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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Musharraf Zaman; Anant Kukreti

Session 1368 Computer-Based Learning Modules For Rigid Body Mechanics Musharraf Zaman, Anant R. Kukreti University of OklahomaAbstractThe use of computer-based modules in teaching and learning some of the difficult to comprehendconcepts in mechanics can be very beneficial for both students and instructors. The Vectormodule discussed in this paper was developed and used by the authors to introduce the conceptsassociated with the mathematical operations and use of vectors to solve engineering problemsincluding evaluation of vector components, addition, dot and cross products, projection, and

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Esther V. Reed; Matt W. Mutka

Session 2532 Mobile Computing Software Development Esther V. V. Reed and Matt Mutka Department of Computer Science and Engineering 3115 Engineering Building Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824-1226AbstractMobile computing has gained momentum and grown rapidly in recent years. Portable computingdevices such as notebooks, palmtops, and handheld devices are readily available and arebecoming quite common. Some devices have an embedded, proprietary operating system (OS),while

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Jerome A. Atkins

virtualuniversities will offer solutions to the looming crisis in engineering and technology employment.This project relies on access to personal computers and the Internet. With that, the proposedapproach offers opportunities are particularly vital to displaced workers and those historicallyunderserved and underrepresented in technical higher education. The project seeks to create areplicable model of use to other distance learning based programs and institutions. Page 5.159.1BackgroundPost-secondary education "at a distance" has evolved tremendously since the early days ofextension programs, correspondence courses and external degrees. More than 750,000

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Geoff Swan; S P Maj; D Veal

physics. A small majority of students had no physicsabove lower secondary school science. The practical backgrounds of these students ranged fromno practical experience with computer hardware or electrical repair and general installation, tomany years as a practicing electrician or as an electronics engineer. With very few exceptions,students with upper secondary school or tertiary qualifications with physics attained a mark inexcess of 60%, and those with just lower secondary school science attained a mark of less than40%.Only 15% of students were able to answer all questions on simple electric circuits correctly.Most students had basic misconceptions of electricity theory that would at best inhibit, and atworst preclude them from learning the

Collection

2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Shahnam Navaee

the project were from an introductory computingtext4 used in teaching this course. As a result of performing this project, the followingobjectives were accomplished. • The students were familiarized more with utilization of variety of formulas and functions, including mathematics and trigonometric functions in spreadsheets. • The students were taught how to create two and three dimensional plots using data stored in spreadsheets. Plots requested in this exercise forced the students to explore and learn more about the special features and capabilities of this particular software package. • The problems included in the project on computing and programming issues tested the students’ ability in

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Duane D. Dunlap; Niaz Latif, Purdue University - Calumet

’ expectations, nature of the course, and the course’scontent. It is expected that the institutions developing a master’s degree program in Technologyof any nature will benefit from developing a course in computer applications.Master’s program objectives and students in the programStudents’ learning goals and objectives for graduate courses should meet the program goals andobjectives. As an example, the objectives of the programs at Northern Kentucky University andPurdue University are studied.The four program objectives for the Master of Science in Technology at Northern KentuckyUniversity1 are:1) To enhance the ability of graduates to move into technical management

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Deborah Hwang; D. Blandford

Session 2553 A Multidisciplinary Team Project for Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science Majors Deborah J. Hwang, Dick K. Blandford University of EvansvilleAbstractThis paper describes an interdisciplinary project for a freshman course designed for electricalengineering, computer engineering, and computer science majors. The project uses LEGObuilding sets and a microcontroller in the design, implementation, and documentation of asequence of increasingly complex tasks. Students learn interdisciplinary team skills, and areintroduced to computer hardware

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Yi Shang; Michael Jurczyk; Hongchi Shi; Anupam Joshi

the futureof parallel and distributed computing through their own presentations. Furthermore, students inthis course get opportunities to do independent research by selecting a topic of his interest relatedto parallel and distributed computing, researching the topic in technical journals and otherpublications, and submitting a research report detailing the findings. Finally, students obtainhands-on experience through a sequence of programming projects involving the state-of-the-artsoftware technologies.To achieve the best learning result, the students taking this course are given a sequence of fivesmall laboratory projects and one term project. These projects are implemented on the Unixworkstations in DSL using Java [10]. The Java programming

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Jeffrey L. Newcomer; Eric Kent McKell; David S. Kelley

EDG II arebenefiting from the emphasis that is placed on design and visualization as part of the en-gineering graphics curriculum, in which students are taught various hand and computer-based graphics techniques as tools for design rather than ends in themselves.ConclusionWWU’s Engineering Technology Department considers its engineering design graphicscourses to be the main foundation for the Manufacturing and Plastics Engineering Tech- Page 5.617.9nology, Industrial Technology, and Industrial Design programs. Students majoring inthese programs are expected to apply the skills they learn in engineering design graphicsin other courses throughout the

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Bruno Ramond; Abir Z. Qamhiyah

is 16 weeks. Students have a four hours computer laboratory each week with theexception of the first week. Seven computer laboratories run during the week to accommodatethe 126 students in seven groups of 18 students. Dr. Ramond is the course instructor for the fullgroup of students registered for the course and he is the supervisor for one of the seven computerlaboratory groups. Four other professors supervise the remaining six computer laboratory groupsfor the course.In the CAD courses at both ISU and UTC students are asked to work in teams on a multi-disciplinary design project. For this collaborative learning experiment, the one computerlaboratory group working under the supervision of Dr. Ramond worked with the group of 25students

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Cecil Beeson; William Gay

Session 3248 21st Century Skills Training: Computer Systems Support Cecil Beeson, William Gay University of Cincinnati Clermont CollegeI. IntroductionThis paper describes how a two-year access college determined the demand for education andtraining in a particular technology, computer support technology, and how it met and continuesto meet that demand. Most institutions of higher education devote part of their efforts towarddetermining educational program needs of their respective service areas. When such need isdiscovered, the institution must then decide whether or not it is capable

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Paul I-Hai Lin; Hal Broberg

tomeet these needs. Most of the specialization courses will only be offered in the eveningor use distance-learning methods (TV, Internet, etc). It includes courses in computeroperating system basics (DOS, UNIX, Windows and Windows NT), C programminglanguage and applications, data communications, local area networks and networksystems administration (UNIX and Window NT server), wide area network design, andtopics in computer networking including experimental, applied, and/or practical projects.The proposed A.S. degree program described below was approved by the School ofEngineering, Technology, and Computer Science, IPFW and is still in the approvalprocess. The ECET department started to offer courses in the spring of 1998 and acertificate

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Doug Jacobson; Barbara L. Licklider

Session 1453 Project SUCCESS: Sustaining Undergraduate Careers: a Computer Engineering Support System Doug Jacobson, Barb Licklider Iowa State UniversityAbstractLearning Communities, a growing initiative at Iowa State University, aid freshmen in thetransition to college life as students live in the same residence hall and attend a common block ofclasses. By combining learning communities with the concept of student-centered active learning,students will gain control of and adjust more quickly to their new environment, experienceincreased achievement, and persist

Collection

2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Oguz A. Soysal

their learning style the best. Many authors addinteractivity to their web courses by using chat and discussion sections, dynamic testing, andfeedback. There is no doubt that these techniques can make a virtual classroom environmenteven more interactive than some conventional classrooms. Nevertheless, an online technicalcourse can not be complete if students do not actively perform experiments and observe physicalphenomena.III. Computer Integrated ExperimentationThe term "computer integrated experimentation (CIE)" is used here to express that variouselements of an experiment such as equipment control, data collection; information processingand analysis are coordinated in the computer environment. In this context, CIE can beimplemented in the

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Augustus K. Uht

Sessions 1526 & 2526 The URI Integrated Computer Engineering Design (ICED) Curriculum: Progress Report Augustus K. Uht University of Rhode IslandAbstractThe University of Rhode Island started the ICED curriculum in the Fall of 1997. The key featureof ICED is a substantial 2-3 year long project tying together important but normally disjointcomputer engineering concepts across the major. The students learn how to make criticalhardware/software tradeoffs with long-term implications. Courses in processor design, compilerdesign and networks are required, and

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Yellamraju Vikas; Tony Ramanello; Kurt Gramoll

established if CD based multimedia is integrated with currentcourse material on the Internet. This scenario is particularly useful when all students have theirown personal laptop computers and the learning environment is connected with a wirelessnetwork. This paper will demonstrate and discuss the experiences at the University ofOklahoma, where the basic Dynamics class was taught using laptop computers, CD-ROMs, andthe Internet.This project did not develop new courseware, but instead used the Multimedia EngineeringDynamics CD-ROM (published by Gram Media, 1999) for the main course content. The CDwas however supplemented with newly developed intranet-based material such as electronichomework, examples, quizzes, solutions, and lectures. The outcome of

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Daniel M. Chen

Session 2648 Using Computer-Aided Design to Enhance Engineering Technology Education Daniel M. Chen Central Michigan UniversityAbstractThis article discusses the use of a computer-aided design (CAD) software as an enhancement toan undergraduate mechanical engineering technology program. With advances in both hardwareand software, the technology in CAD is changing rapidly. Although many major softwarepackages in the market are much easier to learn and use, they are more sophisticated in terms ofcapabilities. It is easy for one to know what the

Collection

2000 Annual Conference

Authors

S P Maj; D Veal

different system architectures etc. Simulation provides no experience ofpractical problems such as inserting a new input/output card into a PC and the associatedskills that are needed. Furthermore, a new conceptual model is needed that providesabstraction in order to control detail is required as the foundation of curriculum for thediverse audience now wishing to study computer technology.3. ConstructivismPrior to examining how to improve student learning we attempted to attain a deeperunderstanding of how students learn and construct knowledge. Constructivism is thedominant theory of learning today, the basis of which is that students must actively constructknowledge rather than passively absorb it via lectures. According to Ben-Ari

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Kenneth Reid

: Introducing Pre-College Students to Engineering through InteractiveActivities, Workshop with ASEE National Conference, June 1998.4. “Educator’s Corner: Sharing Hewlett-Packard’s Resources with Engineering Educators” CD-ROM,available from http://www.agilent.com.5. URL: http://www.ipc.org/6. Reid, K. “The Mobile Electronics Manufacturing Laboratory”,ASEE: Future Directions in EngineeringEducation: Proceedings of the Illinois/Indiana sectional Conference, p. 91-95, 19977. Computers Simplified, the 3-D Visual Approach to Learning About Computers, 4th edition, IDG Booksfrom MaranGraphics, c. 1999. URL: http://www.maran.com/.8. URL: http://php.iupui.edu/~kreid1

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Raghu Korrapati; Nikunja K. Swain; James A. Anderson

Session 2320 Computer Based Virtual Engineering Laboratory (CBVEL) And Engineering Technology Education Nikunja K. Swain, James A. Anderson, Raghu Korrapati School of Engineering Technology & Sciences (SETS)/School of Business and Technology South Carolina State University/Webster UniversityAbstractThis paper describes an innovative and cost-effective method of modernizing undergraduatetechnology and sciences education so that our graduates can be well trained with the latesttechnology. This will also help the technology and science programs to satisfy the

Collection

2000 Annual Conference

Authors

S P Maj; D Veal

that he would “benefit very greatly from it”. One student appreciated the wayin which this unit effectively “demystified the machine and took me behind the scenes” and“gave an understanding of how computers work”. All students stated that their understandingof computers and computing was increased by this unit. According to Maj, “Based on the above interviews it can be stated that this unit (CIM): is perceived as very valuable by students from different disciplines; supports learning in other units; increases students’ understanding of computers and computing; generates a demand for further curriculum in this field; and is about right in terms of difficulty

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Richard E. Pfile; Maher E. Rizkalla; Charles F. Yokomoto

such as power MOSFETs, IGBTs, and SiCs and their applicationsin EV/HEVare covered.In addition to the above topics, this course include topics covered by industry such as hybridtrucks and buses, plant visitation, and a project. V. Laboratory ComponentsThere are four categories of laboratory components:5.1. ABC150 battery charging system (one laboratory)Students learn how to use the manual mode to enter the required power to the propulsion system.The also write a script file to use the auto mode of the system. The file follows a charging curveas prescribed by the battery manual.5.2. LabView Data Acquisition System (one laboratory and three computer LabView exercises)Students learn how use the LabView software

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Donald C. Richter

higher education. Toaddress this issue we must look at the ways we are delivering instruction to the student and whathis/her needs are. The traditional model of strict classroom lecture, homework assignments andtests does not meet the needs of many students who want and demand more in there learningexperience. Today’s student is computer literate and is accustomed to using technology to explorein a free flowing "on demand" environment. This desire to explore and learn on demand hascarried through to the student’s expectations of their college experience. One of these expectationsis to have more flexible help outside of the traditional classroom environment. Providing helpusually comes down to how to provide the resources to help the student. The

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Valerie E. Taylor; Rudolf Eigenmann; Renato Figueiredo; Nirav Kapadia; Luis Vidal; Jose A.B. Fortes; Jan-Jo Chen; Alok Choudhary

. It is intended to be the only assignment onthe subject for this class, and should not require more than 2-3 weeks to be completed, sincemultiprocessor architecture is only one out of many other topics that are covered in the class. Without the availability of an infrastructure like PUNCH, this task would require: 1the installation of a suitable multiprocessor simulator tool and benchmark programs onlocal machines, and 2 that students learn the simulator's user interface. The overhead insetting up the computing infrastructure and documentation, and in the students' learningcurve of the simulator's interface and usage are likely to discourage the development of thisassignment for the time frame intended for this assignment

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Andrew N. Hrymak; Donald R. Woods; Heather Wright

Session 2213 Approaches to Learning and Learning Environments in Problem-based versus lecture-based learning Donald R. Woods, Andrew N. Hrymak and Heather M.Wright McMaster University, Hamilton, ON. CanadaAbstractOne desired outcome of our educational goals is that our student’s approach tostudying by searching for meaning rather than superficially memorizing andregurgitating knowledge. To some extent, students have their own preferredapproaches to studying. However, research by Ramsden and Entwistle suggeststhat the learning environment we use in our classrooms also affects the student’sapproaches to studying. Two published

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Kenneth A. Knowles; Carl E. Wick

. B. Automatic mode, where the station initiates correction activity upon sensing a damage condition. C. Global mode, where the station reports status and operates its actuator under control of a bridge station.Students were free to decide upon how to best process their sensor information, and when, andhow to affect action when required.6. Lessons learned and conclusionsThis exercise was very effective in teaching concepts in embedded computing and networkingand we will continue to use this project in this course during the coming year, but there werealso some important lessons that were learned from the first year that will undoubtedly improveour subsequent efforts: A. It is very easy in this network for a

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Teresa Larkin-Hein; Dan Budny

Session 3280 Why Bother Learning about Learning Styles and Psychological Types? Teresa Larkin-Hein/Dan D. Budny American University/University of Pittsburgh Washington, DC/Pittsburgh, PAAbstractA growing body of research suggests that increased learning gains can be achieved with adultlearners when instruction is designed with learning styles in mind 1 - 3. The adoption of any typeof new teaching and/or learning approach has the potential to require a good deal of valuablefaculty time and energy. In this paper, the question of why

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Akihiko Kumagai; Mukasa Ssemakula

students’attention awayfrom developing the important fundamental concepts of kinematics which are truly beneficial intheir future practical technical work. This paper describes an attempt at WSU to develop anexperimental kinematics and dynamics course such that students learn the subject from conceptand experience. In this method, students are first challenged to solve kinematics problemsthrough the computer simulation software Working Model without knowing the underlyingmathematical tools. In this challenge, students will improve the simulation results through trialand error and their own approaches. In most cases, they will realize that the perfect solution hasto be obtained from an approach they do not yet know. This challenge will provide them with

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Madhu Gourineni; Badrul H. Chowdhury

Session No. 3232 Web-Oriented Power Electronics Learning Aid Badrul H. Chowdhury Madhu Gourineni bchow@ece.umr.edu. madhu@umr.edu Electrical & Computer Engineering Dept. University of Missouri-Rolla Rolla, MO 65409-0040 Tel: 573-341-6230; Fax: 573-341-6671Abstract A web-based approach to learning about the features of power electronic converters andother important concepts is discussed. The behavior of various types of

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2000 Annual Conference

Authors

Roger Green

. Page 5.440.1Amid the many advances in education research, the fact remains that the practice of educationremains quite static. Few education innovations are adopted on a widespread basis. Despite itsmany advantages, mastery learning, for example, is not in common use. For many instructors,the cost and effort of implementation outweigh any potential benefits. In the end we typicallyeducate our students with the traditional components of lecture, homework, and examination.Still, significant changes are being realized within the context of traditional education methods,including use of the World Wide Web. According to a recent survey, “nearly nine in 10 collegeinstructors believe that student use of computers enhances their learning.” 2 However