richness of the Web.I. Introduction: The MathSoft Learning SiteThe ubiquity of the World-Wide Web has brought both new opportunities and new concerns tothe teaching of the undergraduate engineering curriculum. Indeed, the Web has forced a re-examination of the curriculum itself. Using the Web has some obvious advantages—in terms ofavailability, inter-connectivity, and access to rich sources of data and reference information. Onthe other hand, spurious and distracting content, and the difficulties of integrating open-endedinstructional

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Nathan Richardson; Carl White

byindustrial partners. The research projects are designed to be consistent with the mission of thecenter and the university. Although the described training modules are specific to the microwavetechnology curriculum at Morgan, similar modules may be developed and integrated within anABET approved curriculum.This paper will describe the evolution and development of COMSARE’s specialized training andresearch, the organizational structure of the center, the development of partnerships, itsrecruitment process and current statistics, and the future of engineering training andmanagement.I. IntroductionThe information revolution has created an intensely competitive global marketplace that requiresan ethnically diverse workforce. The members of this workforce

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Regina Zmich; Thomas Wolff

American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright  2001, American Society for Engineering Education agriculture & natural resources.2 I learned strategies and skills to promote my academic success.3 The class enhanced my personal and professional development.4 The class provided an orientation to my college, the University, and collegiate life.5 The class increased my awareness and use of campus resources.6 The class helped prepare me for the academic rigor of my curriculum.7 I have developed linkages with other ROSES students.8 I participated in activities that enhanced the relationship between my residence

Collection

2001 Annual Conference

Authors

William Culbreth

mechanical measurements as a part of their curriculum. There is anincreasing demand for mechanical engineers to work with microcontrollers for automated dataacquisition and control. A microcontroller applications course was developed at the Universityof Nevada, Las Vegas, to meet this need.I. IntroductionEngineering curricula change with the needs of local and regional industry. During the pastseveral years, the mechanical engineering department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegashas been contacted by local companies and government agencies to assist in the development ofproducts that require the integration of sensors and actuators with microcontrollers. Theseprojects are often ideal for senior design, however, undergraduate mechanical

Collection

2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Katherine Liapi

Session #2306 Innovative Instruction of Computer Graphics Katherine A. Liapi The University of Texas at AustinAbstractFor over 20 years fundamental and applied research from various disciplines has beeneffectively integrated into Computer Graphics resulting in developments that undoubtedlyhave had an important impact on the way Architectural Engineering is taught. Courses onComputer Graphics that have replaced the instruction of Descriptive Geometry in mostArchitectural Engineering curricula, are mainly focused on methods for the communicationof knowledge and information about the design

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

George Homsy

isboth an interdisciplinary and interprofessional subject, constituting one of the most general andimportant subjects in the undergraduate curriculum. Not only is it a fundamental subject, but italso provides essential physical understanding and methodology in many emerging fields andadvanced technologies such as advanced transport systems, the processing of novel and exoticmaterials, semiconductor processing, global environmental modeling and protection, improvedenergy extraction and use, processing of chemicals into new products, atmospheric processes,improved artificial organs and devices for the treatment of disease, and many others. Knowledgeof the principles of fluid mechanics and the ability to solve fluid mechanics problems are acritical

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Kenneth Kelmer; James Thrower; Larry Silverberg; Scott Kiefer

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright  2001, American Society for Engineering Educationelectrical engineering undergraduate majors at the time they take their first introductory controlscourses. Electrical engineering students have experience building circuits, and they are familiarwith the systems approach. Non-electrical engineering students do not have experience witheither. We suggest that the difficulties facing non-electrical engineering students stem fromthese differences in background. In this paper, two curriculum modifications were implemented in an attempt to overcomethese deficiencies of background. First, six laboratory experiments

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Dennis Hromin; Sven Esche

ofTechnology. In this curriculum, the recent nationwide trend of enhancing traditional lecture-basedcourses with a design spine and a laboratory experience that propagates through the entirecurriculum is acknowledged. At the same time, it is recognized that the incorporation of design andlaboratory components into all engineering courses places a significant strain on the spatial,temporal and fiscal resources of the institute. Therefore, new concepts for the implementation ofaffordable integrated experimental and design laboratories have to be developed in order toaccommodate the anticipated enrollment. These laboratories must allow for the required studentthroughput using the limited existing laboratory space without compromising the educational

Collection

2001 Annual Conference

Authors

George Seaward

students to “design and build a prototype of a four-wheel, singleseat, off-road recreational vehicle intended for sale to the non-professional weekend off-road enthusiast.” [2] (See Figures 1and 2, above) The competition requires thesubmission of a design report and a cost report. Static judging includes scores forengineering design and penalties for safety violations. Dynamic events includeAcceleration, Top Speed, Braking; Land Maneuverability; DeepWater Maneuverability;Power Pull; Suspension and Traction; and an Endurance Race.As part of the required curriculum for a major in mechanical engineering, students at theUnited States Military Academy are required to take a two-course sequence consisting ofa course in automotive power plants and a

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Jack Lesko; Eric Pappas

engineering curricula.Unfortunately, many of these topics have not yet been woven into the technical curricula andmay have students wondering why they are learning these skills, and how they are supposed toapply them in an academic or professional setting. Some educators have begun to study and write about integrating into the curriculumpersonal development topics such as perception,7 interpersonal skills and creativity, 8,9 andreflection.10 These more esoteric topics, however, are not yet uniformly considered valuableenough to include in many university engineering curricula. One recent effort to teach personalskills is taking place at Sherbrooke University in Quebec.11 Sherbrooke has completelyrethought and revised its mechanical

Collection

2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Larry Williamson; William Drake

qualification runsuccessfully but lost a drive chain on the second run. The second year a portion of the design wascompleted in an introductory design class. The class, working in teams, was able to develop asuccessful dual range drive system that allowed high torque for difficult obstacles and high speedfor flat stretches. They were able to utilize the mechanics/statics that learned in a previouscourse.The race is used as an integral part of courses at other institutions. Pittsburg State University inPittsburg, Kansas utilizes the race as a central part of their design curriculum. Each team of, from5 to 6 students in the class, is required to design and build a buggy for the competition. This, plusthe sponsorship of are industry, has resulted in some

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Lynn Nored; David Compton

students signed a licenseagreement with the university that provides a means for profits to be shared with the engineeringdepartment. Along with the university, the State of Oklahoma helped these young engineers.They benefited from established technology commercialization centers, grants, and cooperativelegislation created to keep technologies and skilled workers in the state.The success of this project can serve as an example for universities wishing to try an informalprogram. With a flexible curriculum and a supportive environment, entrepreneurship can flourisheven without a fully dedicated academic program.I. BackgroundOklahoma Christian is a fully accredited private university offering standard degrees in liberalarts subjects, education, music

Collection

2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Stephen Stafford; Rosa Gomez; Daniela Castaneda; Connie Della-Piana

unfortunately,minimizing their utilization of academic support activities.Findings support that efforts to foster academic and social integration are especiallyimportant for commuters 1. A sense of community plays an important role in retention.Campus integration can be achieved by providing students with an academic and socialenvironment that enhances learning and various opportunities to connect with others. TheProceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright  2001, American Society for Engineering Education Page 6.979.2congruence of the SEM core curriculum lends itself

Collection

2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Enno Koehn

for a basic level of competency in engineering12. However, county and cityengineers believe that a 4-year degree is adequate5. Nevertheless, it is reported that students tendto compartmentalize courses, treating each subject in isolation from concepts developed in othercourses. The challenge to engineering faculty, therefore, may be to integrate knowledge so thatstudents and graduates can perform in a multidisciplinary and complex environment1.III. Students Directly Involved with ProjectsAs a segment of a continuing review of factors related to the curriculum, a survey instrumentwas distributed to students enrolled in required senior and typical construction related graduatecourses offered by the Civil Engineering Department of Lamar

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

John Steele

PowerPoint.This experiment was followed by discussions of curriculum development and howmaterials from the workshop could be integrated into the high school classroom. This ledto a lively discussion of the need for hands-on materials and activities that allow thestudents to be participants in the learning process.Wednesday afternoon was used to introduce another research project called theBatmobile. Professor King talked about the use of such vehicles in the investigation andmapping of abandoned uranium mines in Colorado.Thursday was devoted to an introduction to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and its use asan engineering design tool, for understanding stress and deformation in mechanical andstructural systems. Professor Graham Mustoe conducted a lively

Collection

2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Marilyn Smith

traditional methods utilized in other corecourses, an aspect of Hawthorne effect is apparent when new methods are introduced at such anadvanced level in the curriculum. It is noted that this effect was only obvious in the requiredcourse; student opinions on the elective course did not reflect the same attitudes. This may be Page 6.1050.4 Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2001, American Society for Engineering Educationbecause the elective class was taken only by students who were learning-oriented, as opposed tothe required course, which

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Berrisford Boothe; Todd Watkins; John Ochs

approach to curricular integration includes pre-college outreach, freshmanprojects, curricula support, capstone projects and graduate projects. The educationalenvironment includes a Campus Center for Entrepreneurial projects; an entire building designedto support students project teams. This paper will discuss the design and implementation ofthese programs, our assessment and evaluation methods, lessons learned and future plans forimproving this environment.1. IntroductionThe engineer as inventor is certainly not new. Many innovative products that we enjoy todaywere invented and created by engineers, but what about the engineer as entrepreneur? Textbookauthors write and students study engineering design, concurrent engineering and design in abroad

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Ahmad Ibrahim

Session 2247 Economical Integration of Virtual Laboratories in EET Curricula A. M. Ibrahim DeVry Institute of Technology Toronto, Ontario, CanadaAbstractVirtual Laboratories provide interactive environment for creating and conducting simulatedexperiments. Integrating virtual labs into an EET curriculum has the potential of enhancingclassroom delivery by establishing a timely connection between theory and practice. Virtual labscan also help institutions to cope with budget constraints without sacrificing quality.Nevertheless

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

William Miller; Stephen Lombardo; Christa Weisbrook; Patrick Tebbe

thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and thermal systems courses. TheTHERMOVIEW software is being designed within the LabVIEW programming environment. Itis hoped that by making use of the visual environment of THERMOVIEW and LabVIEW thatstudents will gain greater insights into the processes involved and the flavor, if not the actualfeel, of how systems behave in the real world. The purpose of this paper and presentation will beto provide an overview of the project to date and a description of current evaluation results.I. Introduction Advances in technology and pedagogy imply that the engineering curriculum must beperiodically reformed or supplemented in order to provide the best education possible forstudents. Particular shortcomings must be

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

N.J. Salamon; Renata Engel

; Exposition Copyright  2001, American Society for Engineering EducationBibliography1. Sharp, Julie E., Harb, John N., and Terry, Ronald E. Combining Kolb Learning Styles and Writing to Learn inEngineering Classes. Journal of Engineering Education, vol. 86, no. 2, 1997, pp. 93-101.2. Wilczynski, V. and Douglas, S. M. Integrating Design Across the Engineering Curriculum: A Report from theTrenches. Journal of Engineering Education, vol. 84, no. 3, 1995, pp. 235-240.3. Cottrell, D. S. and Ressler, S. J. Integrating Design Projects into an Introductory Course in Mechanics of Materials.1997 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings, ASEE, 1997, CD-ROM, Session 1268, Paper no. 2.4. Carroll, D. R. Integrating Design into the Sophomore and

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Teodora Shuman; Greg Mason

Session 1566 Short-Term Course Assessment, Improvement, and Verification Feedback Loop Teodora Rutar and Greg Mason Seattle UniversityAbstractAn assessment-improvement feedback process is presented for improving the students’classroom learning experience. The new process uses multiple short surveys during the term toidentify strengths and weaknesses in a course curriculum and in an instructors teaching style.The surveys questions used in the process are derived directly from course educationalobjectives. The advantage of the new process is

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

William J. Daughton

graduate program. Thechallenge has been how to present this broad set of material in an integrated fashion that createsa cohesive picture of what technical managers face in the work place. To address this challenge,EMEN 5010 has been built around the framework of the Baldrige National Quality programCriteria for Performance Excellence. The seven Baldrige categories provide the broad scopenecessary for such a course while the integrated nature of the criteria addresses the need for acohesive and integrated picture. Student response to this approach has been positive with respectto the format, presentation, and value of the course.BackgroundThe Lockheed Martin Engineering Management Program (the Program) is in its 13th year ofoffering a Master of

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Stephen Horan

in the vertical direction based upon numerically integrating the velocity.These derived parameters are developed to expand the instruction into mathematics andatmospheric measurements. Throughout the program, there is a constant dialog between theprogram staff and the teachers on how the measurements, computers, and analysis techniques canbe used in their curriculum and how other subject areas can be brought in.III. ResultsThere are two types of results found in a project like this: the technical success of themeasurement system and the experience of the students and teachers. The technical success iseasier to quantify. The experiential success is more anecdotal but valuable nonetheless.The technical success is measure by having each group

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Mohamad Ahmadian

animportant step for small departments in developing an innovative interdisciplinary curriculum forthe assessment of student academic achievement. This cooperative effort of engineeringtechnology programs provides students the opportunity to develop computer related projects forboth software and hardware applications.2. Course Objective Written, oral, and presentation skills are critical in all professional fields, includingengineering technology. An integral part of most technically-based jobs involves communicatingwith vendors, customers, managers, technicians, and engineers1. Ludlow and Schultz (1994) statethat the ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, is an importantskill that all technical employees

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2001 Annual Conference

Authors

Thomas Hulbert; Robert B. Angus

required.JIT includes all components of educational practice: curriculum, instruction, assessment, andteaching. The curriculum is comprised of an integrated sequence of nodes and related topics thatincorporate competencies.Educational change occurs at the node (Just-in-Time where the mathematics, physics,technologies, and related competencies are presented to the student). The content of a node issimilar to the description of a topic within a course but at a more detailed level; it is presented inbehavioral terms. Nodes introduce relevant knowledge, skills, and attitudes via combinations oflecture, computer simulation, written documents or other traditional or modern methodology.Student participation in these related activities reinforces their