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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Byron S. Gottfried

Session 1253 Teaching Computer Programming Effectively Using Active Learning Byron S. Gottfried University of Pittsburgh SummaryOver the past three years, we have learned how to provide effective instruction in computerprogramming within an active-learning environment. The use of active-learning does not initself assure success in this area. However, we have found that we can provide effectiveinstruction by utilizing a series of “mini-lectures” based upon carefully prepared examples

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Elmer A. Grubbs

Session 2348 CENT 354 - Computer Architecture - A Project Class Using Cooperative Learning Elmer A. Grubbs The University of Southern ColoradoINTRODUCTIONCENT 354, a junior level course in the Electronic Engineering Technology (EET) and ComputerEngineering Technology (CENT) department at the University of Southern Colorado, has beentaught once a year for the last eight years. In its present form, it includes a substantial project,which involves building a four bit microprocessor using a XILINX XC3000 series integratedcircuit and some external circuitry

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

B. Towers; Max Rabiee

integrating knowledge learned across several electronic classes. Page 2.463.1 Session 3220Introduction: This paper describes a project assigned to students during the last quarter of an Linear Op-Amp electronic class. Figure 1 shows the computer interface system block diagram. A 74LS245Octal Transceiver chip was used to connect the analog Op-Amp, and the Fiber Optic circuits tothe PC-Interface card that resides in an IBM compatible personal computer. Figure 1 Schematic Block Diagram of the System The system described in this paper measures

Collection

1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Robert F. Hodson; David C. Doughty

Session 3532 Using Commercial EDA Software in Computer Engineering Robert F. Hodson, David C. Doughty Christopher Newport UniversityChristopher Newport University (CNU) has standardized on the Cadence EDA (ElectronicDesign Automation) tools for its new Computer Engineering curriculum. This choice was basedon our experiences with EDA tools and carries with it both advantages and disadvantages. Thispaper will discuss many of the issues associated with using commercial tools in the classroomand also describe how we are using the Cadence tools at CNU.Pros and Cons of Commercial EDA ToolsSome

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Surendra K. Gupta

relied almost exclusively on specialized software packages that wereinexpensive, easy-to-use-and-learn and available on almost all platforms. For example, ourstudents use CADKEY for computer-aided design and drafting, Algor Supersap for finiteelement analysis, Fluent in fluid mechanics courses, and Tudor for elective courses in theaerospace option. No upper-level technical course currently requires development of programs ina higher-level language. Recent DevelopmentsBy the early 1990s, new challenges surfaced. Most of the lab instructors began asking students tosubmit word-processed lab reports with computer-produced graphs and data analysis. Even intraditional courses such as Thermodynamics, Statics and

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Yale N. Patt; Kevin J. Compton

Agree: 53 Neutral 23 Disagree: 24 Strongly disagree: 31The computed average is: 3.12.The university also reports the following summary information for this question:75% of all courses answered this question with score above 3.63. 50% of all courses answeredthis question with score above 4.00. 25% of all courses answered this question with score above4.21.Taken together, the two questions suggest that students felt they learned a lot, but were workedfar too hard, given the number of credits received. That coupled with the results of our surveythat 86% were happy they took EECS 100, gives us some cause for gratification.6. Final thoughts

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

P.R. Roberge; M.A.A. Tullmin

Session 3213 Session 3213 Framework for a Computer Based Corrosion Course M.A.A. Tullmin and P.R. Roberge Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7K 7B4AbstractA framework for a computer based corrosion course has been developed, with a view todistance learning applications. Potential advantages of the computer based learningapproach over a conventional course offering include access to a larger target populationand optimization of the shrinking expert instructor pool

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Hugh Jack

. Session 1630 Use of Computer Technology in the Classroom Hugh Jack Grand Valley State University1.0 - IntroductionWe really don’t NEED computers to teach well. But, when used effectively, computers can be anexcellent learning, communication and presentation tool.I had taught Statics to engineering students at Ryerson Polytechnic University for three yearsusing blackboard methods. In this time a complete set of notes was developed and refined

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Mileta M. Tomovic

Session1620 Application of Computer Simulation in Metalcasting Course Mileta M. Tomovic Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana AbstractModern developments in computer technology and computer software have allowed simulationof very complex physical phenomena, which was almost impossible or prohibitively expensiveeven several years ago. One such area is fluid flow involving heat transfer and coupled withphase transformation. The problem is very difficult

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Dean R. Johnson; S. Hossein Mousavinezhad

MATHCAD. Section III introduces algorithms developed usingMATHEMATICA to solve n-th order ordinary differential equations (ODEs). In sectionIV we make some concluding remarks and propose further work. The paper ends with adiscussion of the appropriate use of these computer tools and algorithms at the right placeand the right time so that students using them will not be “just pushing buttons.” It is Page 2.61.1noted that many current textbooks use these tools (see, for example, [1]) and one needs to 1be careful that students will learn the main and underlying ideas for the subject matterunder study before they

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Ray Adams; Paul Duesing; Ajay Mahajan; David McDonald

Session 1559 Improving the Laboratory Experience with Modern Computer-Based Instrumentation David McDonald, Ray Adams, Paul Duesing, and Ajay Mahajan Lake Superior State University AbstractThe extensive use of modern, computer-based instrumentation in industry has created a clearneed to provide students with instruction in this technology. This type of instruction is bestaccomplished by integrating learning experiences in computer-based instrumentation throughoutthe curriculum. The instrumentation system is first introduced in technical

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

craig evers

Session 1275 Using Computer Spreadsheets to Assess Teaching Performance and Testing Effectiveness Craig T. Evers Purdue University - School of TechnologyABSTRACTThe traditional grade book can tell you how the students are doing in a given class. With theadvent of computers and spreadsheet software, it is possible for teachers to also grade the testsand their own performance. Using Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet has been constructed fromwhich indicators of the testing effectiveness can be extracted. It is also possible to determinehow well the teacher is doing

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

John M. Dorosz; Ester B. Johnson

also makes this course unique is that although required of the CEAS freshmen, it is open toall students across the campus interested in learning about the engineering or computer scienceprograms. In recent years student enrollment in the course has fluctuated from a high of 180 to alow of 49, and not one interested student has been turned away.COURSE CONTENTA key component of EAS 100 offers a follow-up to introductory material covered in a one-halfday pre-semester Registration/Advising session sponsored by the Admissions Office. Studentsmay have also attended a day-long (and overnight) campus orientation session administered bythe campus Dean of Students Office. In an effort to ease the transition to a new schoolenvironment, the EAS 100 course

Conference Session

Computer Architecture and Algorithms (3520)

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

P.E., Dr. Henry L. Welch, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Session 3520 Using A GUI Shell to Focus Computer Graphics on Algorithms Dr. Henry L. Welch, P.E. Milwaukee School of EngineeringAbstractMany computer graphics systems, such as the X Windows System, require a steep learning curveand extensive coding before even a single pixel can be activated on the screen. In a single quartercomputer graphics class this places an extensive burden on the student who may have to generatea significant block of code that has little or nothing to do with the fundamentals of computergraphics algorithms. At the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) we have

Collection

1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Thomas Lenox; Stephen J. Ressler; Robert J. O'Neill; C. Conley

embraced as the favored computing tool?Widespread Acceptance of SpreadsheetsSeveral of the papers previously referenced discuss the advantages of using spreadsheets forengineering calculations.1,2,3,4,6,10 Some of the major reasons include: • Spreadsheets are easy to use and learn. Once a student has mastered a few basic rules, rudimentary spreadsheet programming is very straightforward. • Spreadsheets are flexible. Students can make the spreadsheet as simple or as intricate as their experience and training allow. Spreadsheets allow advanced users to create truly sophisticated problem solving tools; novice users can develop simple spreadsheets that get the job done efficiently. • Spreadsheets provide excellent

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Mark J. Sebern

Session 2632 Object-Oriented Programming for Freshmen Computer Engineers (and Their Professors) Mark J. Sebern Milwaukee School of EngineeringAbstractFor practicing computer engineers, the object model has become increasingly important. Recognizingthis fact, elective courses in object-oriented programming (OOP) have been offered a number ofyears. At some point, however, it becomes desirable to integrate this technology throughout thecomputer engineering curriculum. Such an effort raises many questions, such as language selectionand topic sequence. Some

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Kevin Wedeward; E. Eugene Mitchell; George E. Piper; John Watkins

, engineering program.Throughout the curriculum students learn how to model, simulate, and design various types of Page 2.105.1control systems. The computer software the students use to analyze, simulate, and implementtheir designs are MATLAB, VisSim, and the C programming language. These tools wereselected based on their relevance to industrial practices, cost, and availability to the student.Methods of animation in VisSim and MATLAB as well as three examples used in the curriculumare the topics presented below.ANIMATION WITH VISSIMThis section describes VisSim's animation capabilities and how they are being used at the NavalAcademy. VisSim is a

Conference Session

Integrating Design in Electrical Engineering Curriculum (1232)

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

David J. Ahlgren, Trinity College

Session 1232 CPLD-Based Design in the Introductory Computer Engineering Course David J. Ahlgren Trinity CollegeINTRODUCTIONDuring the last three years the emphasis in ENGR221L--Digital Circuits and Systems, theintroductory computer engineering course at Trinity College, has shifted toward the increaseduse of VHDL and complex programmable logic devices (CPLD's). This evolution hasencouraged team projects that employ top-down design and concurrent engineering approaches.Working student designs included a single-chip stepper motor

Collection

1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Don M. Coleman; Arthur S. Paul

of programs and reduction of operating costs. The SCS program was first accreditedby Computer Science Accreditation Board (CSAB) in 1988, and it has maintained its accreditationto date.Institutions of higher learning teach computer courses in one or more of four general areas: (1)computer engineering programs are typically offered by computer engineering or electricalengineering departments and are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering andTechnology, Incorporated (ABET); (2) computer science programs are offered by computer Page 2.382.1science, electrical engineering, mathematics or general science departments, and these

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Barbara Blake Bath

Session 1265 Field Session at Colorado School of Mines A Capstone Applied Mathematics/Computer Science Course Barbara Blake Bath Colorado School of Mines Each student at the Colorado School of Mines completes “Field Session” as one of thegraduation requirements. In Chemical Engineering, the students do unit operations labs, inPetroleum Engineering, they get hands on experience in petroleum extraction, in CivilEngineering, they learn to survey, and in Mining Engineering, they actually work in the school’sexperimental mine. In the Department of Mathematical

Collection

1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Yale N. Patt; Kevin J. Compton

Analysis of Algorithms, which is aparticular interest of ours. All engineering is about tradeoffs, and we consider it important topoint out time/space tradeoffs as early in the curriculum as possible. In this course, the tradeoffsdeal explicitly with time and space as they relate to computer algorithms, but we submit that thelessons learned here are not lost when translated to other engineering disciplines.3. Student ReactionEnrollment in the course was 130 students, Fall semester 1995, 165 students, Spring semester1996, 260 students, Fall 1996, and 425 students, Spring 1997. It was made a required course forelectrical engineering and computer science students Fall semester, 1996. At the end of Fall1996, we asked students to fill out a

Collection

1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Barry J. Farbrother

Session 2432 A New Approach to Electrical & Computer Engineering Programs at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Barry J. Farbrother Ph.D. Head, Electrical & Computer Engineering Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyAbstractTwo new degree programs1 are now being offered by the department of Electrical &Computer Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The new Bachelor'sprograms in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, are the result of atop-down curriculum design process which took several years to complete.‘Renaissance Engineers

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Stephen J. Ressler; Colonel Kip P. Nygren; C. Conley

any of three different materials (carbon steel, high-strengthsteel, and aluminum), two different cross-section types (solid bars and hollow tubes), and 40different member sizes. The design must be capable of carrying its own weight and the weight ofa standard AASHTO truck loading2. The design objective is to minimize cost.The software is written in the Microsoft Visual Basic programming language. It runs on IBM-compatible personal computers with 486 processor or better, running Windows 3.1 or better. Theprogram features a simple graphical user interface, which students are able to learn easily, even ifthey have little previous experience with computers.The program’s main window (called the Drawing Board) is shown in Figure 1. To design

Collection

1997 Annual Conference

Authors

John E. McInroy; Jerry Hamann; Raymond Jacquot

otherengineering computing tasks. VisSim was chosen as a typical simulation tool because of its shortlearning curve and its excellent graphical user interface. This was done with full consciousnessthat Simulink fits better with MATLAB since it is an adjunct to MATLAB. This was done as atradeoff because of the ease with which VisSim is learned. After this, the use of Simulink in thefuture is more readily achievable. Perhaps the novel part of this reported work is thesimultaneous and synergistic introduction of both packages. Both of these software packages areavailable in Student Editions [3, 4] at very reasonable prices. It is important for completeness tonote that Spice is introduced in the Electrical Networks course for which this course is a

Collection

1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Robert E. Wilson; Brian K. Johnson

Session 2533 The Use of Computer Relay Models to Teach Power System Protection in a Distance Education Setting Brian K. Johnson, Robert E. Wilson University of Idaho/Western Area Power Administration AbstractThe specialized study of electric power system protection is a very detailed and abstract subject.However, problems with power system protection equipment can have visible, catastrophicresults such as system blackouts. The authors used computer software models of protective relaysto give both on-campus students and off-campus outreach

Collection

1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Michael Khader

asynchronous formats is underway. Until now samplesfrom these distinct modes of deliver are statistically limited and more experiments areneeded to prove how viable these options of learning are. We believe the jury is still outon the effectiveness each individual mode of delivery. We present an alternativeexperiment that builds on the strength found in each of the synchronous andasynchronous modes.Introduction NJIT has a strong distance learning program that is being active for the past tenyears. Within the program there are a number of developments under way including thevirtual classroom, computer mediated learning, and the multimedia interactive lab-courseware. The focus of the project being presented is the integration of both

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1997 Annual Conference

Authors

M. E. Parten; M. C. Baker

learning. Some team projects were used , but getting the teams tointeract seemed to be much harder in this environment than in standard courses. Others1,2have reported that using e-mail, chat rooms and other approaches help increase studentinteraction, but not to the level that can be obtained through more standard courses.Interestingly, the majority of the students invariably printed out all of the Webinformation instead of referencing it from their computers, which has also been reportedelsewhere2.The assignments from the students were actually very good. They included more graphicsand details than are normally seen on paper assignments. However, borrowinginformation from the Web is very easy and students had a tendency to forget that this isthe

Collection

1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Walter S. Lund; Trudy L. Schwartz; Lee D. Peterson; Lawrence E. Carlson

engineering departments and vertically integrated through all fouryears. The program combines leading-edge computer and instrumentation technology withthe knowledge and confidence that comes with hands-on, project-based learning.The cornerstone of this new program is the 34,400 sq. ft. ITL Laboratory, which opened itsdoors in January 1997. The laboratory’s curriculum-driven design accommodates a varietyof learning styles and features two first-year design studios, an active-learning arena for 70students, a computer simulation laboratory, a computer network integrating all theexperimental equipment throughout two large, open laboratory plazas, capstone designstudios, group work areas and student shops. The building itself is even an

Collection

1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Tom Zickel; Gary B. Randolph; Ronald Goodnight

SESSION 2247 USING PERT ANALYSIS FOR STUDENT LEARNING CONTRACTS Ron Goodnight, Gary Randolph, Tom Zickel Purdue UniversityABSTRACTThree technology disciplines used a Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)modified network for student teams to develop learning contracts. The adult learning andragogyapproach1 was followed emphasizing student self-direction in their own learning, sharedexperiences, near-term application and performance feedback.The PERT methodology was used in Computer Technology, Electrical Engineering Technologyand Organizational Leadership courses in which student teams

Collection

1997 Annual Conference

Authors

Randall L. Kolar; David A. Sabatini

Session 1675 Changing From a Lecture-Based Format to a Team Learning/Project-Driven Format: Lessons Learned Randall L. Kolar, David A. Sabatini School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-0631ABSTRACTIn a number of courses in the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science (CEES) atthe University of Oklahoma (OU), we are making a transition from the traditional lecture-basedparadigm to a new paradigm that includes active, team-based learning, team teaching, and aproject-driven syllabus. Based on our