A Progressively Open Ended Laboratory To Promote Active Learning
- Conference
- Location
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Chicago, Illinois
- Publication Date
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June 18, 2006
- Start Date
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June 18, 2006
- End Date
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June 21, 2006
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies
- Page Count
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11
- Page Numbers
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11.100.1 - 11.100.11
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--787
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/787
- Download Count
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1321
Paper Authors
David Pape Central Michigan University
David A. Pape is a professor of Mechanical Engineering and serves as Engineering Programs Coordinator in the Engineering and Technology Department at Central Michigan University. Prior to joining CMU, from 1998-2004 he was professor and chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Saginaw Valley State University. From 1989 to 1998 he was a faculty member at Alfred University, where he served as Department Chair from 1995-1998. Dr. Pape earned a B.S. degree with distinction from Clarkson University in 1980, an M.S. from the University of Akron, and a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1988. He has been elected into the Chi Epsilon, Tau Beta Pi, and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
Abstract
The mechanical engineering laboratory sequence at Central Michigan University consists of two courses in the junior year and one in the first semester of the senior year. One of the goals of this sequence is to prepare students for testing senior design prototypes in the second semester of their final year. The first course in the sequence, solid mechanics laboratory, is described in this paper. This course is structured so that students progress from “cookbook” experiences to somewhat more open ended labs and finally to a significant experimental design process. In the first series of six straightforward “cookbook” labs, students have one week in which to perform pre-lab work, do the experiment, and write a short technical report documenting their results. Next, there are two somewhat more open ended “two week labs” where students extend the knowledge and skills obtained earlier in the course to answering slightly more difficult experimental questions, with slightly increased reporting requirements. Finally, the last quarter of the semester is devoted to a four week experimental design laboratory, requiring students to formulate a question, select equipment, construct or modify an apparatus, carry out the experiment, write a formal report and give an oral presentation.
This paper provides a detailed description of the course, including examples of experiments, and discusses how it promotes active learning, introduces lifelong learning concepts, fosters teamwork, increases communication skills, and prepares students for further laboratory courses or experimental activities. It is found that by providing increasingly open ended experiences, students become actively engaged in the laboratory experience, and exhibit a high level of satisfaction with the course.
Introduction
The EC 2000 accreditation criteria require that an institution have in place a comprehensive outcomes assessment program to ensure the quality and continuous improvement of the educational process1. Program outcomes are in essence statements of the skills, knowledge, and behaviors that are attained by the time students graduate from a program. Although all of the eleven “a-k” program outcomes specified in the criteria are important in laboratory courses, at least three have particular bearing: b. an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data. d. an ability to function in multidisciplinary teams. g. an ability to communicate effectively.
In the newly developed mechanical engineering program at Central Michigan University, these program outcomes are integrated throughout the required laboratory courses.
Laboratory Sequence
After their initial exposure in the freshman and sophomore years to experimental techniques in introductory chemistry and physics courses, students are prepared for engineering laboratory experiences. The mechanical engineering laboratory sequence at
Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2006, American Society for Engineering Education
Pape, D. (2006, June), A Progressively Open Ended Laboratory To Promote Active Learning Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--787
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