Conference Session

Design throughout the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum I

Collection

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Haolin Zhu, Arizona State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

,” in Frontiers inEducation Conference, 1996. FIE’96. 26th Annual Conference, Proceedings of, 1996, pp. 909-913 vol. 2.[6] Al Hamidi, Y. M., Tafreshi, R.., et al., “Hands-on design projects in a sophomore mechanical engineeringcourse,” in American Society of Engineering Education Conference, Proceedings of, Vancouver, B.C., Canada,2011.[7] D. J. Mascaro, S. J. M. Bamberg, R. Roemer, “SPIRAL laboratories in the first-ear mechanical engineeringcurriculum”, in American Society of Engineering Education Conference, Proceedings of, Vancouver, B.C., Canada,2011.[8] R. Roemer, D. J. Mascaro, E. R. Parkyjak, S. J. M. Bamberg, “A SPIRAL learning curriculum for second yearstudents in mechanical engineering”, in American Society of Engineering Education

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Rex Maixner, U.S. Air Force Academy

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

areavailable, it is anticipated that the project will provide students with a practical application of theprinciples of basic thermodynamics and heat transfer, and of the specific principles associatedwith solar energy harvesting. Details of the project are provided, along with possible extensionsand variations for future course offerings.2. BackgroundA new course in renewable/sustainable energy has been developed for the mechanicalengineering curriculum at USAFA, and is being taught for the first time in the Spring 2011 term.As opposed to many of the texts in the renewable/sustainable energy field, the text selected1provides a computationally intense basis for most of the topics in the course syllabus. Guestlecturers and a field trip to the National

Conference Session

ME Curriculum and Assessment

Collection

2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Fazeel Khan, Miami University; Kumar Vikram Singh, Miami University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

guarded optimism4to be at the forefront of the new educational culture. As the MOOC phenomenon moves towardsmaturity, the concurrent approach within the Department of Mechanical and ManufacturingEngineering was to assemble learning technologies and techniques that modernize the entireMME curriculum and deploy them in an appealing and contemporary package. The ComEx project is imbedded within the MME curriculum. That is to say, unlike thepreponderance of simulation and/or experiment based online learning modules that have beendeveloped for specific courses5-8, whether they be in chemical, electrical, mechanical ormanufacturing engineering, the ComEx studios focus on a set of thematically linked courses.The students utilize the modules as

Conference Session

Design Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James M. Widmann, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Brian P. Self, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Lynne A. Slivovsky, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; J.Kevin Taylor, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

, California Polytechnic State University Lynne A. Slivovsky, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Ph.D., Purdue Uni- versity, 2001), has led service-learning initiatives both within the College of Engineering and across the university at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. In 2003 she received the Frontiers In Education New Faculty Fellow Award. Her work in service-learning led to her selection in 2007 as a California Campus Compact-Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Faculty Fellow for Service-Learning for Political Engagement. She currently oversees two multidisciplinary service-learning programs: the Access by Design project that has capstone students

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division Technical Session 11

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alex C. Szatmary, King's College

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

programs, civil engineering students rarely take courses in electricity orthermodynamics, and electrical engineers focus on electricity to the exclusion of almost all otherengineering sciences. Mechanical engineering is the main discipline in which a background in allof these sciences is expected. Is there a reason—apart from appeal to tradition—to continue toemphasize these six engineering sciences in mechanical engineering? Furthermore, whatelements of ME professional practice are not given their due in ME education?To truly design a mechanical engineering curriculum requires consideration of evidence of whatmechanical engineers do and how to prepare people to do those things. This paper presentsseveral complementary sources of evidence for what

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ping Ren, Virginia Tech; Janis Terpenny, Virginia Tech; Dennis Hong; Richard Goff, Virginia Tech

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Planning Dr. David National University7 CS 5247 and Application Hsu Computer Science of Singapore G Electrical Massachusetts CSAIL Robotics: Science Dr. Daniela8 6141 and Systems Rus, et al. Engineering and Institute of G Computer Science

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division Technical Session 6

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lawrence Funke, Ohio Northern University; J. Blake Hylton, Ohio Northern University; David Sawyers, Ohio Northern University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

andcomputer science). While some schools are adding programs in mechatronics and robotics, this isnot always feasible. An alternative is to increase exposure to programming and electrical contentin traditionally mechanical engineering courses, such as through the incorporation ofmicroprocessors across the curriculum.This work investigates the incorporation of microprocessors (specifically Arduinos) into theMechanical Engineering curriculum. The goals of this effort are to increase students’ familiaritylevel with microprocessor capabilities, to increase exposure to mechatronic systems, to allow forhigher fidelity prototypes in class projects, and to provide an accessible and inexpensive way forstudents to explore applications of what they learn in

Conference Session

Improving ME Education: Trends in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Duffy, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Linda Barrington, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Cheryl West, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; John McKelliget, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Eugene Niemi, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Sammy Shina, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Hongwei Sun, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Chris Niezrecki, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Robert Parkin, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Majid Charmchi, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; Peter Avitabile, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

required core course every semesterwith a S-L project that is either a required or elective part of the course. During 2005-06fourteen core ME courses had S-L projects, and a required engineering ethics course alsohad S-L in addition to four elective courses. Nine of twelve ME faculty membersincorporated S-L in those courses (more recently 12 of 13), in addition to 3 facultyoutside the department teaching courses for ME students. This initiative is part of acollege-wide effort to have all five undergraduate programs have S-L integrated into thecore curriculum (ECE, ChE, CE, and Plastics E).Courses and projects included, for examples, introduction to engineering for first yearstudents (common to students in all five programs) who designed and built

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division Technical Session 4

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Emad W. Jassim, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Blake Everett Johnson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Paper ID #27263An Integrated Four-year Hands-on Design Curriculum: A Case StudyDr. Emad W. Jassim, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Dr. Emad W. Jassim is an Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to this position he was the Director of Under- graduate Programs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering (MechSE) where he also served as Chief Advisor, Senior Design Project Coordinator, and lecturer of thermal/fluid science courses. He received his BS, MS, and PhD from the

Conference Session

Using Laboratories for Instruction in Mechanical Engineering

Collection

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Heather Dillon, University of Portland; Nathan Schmedake, University of Portland; Karen Elizabeth Eifler, University of Portland; Timothy A Doughty, University of Portland; Ken Lulay, University of Portland

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

laboratory.To assess the effectiveness of the laboratory experiment a student survey was administered andresults indicate the new laboratory experiment has been successful in improving studentengagement.IntroductionThis paper describes a set of laboratory modules based on a low-cost toaster oven that studentsencounter throughout the mechanical engineering curriculum. The toaster oven project is part ofa larger effort by several mechanical engineering faculty to enhance the entire laboratorycurriculum. The laboratory curriculum enhancement includes two facets: 1. Modernize and improve the technical skills acquired by students in the laboratory courses. 2. Thoughtfully incorporate developmental skills (soft skills like teamwork

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering: Curricula and Courses

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Simin Hall, Virginia Tech; Catherine T. Amelink, Virginia Tech; Deyu Hu, Virginia Tech

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

. Page 25.409.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2012 Designing and Implementing an Online Offering of a Nuclear Engineering CurriculumAbstractVirginia Tech restarted its nuclear engineering program in the Fall of 2007. The program hasgrown from a class enrollment of 60 students to about 200 students in 2009. When we restartedour program, we took the opportunity to be innovative and find ways to differentiate our programfrom other programs nationwide. In addition, we targeted the nuclear industry within our state byoffering the majority of our graduate nuclear engineering curriculum via distance learning. Weinitially started with live video teleconferencing to remote

Conference Session

Manufacturing and Machine Component Design

Collection

2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sandra Anstaett Metzler P.E., Ohio State University; Blaine W. Lilly, Ohio State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

curriculum, traditionally one of the most rigorous andfrequently overwhelming periods for mechanical engineering students. Stay tuned for moredevelopments!References: 1. Abrams, Lisa, James William Aultschuld, Blaine W. Lilly, Daniel A. Mendelsohn “Introduction to Mechanical Engineering: A Course in Progress”, 2012 ASEE Annual Conference, AC 2012-5238. 2. Clayton, Garrett, et al. "Introduction to Mechanical Engineering - A Hands-On Approach." 2010 Annual ASEE Conference. 2010. AC 2010-1048. 3. Vaughan, Joshua, et al. "Using mechatronics to teach mechanical design and technical communication." Mechatronics (2008): 179-186. 4. Hargrove, Jeffrey B. "Curriculum, equipment and student project outcomes for mechatronics

Conference Session

Design throughout the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum I

Collection

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Carmine Vaccaro, Hofstra University; Kevin C. Craig, Hofstra University; Alexander Hans Pesch, Hofstra University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Detailed course descriptions of curriculum progressionThis paper shows how model-based system design, as has been described, is integrated inselected courses in all four years of the Mechanical Engineering undergraduate curriculum. Thecourses where this has been implemented are presented in Table 1 and are required courses forall students working toward a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering. This approachis the model-based design counterpart to the “Design Spine” discussed by Sheppard et al.6 whorethought the curriculum at Stevens Institute of Technology to emphasize design throughout allfour years. An initial cohort of freshman engineering students started the proposed model-baseddesign sequence in the fall 2015 semester. Assessment

Conference Session

Active and Project-Based Learning

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John S. Lamancusa, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Laura L. Pauley, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

specialized mechanical engineering coursesin the first two years. The B.S.M.E. curriculum contains 131 semester credits.The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering (MNE) is heavily involved in curricularimprovement, both in the college and in the department. College level programs such as theNSF-funded Engineering Coalition of Schools for Excellence in Education and Leadership(ECSEL), the Learning Factory, and the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of EngineeringEducation have benefited from the involvement of departmental faculty in leadership positions.These organizations have inspired several department-level demonstration projects that havebeen highly successful. Through these initiatives, cost-effective ways to incorporate

Conference Session

Thermal Sciences

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Georg Pingen, Union University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

projects. My aversion to group-work stemmed mainly from the frequentlyencountered uneven contributions by team members. While minor tensions arose in this TBL-based course in both teams (involving athletes and/or international students), those whereresolved without instructor intervention as teams worked through the various team activities.Even though Michaelsen et al.1 claim that the TBL format by itself promotes functioning teams,the small sample size and short duration during which I have employed TBL in my courses isinsufficient to support or dispute this claim. However, the fact that almost all team-activities tookplace during class time ensured that team members were present and promoted collaboration onall problem solving aspects

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design

Collection

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Chi-Cheng Cheng, National Sun Yat-Sen University; Chia-Chi Wang, National Sun Yat-Sen University; Yu-Jen Wang, National Sun Yat-Sen University; Ying-Yao Cheng, National Sun Yat-Sen University; Chua-Chin Wang, National Sun Yat-Sen University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Paper ID #15540A Project-Oriented Capstone Course for Creative Engineering EducationProf. Chi-Cheng Cheng, National Sun Yat-Sen University Dr. Chi-Cheng Cheng has been with the Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering of National Sun Yat-Sen University in Taiwan since 1991. He currently is the Chairman of the Depart- ment. He is also an adjoin professor with the Institute of Undersea Technology and College of General Education of National Sun Yat-Sen University. He was a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of University of British Columbia in Canada in 2002 and a

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division Poster Session

Collection

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kala Meah, York College of Pennsylvania

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Paper ID #15004First-Time Experience of Teaching a Project-Based Mechatronics CourseDr. Kala Meah, York College of Pennsylvania Kala Meah received the B.Sc. degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 1998, the M.Sc. degree from South Dakota State University in 2003, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Wyoming in 2007, all in Electrical Engineering. From 1998 to 2000, he worked for sev- eral power companies in Bangladesh. Currently, Dr. Meah is an Assistant Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering program, Department of Engineering and Computer Science, York College of Pennsylvania

Conference Session

Capstone Courses and Project Based-Learning

Collection

2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Diana Bairaktarova, The University of Oklahoma; Mary K. Pilotte, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Nathan McNeill, University of Colorado Boulder

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

engaged in a variety of the course activities and alsoprovided feedback to all projects groups. Task The groups were introduced to the scenario that they are a global project manager of afictitious company engaged in the design and construction of various kinds of electrical powergeneration systems around the world. They were told that their company is looking for potentialnew projects in three small countries—Jamaica, Namibia, and Rwanda. Although each of thesecountries faces unique challenges to economic development, all three are in need of increasedelectrical generation capacity. Each group selected one of the three countries to focus on and wereresponsible to write a proposal for a thermal energy system to meet the electrical

Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids, and Heat Transfer II

Collection

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mehmet Sozen, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

projectamong the students that were enrolled in the aforementioned course. The lessons learned and thefeedback from the students are presented in the paper.Introduction There are three engineering majors in the School of Engineering at Grand Valley StateUniversity; Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Product Designand Manufacturing Engineering. Students in all majors have three semesters of mandatorycooperative education requirement as part of the curricula. In addition, the two-semestercapstone design course normally involves industry sponsored design and build type projects,most of which are sponsored by the companies that also employ our students as coop students.Many of the engineering courses involve some kind of

Conference Session

Capstone Courses and Project Based-Learning

Collection

2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David R. Sawyers Jr., Ohio Northern University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

engineering curriculum, in engineering sciencecourses such as Statics, Circuits, Kinematics, and Heat Transfer. Its importance is also reflectedin several of the ABET criteria for accreditation of engineering programs (Criterion 3), as shownbelow1: (a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering (e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems (k) an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.While the Capstone Design project usually provides a mechanism for applying engineeringanalysis beyond the context of a topical course, it also often highlights the difficulty studentshave in applying prior knowledge in new situations. In

Conference Session

Design Projects in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tim Brower, Oregon Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

. The IAB reported that a seniorengineer with between 6 – 10 years of experience would be termed a systems engineerwithin their companies. The question becomes how can undergraduate students exitacademia without a formal systems engineering degree and still have an appreciation forsystems engineering concepts that are integral to industry?A Template for Teaching Systems Engineering using APP-B LearningOregon Institute of Technology has used a project-based education model for many yearsin their manufacturing and mechanical engineering technology programs. Projects areused to supplement the theory behind important engineering concepts used in industry. Aliberal mix of projects utilized throughout the “applied engineering” curriculum alwaystended

Conference Session

Teams, Teaching, Leadership, and Technical Communications in Mechanical Engineering

Collection

2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth W. Van Treuren, Baylor University; Cynthia C. Fry, Baylor University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

, 2017 Teams and Team Building at Baylor University: Why Should We Do This and Where Should This Occur in the Curriculum?AbstractExperience with teams is a desirable outcome with employers. Academic programs often havestudent teams accomplish course, design, and lab projects starting with the freshmen introductorycourses and culminating with capstone senior design. Where do students learn about teams in thecurriculum? How do they learn to be good team members? It seems the most pervasive approachto teams in higher education is a “sink or swim” attitude where teams are allowed to form on theirown and work out any issues that arise. Little, if any, formal instruction on being a team memberis given throughout the curriculum. Even less

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Division Poster Session

Collection

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Paul J. Van Susante, Michigan Technological University; Nancy B. Barr, Michigan Technological University; Jason Blough, Michigan Technological University; James P. De Clerck, Michigan Technological University; Michele Miller, Michigan Technological University; Ibrahim Miskioglu, Michigan Technological University; Gregory M. Odegard, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

2016. The student evaluations and feedback has overall been positive but thelogistics have posed challenges related to the volume of students. Most all challenges have beensolved, with continuous improvement now the focus of the teaching team. Training teachingassistants and faculty is ongoing to improve uniformity in grading and quality of feedback to thestudents.IntroductionAs discussed by Miller et al.1, the curriculum revision has been planned since 2010 becauseengineering work, engineering students, and educational methods are changing. The newcurriculum content was put together by taking into account recommendations from ASME, theNational Academy of Engineering, and the Carnegie Foundation. It also looked at innovativecurricula at other

Conference Session

Machine Design Related

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Alan Jones, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis; Michael Golub, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

. Thus, providing the students inthe modified curriculum with a hands-on, project based, self-motivated process for learningtheoretical concepts based on the design and analysis goals of the academic competition project. Any junior level student could participate in the modified curriculum if they had fulfilledall the prerequisites for the replaced courses and they had not already taken one of the replacedcourses. This way the participants were prepared to learn the material but had not already beenexposed to it. Perrenet et al. [12] lists the three main objectives of education as “(1) acquisition ofknowledge that can be retrieved and used in a professional setting; (2) acquisition of skills toextend and improve one’s own

Conference Session

Design Throughout the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum II

Collection

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sangarappillai Sivaloganathan, United Arab Emirates University; Farag K. Omar, United Arab Emirates University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

engineering solutions of the past iii. Should make the students to feel good about their choice of mechanical engineering as their career. iv. Should be achievable within two semesters.The project was conceptually divided into two halves. The machine design part has toprovide a mobile system that starts from an electric motor and ends up with a slowrotating vertical shaft to carry the display that would rotate with it. The display shouldbe made up of a polygonal structure that should carry descriptions of mechanicalengineering achievers and achievements that had great impacts.3 Process Adopted by the StudentsThe students followed a systematic design model having requirements, productconcept, solution concept, embodiment and

Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids and Heat Transfer II

Collection

2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yeow Siow, University of Illinois, Chicago

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

tool to enhance student learningand performance. An important element in overcoming conceptual challenges, as oftenencountered in thermodynamics, is the self-guided process where students rely, and eventuallytrust, their cognitive resources to form a knowledge base.4 PBL, if implemented with care, canserve as a powerful way to enable self-reliance. Savage et al.5 investigated, and ascertained, theeffectiveness of PBL throughout the engineering curriculum, while cautioning that its successrequires that the project be relevant, not overly complex or resource intensive, and easy toimplement by the instructor.Many educators have integrated PBL, of varying capacity, in introductory thermodynamics,6-13including some projects that have been

Conference Session

Design throughout the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum I

Collection

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mariappan Jawaharlal, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Paul Morrow Nissenson, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Angela C. Shih, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

: A Curriculum to Prepare Freshman Students to Meet the Attributes of The Engineer of 2020”, ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Pittsburgh, PA.6. Caverly, R. H., et al., (2015). A Core Course Component in a Project-based First-year Engineering Experience, ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Seattle, Washington.7. Anastasio, D. D., et al., (2015). A First-year Project-based Design Course with Management Simulation and Game-based Learning Elements, ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Seattle, Washington.8. Vernier, M., et al, (2015). “Design of a Full-Featured Robot Controller for Use in a First-Year Robotics Design Project”, ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Seattle, Washington.9. Oblinger, D., & Oblinger, J., Ed

Conference Session

Capstone Courses

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Blair T. Allison, Grove City College; Stephen Ludwick, Aerotech, Inc., and University of Pittsburgh; William P. Birmingham, Grove City College

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

development of a three-axis machiningcenter for the notching of tubes. Details of this project will be presented with an emphasis on theinterdisciplinary nature of the project and industrial involvement.Mechanical Engineering capstone project organization at Grove City CollegeWithin the Mechanical Engineering department, each capstone design project team typically Page 25.63.3consists of five to nine students and a faculty supervisor. When appropriate, students from otherdepartments join the project, creating an interdisciplinary team. Successful teams involvingstudents from electrical engineering, computer science, business, and entrepreneurship have

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Technical Session: Curriculum and Education

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Michele Miller, Campbell University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

learning is becoming more common in engineering education. Litzinger et al.argue that expertise is developed through significant learning experiences such as applyingknowledge to real-world problems [1]. Solving real-world problem increases student motivationas well as promotes deep learning and development of expertise. Improvement in engineeringeducation can be realized by the introduction of more “authentic” learning experiences.Authentic learning is social as well as cognitive and includes interpersonal communication, self-directed research, and a focus on the customer just like in a real workplace [2]. Business contextis another element of authenticity. Projects that enhance the ability to create value areworthwhile for both budding

Conference Session

Dynamic Systems and Control

Collection

2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Estelle M. Eke, California State University, Sacramento

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

understanding of the theory by providing real world applicationsthat foster research and design. Bernard M. Gordon [1] presented a review of several institutionsin the United Kingdom and Australia that adopted PBL in different types of engineering courses,and the positive impact the approach had on assessment. Students were encouraged to work ingroups and document their progress throughout the process. Fernandez-Samaca et al[2] designedan undergraduate electrical engineering control system course using PBL. A series of coursesthat had both lecture and laboratory components were offered with the project being the centralelement in the approach. Enikov et al[3] developed the Aeropendulum Project which is a low-costhands-on experiment suitable for a