Obispo Brian Self obtained his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech, and his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Utah. He worked in the Air Force Research Laboratories before teaching at the U.S. Air Force Academy for seven years before joining Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2006. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Adaptive Learning Modules in Introductory Engineering CoursesAbstractDynamics is a foundational engineering course, however, students often find it challenging dueto their limited prior experience and preconceptions. Conventional teaching methods in thiscourse frequently fall short of connecting main principles in ways that improve
rankings, theengineering program at Cal Poly Pomona is ranked #10 among public universities in the nationamong public universities where a doctorate is not offered [2]. It is also ranked top 15Nationally in Social Mobility according to The Wall Street Journal [3]. What makes Cal PolyPomona unique is the culture of “learn by doing” which emphasizes hands-on learning inclassrooms and laboratories. The reputation of being a top engineering school is well-deserved.The goal of this study is to build upon the successful culture of “learn-by-doing” by exploringhow a project-based approach in a traditional engineering course can improve student knowledgeof the subject matter. In addition, having a variety of teaching methods aligns with the broadvariety