Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

David A. Rogers

certain technology brings to society, or it might emphasize the problems technology could ordoes create for society. A fundamental problem for either approach is that of establishing a basisfor making value judgments. Commonly this is done using arguments rooted in the idea of thecommon good.COURSE CONTENTThe technology and society course might be taught as an approved social science course as partof the university's general education program. It provides a vehicle in which the instructor and Proceedings of the 2007 ASEE North Midwest Sectional Conferencestudents analyze the behaviors and consequences of technology as viewed as a human endeavor,consider the structures and constraints created by the technological enterprise, and

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Qiong Zhang; Dana Johnson; James R. Mihelcic

Interdisciplinary Research for Graduate Education in Sustainability Qiong Zhang1, Dana Johnson2, James R. Mihelcic1 1 Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2School of Business and Economics Sustainable Futures Institute Michigan Technological UniversityAbstractAs the world faces increasing threats to the long-term health of the environment, society, andeconomy, sustainability has emerged and now is gathering the attention of undergraduate andgraduate education across many campuses in the U.S. Colleges and universities are beginning toincorporate the concept of sustainability in new curricula. Research experiences in

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Kurtis G. Paterson

suggest there aremore than 100,000 podcast series, up from just a few hundred three years ago (see Figure1).2 While the technology offers exciting educational possibilities, university faculty arestill ruminating about its use in learning.This paper introduces the integration of enhanced-podcast episodes into a traditionalIntroduction to Environmental Engineering class. The objectives of this Podcast-Enhanced Learning (PEL) research were to provide:• guidance for the creation of such podcasts• pedagogical evidence supporting best use of such podcasts within a university coursesetting, and• student assessment of such efforts.2. Podcast DesignThe enhanced-podcast creation process is a multi-step workflow. Major steps includemedia design, sound

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

John L. Irwin

Teaching Design Engineering Technology: Experiential Learning Activities John L. Irwin, EdD Michigan Technological UniversityAbstractThis research shows that experiential learning using problem-based simulation activitieswas perceived by students and teachers as a valuable tool to use in design engineeringand in the education of CAD/Drafting students. The simulation activities offer manyadvantages to the user in visualizing results and being able to predict more accuratelyanswers to problems. Results are shared from action research projects involving highschool design/CAD students, university workshop participants, and university

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Valerie J. Fuchs; James R. Mihelcic

Engineering Education for International Sustainability: Curriculum Design Under the Sustainable Futures Model Valerie J. Fuchs and James R. Mihelcic Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI 49931Introduction: The complete description of this research can be found in the Proceedings of theAmerican Society of Engineering Education’s 5th Annual Global Colloquium (Fuchs andMihelcic, 2006). Further data analysis and conclusions are found in Fuchs (2007). Note that thisassessment is not an assessment of ABET requirements, although the programs, as part of

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

K. R. Haapala; M. J. Hutchins; J. L. Rivera; V. Kumar; A. R. Clarke; T. D. Eatmon; R. A. Harris; M. H. Durfee; J. R. Mihelcic; D. R. Shonnard; J. W. Sutherland

(Mihelcicet al., 2003). However, educators are struggling to incorporate sustainability into pedagogicalactivities, including those at the graduate level. An international survey concluded engineeringstudents are familiar with environmental issues, but that a knowledge gap exists for legislation,policy, and standards (Azapagic, Perdan, & Shallcross, 2005). Glavič (2006) reported thatsustainability is often a topic covered in other courses, but not a stand-alone subject, worldwide.Part of the struggle in educating engineers in sustainability is due to the lack of an operatingdefinition that has widespread acceptance and offers useful strategies for research and for policy.Discussions of sustainability within and between the disciplines often

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Amber J. Kemppainen; Alex S. Mayer; Jacqueline E. Huntoon

development in order to protect the environment for future generations” (Eide, et al., 2002). But how do we include the concepts of public service and sustainability into early engineering education? At Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech), first-year engineering students are preparing for the future by learning to incorporate sustainability into their overall design decisions. Through completion of integrated coursework and design projects, students are learning to consider the economic, environmental and social impacts of a problem in order to create sustainable solutions. These activities coincide with Michigan Tech’s emphasis on sustainability in both educational and research activities (see www.sfi.mtu.edu, for example). Michigan

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

William S. Helton; Michele H. Miller; Robert Pastel

Barriers, Bridges, and the Trolls under the Bridge: Issues in Human Factors Education for Engineers and Others William S. Helton, Michele H. Miller, and Robert Pastel Michigan Technological University Houghton, MichiganAbstractHuman Factors (HF) is the scientific discipline concerned with the interactions amonghumans and built systems. HF requires the knowledge of both human experts(psychology) and machine experts (for example, computer science and mechanicalengineering). In this paper, we will present our observations of teaching HF from theperspective of a psychologist, a mechanical engineer, and a computer scientist. We willdiscuss our observations in

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Yue Li; Qiong Zhang

A Framework for Incorporating Sustainability Design Concepts into Performance- Based Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering Education Yue Li and Qiong Zhang Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Sustainable Futures Institute Michigan Technological University Houghton, Michigan 49931 Abstract: The objective of sustainability design for human and industrial systems is to ensure that humankind’s use of natural resources and cycles do not lead to diminished quality of life due either to losses in future economic opportunities

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Peter J. Cattelino; Lynn A. Artman; Susan Amato-Henderson; John B. Lehman; Brian Hannon

YES! Expo – Inspiring Youth to Pursue Education and Careers in Science and Engineering Peter J. Cattelino, Lynn A. Artman, Susan Amato-Henderson, John B. Lehman, and Brian G. Hannon Michigan Technological UniversityIntroductionOur nation faces a serious crisis of youth losing interest in Science, Technology, Engineering,and Math (STEM). Michigan and other technology and manufacturing centers have alreadysuffered significantly from this decline. Additionally, women and minorities are vastly under-represented in STEM fields. Until these trends are reversed, the nation will struggle to develop ahighly skilled and knowledgeable workforce for

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Zhanping You

institutions which have used DEM in the study of asphalt mixtures.Many researchers have used DEM in this area as well. The author has introduced theapplication of the DEM in graduate student projects at Texas A&M University –Kingsville (TAMUK) and Michigan Technological University (MTU) (You and Dai2006a). In Texas, five graduate students completed their master degree research projectsusing the DEM and finite element modeling simulation. In addition, several studentpapers have been prepared for publication. Two Ph.D. students and two postdoctoralresearchers at MTU are currently conducting further research to develop the DEM inasphalt mixtures so that a friendly user interface and functional predictive tool can beavailable.As part of the learning

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Richard Smith

Program – a program administered by the NSA that certifies post-secondary schools that offer courses conforming with US government training requirements • NSTISSC – National Security Telecommunications and Information Systems Security Committee – a multi-agency committee that originally developed the US Government standards for training information security professionals • CNSS – Committee on National Security Systems – the committee that replaced the NSTISSC and now publishes the training standards. • NSTISSI – NSTISSC Instructions – a standard “instruction” originally developed and published by the NSTISSC, and now under the purview of the CNSS.If an information security education program seeks to be

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Chinweike I. Eseonu

, Canada. He is interested in research on Knowledge and Fleet Management and on the effect of cultural norms on the Engineering Manager’s technology utilization, and leadership styles, among other factors. Contact: C. Eseonu, 105VKH, 1305 Ordean Court, Duluth Minnesota 55812; eseon001@d.umn.edu2007 ASEE North Midwest Section Conference, Educating Engineers for a Sustainable Future, September 20-22, 2007

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Matthew Roberts; Philip Parker; Christina Curras; Michael Penn; Max Anderson

public policy and appreciative of the sustainabilityof projects. A summary of the attributes of the ideal engineering that resulted from the brain-storming session follows: Ability to communicate orally and in written form in a manner appropriate for the in- tended audience. Understanding of local government operations and decision making– planning, engi- neering, financing, politics, procurement, education of public, etc. Ability to evaluate projects from a holistic perspective – environmental, ethical, aes- thetic, political, historical, social impact, technical needs, costs. Awareness of sustainability issues of projects. Ability to use engineering judgment - evaluation of reasonableness of answers

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Michael R. Penn

. Each member of the team presentsthe findings at a separate meeting. For example, if there are 18 students enrolled, six teams ofthree students would be formed. Three separate conferences of six students would be held,whereby one student from each of the six teams presents the team findings, and each studentgains exposure to all of the six remediation strategies in a meeting. Fifty percent of the assign-ment grade is based on the individual presentation skills, 25% is based on the research outline,and the remaining 25% is based on group peer evaluation of quality and quantity of individualeffort toward developing the research outline.The research outline includes: • Introduction of the technology, • History of the technology

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Michael P. Hennessey

as atype of modern system dynamics, in which CAD and animation are brought in for significantvisualization to enhance understanding of mechanical systems that incorporate motion as well asto appeal to a wide audience, some of whom may not be technically oriented. This paperdescribes such a course and its advantages. Sample student project work is shown thatemphasizes applied mathematical modeling, CAD modeling, modeling and simulation usingMATLAB® and Simulink®, and animation of specific scenarios of interest using SolidWorks®with the Animator add-on. Projects show-cased include: (1) the zero-friction skiingbrachistochrone problem, (2) the kinematic car with both front and rear wheel steering, (3) theN-pendulum chain approximation of a

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

P. B. Ravikumar

strategies and methods used in managingprojects and educating students on key topics ranging from design processes toengineering management are provided. Methods used to assess students’ performance asindividual team members and as project managers as well as their learning of differenttopics of importance are also discussed.INTRODUCTIONMechanical engineering majors of today are challenged with the need to acquire a broadand yet good level of knowledge of various topics that are both technical andmanagement related. The Senior Design Project course in the final semester beforegraduation needs to serve as the pathway and the proving ground for students todemonstrate their readiness to meet such a challenge in the workplace. To meet theseobjectives

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Michele H. Miller; Debra D. Charlesworth

Problem Solving Obstacles in the Research Lab: Perceptions of Graduate Students and Faculty Michele H. Miller and Debra D. Charlesworth Michigan Technological UniversityAbstractThe transition from dependent to independent learner is an important part of the graduate schoolexperience. The transition is overly bumpy for many students (and their faculty advisors). Thispaper describes a survey of faculty and graduate students administered at Michigan Tech.Twenty-two faculty and thirty-six graduate students from a variety of engineering and sciencedisciplines completed the surveys. The surveys asked respondents to rate the importance of avariety of factors to

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Michele H. Miller; Kari L. Jordan

associated with pocket protectors and a slide rule. Today’s engineersoffer an extensive wealth of knowledge in order to apply science, technology, mathematics andpractical experiences. An engineer can be described as a problem solver and designer. Theapplication of the design process results in the production and operation of useful products,processes and services. Engineering involves a broad spectrum of specialized subdisciplines thatfocus on issues associated with developing a specific kind of product, process or service, orusing a specific type of technology. Engineers design everything from rocking chairs to artificialorgans and prostheses. Becoming a successful engineer requires more than a love for math andscience. Because of the wide variety

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Tamer Ceylan

Educational Objectives (Accreditation Policies and Procedures, 2006) as “broad statements that describe the career and professional accomplishments that the program is preparing graduates to achieve”. Among other requirements, evidence of constituency input in objective setting, periodic evaluation of the objectives, and the process for evaluating the extent to which objectives are attained should receive special care. Objectives should be measurable. A process to review and update them should be in place. It is essential that results of evaluation are used to develop and improve the program outcomes. Criterion 3 on Program Outcome and Assessment is another common problem area. ABET defines Program Outcomes (Accreditation Policies and Procedures

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Qingli (Barbara) Dai

) tutorials were effectively used to learn NX. Specific parts of eachtutorial are assigned for learning the solid modeling skills. The design projects built theskills of what has been learned in tutorial assignments by modeling real mechanicalsystems.MTU hosted the Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education(PACE) Competition in CAD Methods class (MEEM 4403). The course final deignproject that comprises the team competition is the culmination of lab assignmentsperformed throughout the semester. Each team made a formal presentation to the PACEjudges to explain the design objectives, design features, features of the CAD model, andany issues related to working collaboratively on a team. The design itself was presentedusing screen

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Leonard Bohmann; Dana Johnson; Kris Mattila; Nilufer Onder; John Sutherland

; Engineering," "Circuits andInstrumentation," and "Thermodynamics & Fluid Mechanics." A design implementationexperience is also required that includes a choice from among several extremely product-designfocused courses. Creation of a separate SSE degree would free us from the restrictions associatedwith the existing BSE-core requirements and permit the curriculum to evolve to better addressthe educational needs associated with service systems engineering. This may include, forinstance, additional computer science courses within the curriculum. In addition to SSEcurriculum changes, it is also expected that we will transition the Center for SSE into a stand-alone Department within the COE.As a part of the grant requirements, dissemination and

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Nihad E. Daidzic; Vojin R. Nikolic

, constraints and material 52007 ASEE North Midwest Section Conference, Educating Engineers for a Sustainable Future, September 20-22, 2007 properties, and then analyze the state of stresses and deformations throughout the model. ¾ Touring mechanical and civil engineering laboratories. Touring electrical and computer engineering and technology laboratories. The thermal-fluids and materials testing laboratories were toured. During that time the students were able to see and understand to a good degree in what types of testing structural engineers as well as those engineers

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Paul J. Weber

applications and/or technologies that embodied thetheoretical class information. In order to do so, students were required to research topics of theirown choosing and then communicate their findings to their peers, thus developing “soft skills.”The other central objective was for students to analyze the engineering design process as a wholerather than focusing on one aspect without examining the broader consequences. By examiningthe physical materials used, potential societal benefits of the product, and the practices of themanufacturing/sales companies, students were to study the impacts of these decisions anddetermine which would be sustainable. Furthermore, these objectives were carried out in such amanner that encouraged sustainable learning.The

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

James E. Hertel; Amy J. Hamlin

of changing "General Engineering" to "Engineering Undeclared". As a result, the Fall2000 sample contains records under both. The BSE degree is a four year general engineeringdegree that is based on courses fundamental to all engineering disciplines and requires studentsto take selected courses within a traditional engineering discipline while also allowing them to Proceedings of the 2007 ASEE North Midwest Conference Copyright © 2007, American Society for Engineering Education -3-take a large number of elective courses. These elective courses may be used to earn a minor orcertificate (such as secondary

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Hetal Jasani

Developing an Innovative Mobile and Wireless Networks Course Hetal Jasani Assistant Professor School of Technology Michigan Technological UniversityAbstractAll over the world, mobile and wireless courses become increasingly popular in colleges(including community colleges) and universities. This paper discusses about developing theinnovative course of mobile and wireless networks using laboratory activities. It elaboratesinnovative projects that are suitable for laboratory work in network engineering (includingtechnology) curriculum. It explores both hardware and software components that are

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Robert A. Marlor

INFORMATIONRobert Marlor is an Associate Professor in the Engineering Technology Department at Northern MichiganUniversity. He received a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering) from Michigan TechnologicalUniversity in 2003. His current research interest is load testing panels for panel-constructed log structures. Proceedings of the 2007 ASEE North Midwest Sectional ConferenceAPPENDIX A - TRUSS DESIGN COMPETION RULESThe rules used for the truss design competition in the author’s Statics course for the wintersemester of 2007 are included on the following three pages:The object of this competition is to design and build a structure which is capable of supporting aload of 24 lb. in the center of a 35-inch clear span, with 1

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Kurtis G. Paterson

communities. Addressing these challenges through international researchexperiences integrated with sustainability and appropriate technology principlesrepresents a significant and critical contribution to a more sustainable future. This hasbeen called for both within and outside engineering education, starting at theundergraduate level.Initiated in Fall 2006 with the help of a NSF grant, this program engages engineeringstudent teams in community-based learning (CBL) outside La Paz, Bolivia. CBL isdefined as learning via working with and in a community in need of engineering (orother) services. In this way, the student’s research efforts in this program will be sociallyrelevant and useful at the community level, and will foster two-way knowledge

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Susan Amato-Henderson; Jessica Mariano; Pete Cattelino; Brian Hannon

Who You Know Does Matter in Engineering Self Efficacy Susan Amato-Henderson, Jessica Mariano, Pete Cattelino, and Brian Hannon Michigan Technological University High performance in high school math and science are necessary prerequisites for successin science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) majors in college. However, of thesub-group of students who excel in these areas in high school, very few choose to pursue aSTEM degree in post-secondary education. Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory suggeststhat a student’s knowledge, skills, and previous accomplishments are not always the bestpredicators of subsequent

Collection

2007 North Midwest Section Meeting

Authors

Pasi T. Lautala; William J. Sproule

first three years, university vanswere used but this year a bus was chartered for the trip to Chicago. The field visits inChicago include: Belt Line of Chicago Hump Classification Yard CSX Transportation Intermodal Yard METRA (commuter rail) Traffic Control Center and Maintenance Shops A Railroad Engineering Consultant (Patrick Engineering and TranSystems)While in Chicago, the students are introduced to and ride the Chicago Transit Authority(CTA) and the Chicago O’Hare Airport People Mover. At the end of the second week,the students fly from Chicago to Finland to continue the program. In Finland, classes areheld at the Tampere University of Technology in Tampere. The technical field trips inFinland include