Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Roger Chapman Burk

Using Space Travel to Teach Engineering to Liberal Arts Majors Roger Chapman Burk Department of Systems Engineering United States Military Academy, West Point, NYAbstractThis paper describes the author’s experience developing and delivering a new course for non-engineers ata top-ranking national university. It covers the educational philosophy behind the course, how it wasdesigned, and the results of teaching it. The core idea was to use the natural fascination of space travel asa vehicle to help non-engineering students learn basic engineering principles and have fun doing it. Thecourse was interdisciplinary, including lectures on relevant

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Murat Demirci; Zheng Jeremy Li

important. The potential benefits of automatedsystems are reducing the cost of product, labor and waste; increasing the production quality, repeatability,work safety. In this paper, I describe the design steps of an automated high speed machine which isassembling the parts of a pen, according to manufacturing and production specifications. In the designproject, automated system perform different kinds of process in assembly line, such as cartridge loading,point fitting, ink filling, plug fitting, gas charging and cap installing and final sealing. Furthermore, as ourgoals in project, automated machine must be cheaper, easier to maintain and working at “high speed”repeatedly. Working on the design project, it was really good experience to solve major

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Bahram Nassersharif

Discovery-Based Learning Engineering Classroom Bahram Nassersharif, Ph.D. Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics University of Rhode IslandAbstractEngineering design, optimization, and analysis practice in the 21st century is performed using complexcomputer models and graphical visualization of the results. Engineering education must also incorporateteaching and use of computer models for enhancing the depth and breadth of student learning. Today, weuse a computer center to provide access to computers and educate engineering students to understand andapply engineering software such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Matlab, and Ansys

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Adam J. Czekanski; David-Michael P. Roux

. These objectives were accomplishedin an introductory environmental science course using multiple-choice questions focused on key conceptsat the end of 12 selected lectures. Three class sections (n = 48) answered the questions with clickers,while three sections (n = 48) answered by hand raising. Long-term concept retention was evaluated bylinking exam question performance to these questions. We hypothesized that the anonymity offered bythe clickers allowed each student to respond without feeling indirect pressure from peers to select aspecific answer. Approximately 74.0% of the clicker population and 86.9% of the hand-raisingpopulation answered correctly. This illustrated that a lack of anonymity can greatly skew results byallowing a few

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Ismail I. Orabi

Comparison of Student Performance in an Online with traditional Based Entry Level Engineering Course Ismail I. Orabi, Ph.D. Professor of Mechanical Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences University of New Haven West Haven, CT 06516AbstractThe purpose of this study is to compare course performance over time between online andtraditional classroom students enrolled in an entry level engineering course. The Introduction toEngineering Course is a three semester-hour course. It provides an introduction to the engineeringprofession

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Mir M. Atiqullah

Effect of Defects on Mechanical Properties of Composites: Undergraduate Research on Materials Mir M. Atiqullah Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology Southern Polytechnic State University 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta GA 30060 matiqull@spsu.eduAbstractUndergraduate research in engineering and technology is gaining popularity as an added opportunity oflearning and a gateway to advanced studies. Many students find undergraduate research as a tryout forpotential graduate studies, as well as a way to establish relationship with research faculty

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Robin K. Burk

Project-Based Team Learning: Teaching Systems Engineering When the Data are Sparse Robin K. Burk U.S. Military AcademyABSTRACT: Undergraduate systems engineering courses face several challenges, including the need toprovide students with integrative projects which present sufficient depth and complexity while beingscoped for execution within a one or two semester course.This paper describes the results of providing students with challenging real-world analysis projectsdespite the sparse availability of established technical and operating data. Sixteen teams werepresented with projects regarding evaluation of advanced

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Qing Li

Measurement of Characteristics of Engineering Students: What Has Been Done and What Needs to Be Done? Qing Li, Department of Educational Psychology, University of ConnecticutAbstractStudents’ characteristics not only determine their decision making in choosing college major, but also play asignificant role in influencing their educational outcomes. Therefore, study of students’ characteristics has beenone of the important topics in educational research across different subject disciplines. In the area of engineeringeducation, a considerable amount of research effort has been spent on the measurement of the characteristics ofengineering students. The measurement results have been applied to

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Frank X. Wright; Marie-Pierre Huguet

population is 3:1engineers to managers. Blending technology with purposefully mediated course design and multipleteaching methods, a diverse student population, year on year, demonstrates improvement of mastery ofknowledge-skill relationships coupled with professional attitude development. Using 1) studentexemplars, 2) anecdotal comments and 3) a standardized course evaluation instrument, IDEA fromKansas State University, a record of course design, teaching methods, and student performances isdepicted. A chronology of interaction amongst student, instructor, and course developer underpins thediscussion.Engineers and managers, scientists and artists, architects as well, engage in their initial undergraduateforay into management through [Name of

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Daniel J. McCarthy; Michael J. Kwinn

Program Assessment and Alignment Lieutenant Colonel Daniel J. McCarthy, Assistant Professor Lieutenant Colonel Michael J. Kwinn, Jr., PhD, Associate Professor Department of Systems Engineering United States Military Academy West Point, New York 10996Abstract.The Systems Engineering program at the United States Military Academy at West Point is quite a youngprogram especially when compared to the other programs at this 206 year-old engineering university. Asa young program we continue to evolve into the program necessary for our constituents - the Nation, theArmy, the Academy and the

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Service-learning in Environmental Engineering: Projects with Local Water and Wastewater Treatment PlantsAbstractOver the past several years, faculty and students in Civil Engineering at the United States CoastGuard Academy have partnered with local water and wastewater plant personnel on a variety ofprojects. Through these projects, student learning is fostered while local plants receive help withtechnical issues and public education activities. The projects are incorporated into theEnvironmental Engineering II course; a junior-level major area elective covering analysis anddesign of water and wastewater systems. The projects provide outstanding opportunities forstudent development in a number of educational

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Kanchan Sharma; Isaac G. Macwan; Linfeng Zhang; Lawrence Hmurcik; Xingguo Xiong

Design Optimization of MEMS Comb Accelerometer Kanchan Sharma, Isaac G. Macwan, Linfeng Zhang, Lawrence Hmurcik, Xingguo Xiong Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT 06604 AbstractMEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) refers to the technology integrating electrical and mechanicalcomponents with feature size of 1~1000 microns. MEMS comb accelerometers have been successfullyapplied for air-bag deployment systems in automobiles. In this paper, the design optimization of a poly-silicon surface-micromachined MEMS comb accelerometer is discussed. The device uses folded-beamstructure to

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Paul G. Ranky

-world-focused,customized education. They expect a large number of choices, because theyunderstand the power of simulation. They are very visually focused, becausethis is the video gaming generation. They want personalized, customizedproducts, processes and service, and their education process is not an exception.They look for technical details, and want to see it all; immediately, andvirtually...They look for good quality and low cost and ease of use, andinteractivity, because there is NO time to read traditional manuals and statictextbooks… They like to continuously explore, browse the web, watchinteractive, rather than linear videos, explore multimedia-based publications,versus static textbooks, and always experiment, rather than follow the

Collection

2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference

Authors

Teaching for Success; Molding Course Syllabi to Support Student Capstone Design Work.Abstract This paper details the curriculum changes made within both the aeronautical and automotive sub-disciplines of the United States Military Academy’s (USMA) Mechanical Engineering (ME) program tosupport student senior design projects. Based on instructor/advisor observations, both sub-disciplinesrealized a need to better support student design by front-loading crucial design concepts andmethodologies in their respective courses. A review of the USMA mechanical engineering curriculum isaddressed illustrating the need for these syllabi changes. The aeronautical and automotive syllabi changesimplemented and their