Collection

2008 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

R.E. Babcock; Mark E. Arnold

resulting in the unique least squares solution to the original systemof equations provided the matrix, A , has rank of n, which it does.This method involves left multiplying through by AT and then using a fundamental theorem oflinear algebra which states that x = (AT A)-1 AT b (eq. 5)is the unique solution for which we are looking.MATLAB is a readily available and a convenient computer language for making such matrixalgebraic manipulations4. The MATLAB output for the example discussed above is shownbelow:A= 1.0000e+000 1.0000e+0004.2000e-001 1.9000e-0016.0000e-001 8.4000e-001b= 1.9800e+0004.1700e-0011.6520e+000Answers returned by MATLAB for values of x are

Collection

2008 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

E. Carl Greco; Jim D. Reasoner; Ronald E. Nelson

contributors to a student's performance onthe laboratory final exam. The two factors that were found to be significant were (a) the student's gradein the Electric Circuits II lecture course and (b) the student's active participation as a “builder-tester”during the weekly laboratory exercises. The only factor that significantly and independently contributedto the students laboratory skills and knowledge base was the latter. The results of this study indicate thatstudents must be fully engaged in the fundamental laboratory exercises to thoroughly and properly learnthe skill and knowledge required to apply them in basic circuit analysis applications.BackgroundThe Electrical Circuits Lab course at Arkansas Tech University is an introductory laboratory

Collection

2008 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

James A. Ejiwale

9Roebuck, Brock, & Douglas (2004) in their study titled “Using a Simulation to Explore theChallenges of Communicating” asked participants of the study to write collaboratively a two- tothree-page memo reflecting on the team’s communication process. Within the memo, the teamsdiscussed what they did well, what they could improve, and what they would do differently ifgiven another opportunity to work virtually. From this study, some of the lessons learned thatwere recorded are: • We learned that effective communication is the key for achieving team objectives and success. A common understanding is necessary. We learned that distance is not important as long as you have an effective way of communicating between virtual team members

Collection

2008 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Shirley Pomeranz

Richardson Extrapolation Applied to the Numerical Solution of Boundary Integral Equations for a Laplace’s Equation Dirichlet Problem Shirley Pomeranz Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences College of Engineering and Natural Sciences The University of Tulsa Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-3189 pomeranz@utulsa.eduAbstractRichardson extrapolation is applied to improve the accuracy of the numerical solution ofboundary integral equations. The boundary integral equations arise from a direct boundaryintegral method for

Collection

2008 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

R. Asmatulu; H. Misak; W. Khan

earth magnetic separation methods currently employed bethe recycling industry [1-6].5. COURSE CONTENTS5.1 Course Learning ObjectivesThe present course, “Recycling of Engineering Materials”, is a three credit hour course at 600level, and meets twice a week for 75 minutes each meeting time during the 14-week semester.This serves as an elective for the students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering andother College of Engineering’s senior and graduate level students at WSU. The learning 6objectives of the proposed course offered in Spring 2008 can be described as follows. After thecompletion of the course, all the registered students were able to: • Understand the fundamental principles

Collection

2008 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Dominic M. Halsmer

knowledge, skills, creativity, and wisdom to make the best use of these resources.Thus, the fundamental assets that each engineer brings to the table in the solution of any problemare the personal resources of his or her own time, energy, technical abilities and understanding.How these personal resources are applied, and if they will be applied to a particular problem,depends on the worldview of the engineer.Worldview, or how a person sees life and the world at large, plays a part in determiningmotivations and behaviors. This is particularly true of young people when they are deciding on acareer path. A four year degree in engineering is a significant amount of very hard work for anextended length of time, and can cost a lot of money. Why would

Collection

2008 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Chih-Hao Wu; Kim Troboy; Tracy Cole; Loretta Cochran; David Roach

. Students from various ethnic groups took on specific roles (mediator, resource, critic orprovocateur) and followed those scripts in a “role-play” session. They then led group discussionsbased on those scenarios. He stated in his paper that once the initial shyness and reluctance ofsome cultures were overcome through the building of rapport in this exercise, his students wereable to develop their own scenarios and write their own scripts appropriate to ethical, social andcultural factors. Prince finally stated that his innovative method is now being adopted in a shortcourse format to assist the professional integration of foreign trained engineers. Fleischmann19 at Grand Valley State University School of Engineering in Michiganfound that