Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

L. Alden Kendall; Dianne Dorland

base needs, general programming languages, and communication needs.Engineering has special computational needs that were not provided by a single computerlaboratory facility.Previously, the Chemical and Industrial Engineering Departments provided limited computersupport for undergraduate students by purchasing personal computers and installing specialpurpose software. The ratio of students to computers was 16/1. In many instances, single userlicenses applied and limited computers were used for a specific type of design or analysis task.These computers were not networked to provide an environment where students learn how theymay integrate their design and analysis activities in order to perform concurrent engineering for afacility or process

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

R. Pimmel; R. Borie; J. Jackson; D. Cordes; B. Dixon; A. Parrish

Session 3253 Teaching an Integrated First-Year Computing Curriculum: ‡ Lessons Learned D. Cordes, A. Parrish, B. Dixon, R. Pimmel, J. Jackson, R. Borie University of AlabamaAbstract: This paper describes an integrated first year curriculum in computing forComputer Science and Computer Engineering students at the University of Alabama.The curriculum is built around the basic thrusts of the Foundation Coalition, andprovides an interdisciplinary introduction to the study of computing for both majors.IntroductionThe University of Alabama is one of

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Alan Felzer

by showing them what happens when they click on circuit diagrams tochange things like reference directions and circuit element values. The main advantages ofthese demonstrations, besides being free, are that they are easy to use and give studentsimmediate feedback. Students do not need to build and troubleshoot hardware or learn anyspecialized programs. All a student needs is a computer with a browser. Another nicefeature of these demonstrations is that they can simultaneously show how more than onevariable is changing at the same time. It is straightforward, for example, to put together aninteractive demonstration that shows how changes in the value of the capacitor of a firstorder RC circuit affects both its transient and frequency

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

C. Faye; N.W. Scott

a tutorial into one measure but treats themWe have found that student learning and student satisfaction separately. The tutorials can be compared in terms of qualitywhile using this computer system are arguably better than in or cost and decisions made based on these comparisons.previous years. The issue of cost is not so clear-cut because ofthe expense of developing the software; however we believe it 1.1 Traditional tutorial methodis possible to demonstrate real savings in the recurring cost of Traditional tutorials consisted of groups of about 20 studentsrunning the course. This

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Ronald Whitwam; James Ridge; Amy Dickinson; Jorge Rodriguez

Session 1547 CAD Training Using Interactive Computer Sessions Jorge Rodriguez, James Ridge, Amy Dickinson, and Ronald Whitwam Western Michigan University / Steelcase, Inc.AbstractThis project addresses the need to train CAD users on proper modeling methodology. New CADsoftware empowers designers with the flexibility of parametric or variational design. Thesefeature-based parametric modeling packages allow modification of a solid model by changing itsdimensional parameters; however, incorrect modeling methodology may cause failure in thedesign stage. Failures occur when modified dimensions cause a conflict within

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Emil C. Neu

methods to enhance the learning process. References 1. J. Alam and J. J. Rencis, “Using the Internet in Information Content Creation and Delivery for Promoting Active Learning,” Proceedings of the 1997 ASEE Annual Conference, June 1997, Session 2220. 2. E. C. Neu, "A Circuit Analysis Package for the DEC PRO350,” Proceedings of the 1985 ASEE Annual Conference, June 1985, pp. 82-86. Page 3.518.4 3. E. C. Neu, "A Curriculum Concept: The Computer Thread,” The Journal of Education Technology Systems, Vol. 14(3), 1985-86, pp. 187-192. 4. E. C. Neu, "Documenting Microcomputers for

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

David E. Hailey; Christine E. Hailey

Section 2520 Evaluation of Student Preferences and Learning Outcomes of Computer Based Teaching for a Manufacturing Processes Laboratory Christine E. Hailey, David E. Hailey, Jr. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering / Department of English Utah State University AbstractStudies conducted by a number of investigators indicate that there are no negative outcomeswhen computer-based teaching (CBT) is used in place of or in conjunction with a traditionallecture. We performed three studies concerning student preferences and learning as a

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Terry Hrudey; Stanley Varnhagen; Shelley Lorimer; Roger Toogood; Bill Lipsett; Art Peterson

Session 3666 Computer Based Learning for Engineering Mechanics: “If we build it, will they come?” Roger Toogood, Bill Lipsett, & Shelley Lorimer Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Terry Hrudey & Art Peterson Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering Stanley Varnhagen Academic Technologies for Learning University of AlbertaAbstractThis paper

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1998 Annual Conference

Authors

George H. Staab

. Page 3.93.1Establishing confidence and competence with a topic is sometimes complicated bymissed or incomplete information obtained either from a text or lecture. The feeling ofbeing judged by those teaching the material fuels the frustration common in students firstencountering a mechanics topic. A computer is non judgmental, repeats information asoften as requested, and is less intimidating than a teacher when a student is first learning atopic. Screen sizes are limited and the amount of text, figures, and equations containedon each screen is small compared to that of a book. Students who have difficultyassimilating text material are likely to spend more time interacting with a computerprogram where information can be repeatedly presented in

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

John K. Estell

Session 2220 A Java-based Computer Simulator and its Applications John K. Estell Bluffton CollegeAbstractThis paper describes a learning philosophy for computer science that is based on having studentswrite a simulation of a computer system, then adding features to the initial simulation that areappropriate for learning concepts being presented in a particular course. In the past the authorhas successfully utilized this method in teaching concepts related to CPU processor scheduling inan operating systems course1; however, as the simulation was written in a

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

C. Faye; N.W. Scott; B.J. Stone

that must be done some other time. Informal tutoring costs were based on a yearly estimate of the time spent in this wayThe costs of developing the computer package used in the obtained from each tutor.computer-based tutorials are the only start-up costs involved Computer-based tutorials have reduced tutor costs but there isin the introducing these tutorials into learning institutions.No such costs are associated with traditional tutorials. an additional cost of

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Kathi Cahill; Joe C. Guarino

Session 1658 TS/2 IMPLEMENTING DESIGN-BASED ENGINEERING EDUCATION WITH COMPUTER SIMULATIONS Joe C. Guarino, Kathi Cahill Mechanical Engineering Department Boise State University ABSTRACTDesign-Based Engineering Education (DBEE) is a method for introducing design intobasic engineering science courses. DBEE uses specially structured computer-simulationmodules to introduce basic principles through a discovery-learning process. The DBEEmodules are supported by Working ModelTM; an engineering simulation software packagedeveloped and

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Robert M. Koretsky

the sequence of courses presented to freshman, EGR112 normally comes in the Springsemester, following Fall semester classes EGR110, Introduction to Engineering, and EGR111,Introduction to Engineering Laboratory. The engineering graphics content of the Fall semesterclasses is supportive of the design content contained in them, but it was decided to put a majorityof graphic communication and visualization skills training into a specialized computer graphicsclass given in the Spring. The major curricular objectives of EGR112 are to:• make the beginning of learning engineering a positive, exciting, and pleasant experience. Page 3.90.2• amplify

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

J. N. Dahiya; B. F. Draayer

Session 1264 COMPUTER INTERFACING A MICROWAVE SPECTROMETER: AN EDUCATIONAL APPROACH B. F. Draayer, J. N. Dahiya Physics Department Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 ABSTRACT A laboratory procedure for introducing undergraduate students to the principles of analog todigital converters is described. The procedure involves interfacing an analog to digital chip, theADC 0804, to a PC via a cable connected to the PC's parallel port

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

James A. Liggett; David A. Caughey

"Level 3" topic in the textbook).5. Teaching ExperiencesBoth authors have used preliminary versions of the interactive text book to teach parts, or all, ofintroductory courses in fluid mechanics to junior-level students in civil and environmentalengineering and mechanical engineering. The students generally are enthusiastic about thegraphics and computational utilities provided by the new medium, but are less enthusiastic aboutreading large amounts of text and equations from the screen. This is not really surprising, sincecomputation and video are things that the computer is good at. These dynamic interactions areengaging and encourage active learning. We all are reluctant to spend very much time readingtext from a computer screen, given an

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Shahla Keyvan; Xiaolong Song; Rodney Pickard

NuclearEngineering Department. The experience has been positive with more than 80% of thestudents supporting the value of the interactive and self-pace learning of these modules.1.0 IntroductionComputer-based instruction, incorporating interactive multimedia and network technologies,provides a powerful method to boost teaching effectiveness and student learning rate. Incontrast to simple sequential text instruction, computer-based interactive multimediacourseware presents information as a combination of text, graphics, sound, video, andanimation. The visual learning environment, the hyperlink capability, and the self-pacelearning of interactive multimedia courseware hold great potential for significantly enhancingstudents’ learning and retention of

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Donald J. Winiecki

options exist for distance education. For example, correspondence courses,compressed video or satellite television, and computer based asynchronous learning networks(ALNs) are common distance education delivery-systems. ALNs have the advantage ofpermitting students to participate in educational experiences in a “time shifted” environment. Inother words, because students and teacher are not required to meet at the same time, ALNspermit students from different time zones, and with different work schedules to interact in thesame “classroom.”The skill of being a competent classroom student is a status and skill learned implicitly over Page 3.119.1many

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Kenneth L. Tuttle

Engine Cycles. The Midshipmen atthe Naval Academy write computer models of the heat engine cycles to study thethermodynamics of heat engines. The best example of the thermodynamic cycle modeled is theBrayton Cycle. The Marine Engineering students use a spread sheet program on their personalcomputers to model the Air Standard Brayton Cycle and run experiments by varying theindependent variables.INTRODUCTIONTraditionally, engineering students learn most or all of the thermodynamic cycles that are incommon use to model heat engines. They may learn to work around the Air Standard Cycle forOtto, Diesel and Brayton by assuming air behaves as an ideal gas with constant specific heats.They may also treat the working fluid as a real gas and use Gas

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Richard Jerz

. Laboratoryassignments reinforced lecture material, and are further explained below. Grading wasdistributed as follows: Exams - 45 percent, laboratory assignments - 40 percent, attendance andassignments, 15 percent. Exam questions focused primarily on lecture information, but couldinclude questions about laboratory knowledge. Lab assignments Six laboratory assignments were used to reinforce lecture information and to give hands-on design experience. It is believed that hands-on experience is required when learning aboutcomputer-based technologies. Having students experience old (manual) ways of accomplishingmanufacturing tasks, new computer-based approaches, testing and simulating computer results,and producing final

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Ronald H. Rockland

enhance these skills, computer application training involving Microsoft Word, Excel andPowerPoint were incorporated into the introductory laboratory based course.The Electrical Engineering Technology program at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is anUpper Division program which is accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of theAccrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (TAC of ABET). Virtually all the students enteringour program come from community colleges, or proprietary schools such as DeVry, where they haveaccumulated a minimum of sixty-four credits. Many of these students work full time, and may haveworked in industry after graduating from a community college. Therefore, even if they learned computerskills in the

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Anthony Brizendine

Session 3547 Computer-Controlled Data Acquisition Laboratory Experiences in Civil Engineering Technology Anthony L. Brizendine, Ph.D., P.E., P.S. Fairmont State College Abstract This paper outlines the use of data acquisition in the Civil Engineering Technologylaboratory. Very few CET soil mechanics laboratories currently introduce or utilize dataacquisition as part of the instructional process. Not only is data acquisition useful in facilitationof expedient experimentation in

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Louis L. Bucciarelli

Session 2666 Learning By Design — What Have We Learned? Louis L Bucciarelli ECSEL, MITIn October, 1997, ECSEL held a workshop in order to assess, and continue to promote, theintegration of design throughout the engineering curriculum as a means of renovatingengineering education. The workshop was divided into three sessions: A first focused on the useof computers in support of learning by design; the second, on the integration of design intoengineering science courses, in particular, courses in mechanics; the third, on industry drivendesign and manufacturing

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Mahmood Nahvi

Session 2432 TS/6 Effective Interaction With The Computer: Observations And Models From An Eight-Year Experience Mahmood Nahvi, Professor Electrical Engineering Department California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaContents1. Summary2. Introduction3. Examples4. Conclusion5. References1. SummaryAsynchronous and web-based learning networks heavily rely on human interaction withcomputers. This includes use of computer modules for concept development, tutorials, andsimulation

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Krishnan K. Chittur

Computer Algebra System in many of our courses.Senior students were, till recently introduced to process simulation tools during the seniordesign courses. The combination of learning a fairly sophisticated program with thedemands of learning process design and implementing some of these ideas for theirdesign projects was, in most cases overwhelming. By the time students developedmastery over process simulation software tools, the semester usually drew to a close andthe design projects were due for final presentation. We felt that prior experience withsimulation tools would have been very beneficial.UAH’s Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs initiated a TeachingMiniGrant program during the Spring of 1997. This call for

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Zbigniew Prusak

Session 3648 From Computers to Mechanisms – the Demand for Teaching Skills the ‘Reverse Way’ Zbigniew Prusak Central Connecticut State UniversityABSTRACT A growing number of students enters universities having spent considerable amount of time withcomputers and other devices that expand only visual interaction and combination skills. How do theydo with their digital understanding of a largely analog world that surrounds us? What difficulties dothey encounter learning traditional tools and machines? Analysis of usefulness of these

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Ravi G. Mukkilmarudhur; Homayun K. Navaz; Brenda S. Henderson

packages aswell as to interpret numerical results and to develop a better understanding of basic fluidphenomena. The laboratory exercises were designed to develop the students’ skills in the areasof computational grid generation, numerical solutions to two-dimensional and three-dimensionalflow problems for single species and multiple species flows, numerical solutions using single andmultiple computational zones, and post process the flow information. Commercially availablesoftware packages were used for all laboratory assignments. The students were also required tointerpret numerical results and validate computational results by comparison with knownsolutions.During the first three weeks of the laboratory, the students learned to generate

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Suresh Muknahallipatna; Jerry Hamann

Session 3620 Distributed Instrumentation and Computation: A Look at What’s Out on the End of the Internet Jerry C. Hamann, Suresh Muknahallipatna University of WyomingAbstractThis paper provides an overview of some emerging uses of the internet in engineering educationand research. Included are descriptions of unique instrumentation and laboratory facilities madeavailable to the world community by way of the ubiquitous web.1. IntroductionThe internet is truly becoming commonplace in education, industry and commerce. It provides achannel for entertainment

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

S. A. Tennyson; R. J. Eggert

Session 2525 Re-Engineering Open-ended Problems & Computer Simulations For Effective Development of Student Design Skills R. J. Eggert and S. A. Tennyson Boise State University Boise, Idaho 83725ABSTRACTConsidering the broad philosophy of Design Across the Curriculum (DAC), a variety ofstrategies can be employed to integrate engineering design coursework during the four-yearcurriculum using just-in-time learning, an increasing breadth-then-depth approach. Thesophomore and junior years, in particular, can be used to reinforce

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Thomas F. Schubert Jr.; Kathleen A. Kramer

or instructional communication hardware systems make such systems, inmany cases, unattractive in a university setting. Computer simulation is often a more appropriatesolution to augmenting student learning in the area of communications systems. A mathematicalcomputation package, such as Mathcad, provides a suitable platform for the development of suchsimulation exercises. One drawback to this approach is the difficulty experienced by students notadept in use of the particular computer package.Student knowledge of computer package specifics can be bypassed through the use of electroniccourseware modules. A series of such original courseware modules has been developed at theUniversity of San Diego. Among the communication systems topics

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

P. Gharghouri

elementary and/or advancecalculus, differential equations, linear algebra and numerical analysis can greatlyenhance the learning and teaching process. Although students should be exposed toa procedural language like C, this endeavour should not detract from the fact thatthey should also be exposed to additional software such as spreadsheets, statisticalsystems, and symbolic computation software. By exploiting those features whichcannot be found in calculators or are very tedious to program, this type of softwareallows students to explore and see situations which could not be dealt withotherwise. Furthermore, the availability of the software on personal computers,coupled with their low price, are definite advantages, and should be taken intoaccount