Conference Session

Extending a Hand Back: Older Students Inspiring Younger Students

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kristine R. Csavina, Florida Gulf Coast University; Lisa Zidek, Florida Gulf Coast University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

Nursing faculty at FGCU and Duke University collaborated todevelop a high school program that introduced STEM topics in health care in a setting thatstudents may not have otherwise considered or experienced as a teenager. Faculty at FGCUwere awarded a four-year grant from Global Public Service Academy (GPSA), to teach elementsof nursing and engineering to high school students from the United States in a setting thatprovided a unique cultural experience for the student. The program, which took place in thechosen community of Calhuitz, Guatemala, had two over-arching objectives: (1) to broaden highschool students exposure not only to traditional health care careers in medicine, but also to theintegration of health care in the sciences, engineering

Conference Session

Innovative Instructional Strategies and Curricula in ECE I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alejandra J. Magana, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Bedrich Benes, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

“enduringunderstandings” that learners should adopt from any learning experience 1 . This step is thenfollowed by identifying ways of student learning attainment and appropriate mechanisms thatwill allow conveying concepts of these kinds.The purpose of this research study is to explore the development of a quality curriculum in high-performance CG (HPCG) education coupled with data describing how students in such coursesperceived the content, assessment, and pedagogy they experienced. We utilized Wiggins andMcTighe’s backward design (1997) 1 as a framework for designing this study. Their backwarddesign process (p.9) is composed of three main stages: (a) identifying the desired learningoutcomes - the content of the lesson, (b) determining the acceptable evidence

Conference Session

Embedded System Design

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeanne Christman, Rochester Institute of Technology; Eric J. Alley, Rochester Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

asoftware solution to the same algorithm. An image rotation algorithm was chosen for tworeasons; the first being that the results can initially be measured qualitatively by observation. Abigger reason for choosing image rotation is that it is an application that students are familiarwith. They are exposed to image rotation daily on their phones and mp3 players, but have neverconsidered the processing behind it prior to starting this lab.Like all lab projects, this lab starts with an introduction to the theory behind the exercise. Theequation for rotating an image about its center is given in Figure 1, where Xsource and Ysource is thepixel location in the original image, Xdest and Ydest is the corresponding pixel locations in therotated image and

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching: Mechanics

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

C.J. Egelhoff, U.S. Coast Guard Academy; K.L. Burns, U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

learning and the use of concept maps for teaching. We provide our“common concept map,” we detail several ways in which we’ve used the heuristic, and finallydescribe preliminary results assessing its efficacy.Index Terms – Concept Map, Heuristic, Mechanics of Materials, Mind Map, Solid Mechanics,Strength of Materials, Undergraduate Mechanics.Introduction Mechanics of Materials is widely considered “difficult” by students. Many educators overthe past two decades have attempted to improve Mechanics of Materials learning throughendeavors such as the following: (a) development of physical demonstration models or video forclassroom use,1-2 (b) development of computer programs to assist, encourage and facilitateindependent learning by students,3-7 (c

Conference Session

Integrating Technical Research into Professional Development and K-12 Classrooms

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Muhittin Yilmaz, Texas A&M University, Kingsville; Carlos A. Garcia, Texas A&M University, Kingsville; Tamara D. Guillen, Texas A&M University, Kingsville; David Ramirez, Texas A&M University, Kingsville

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

data fields for both the sponsoring agency reporting purposes and thesuperior camp execution and satisfaction such as a preferred project ranking. The information onresearch topics, camp schedule and application was also made available to public on the campwebsite.Interested high school students submitted a hard copy of the application package including theapplication forms, his/her transcript, a school attendance record, and an educational goalstatement. Applications were evaluated and ranked by the summer camp leadership team (Dr.Muhittin Yilmaz, Dr. Jianhong Ren, Dr. Carlos Garcia, Dr. David Ramirez, Sheryl Custer) interms of the ESF camp selection criteria as described in Table 1. Table 1. The ESF Camp Student

Conference Session

Topics Related to Telecommunications

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Min-Sung Koh, Eastern Washington University; Esteban Rodriguez-Marek, Eastern Washington University; Claudio Talarico, Eastern Washinton University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

. 1. IntroductionOur daily life is closely connected to communication devices such as iPods, smart phones,Netbooks, laptops, etc., only to name a few. The rapidly changing modern world has drivenmany people to base their social agendas on communication devices. These devices are soubiquitous that is getting harder and harder to even imagine our lives without communicationdevices. Hence, as a communication systems engineer/technologist it is essential to have anunderstanding of communication systems’ basic concepts and principles. To provide thisunderstanding in the classroom, theoretical concepts are introduced in the typical communicationsystems class. Among the various topics, it is essential to learn modulation and demodulation ofanalog

Conference Session

ELOS Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brennan T. Ashton, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Paul Malmsten, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Gautam Vallabha, MathWorks; Sergey N. Makarov, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

also stimulate further long-term interest in ECE andRobotics. On the other hand, the systematic study of digital fundamentals in the intro class maynot be possible as it would require a significant extension of an already tight syllabus. Whatcould be done to resolve this dilemma?This paper reports on our pedagogic method of introducing the microprocessor material on oneparticular class laboratory in an engaging yet technically correct way that is particularlyappealing to non-major students. The laboratory syllabus includes the following steps: 1. The base circuit is a single power MOSFET connected in series with a small DC motor and a protection diode. 2. A PIC microcontroller is the source of control signals for the power MOSFET

Conference Session

FPD VI: Presenting "All the Best" of the First-Year Programs Division

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kerry Meyers, University of Notre Dame; Benjamin Mertz, University of Notre Dame

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

engineering later – but since they are not currentlyclassified as seniors they were not considered in the current study.The students' responses were grouped into 14 different categories and tallied. The categoriesused were “Math/Science,” “Better World,” “Problem Solving,” “Build Things,” “Practicality,”“Specific Field,” “Prepare for Other Career,” “Family,” “Broad,” “Groups,”Innovative/Creative,” “Previous Experience,” “Good Career,” and “How things Work.” The restof this section is dedicated to defining these groups, shown in Table 1. Table 1. Coding for Student Motivation EssaysCategory  Description  ExampleMath/Science  Indicate aptitude or enjoyment of a math

Conference Session

First-year Programs Division Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ding Yuan, Colorado State University, Pueblo; Jude L. DePalma, Colorado State University, Pueblo; Nebojsa I. Jaksic, Colorado State University, Pueblo; Jane M. Fraser, Colorado State University, Pueblo

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

material integration within linked courses2, 5, 6 to fully integratedcurricula for the first year students7, 8 and living learning communities9. Most learningcommunities focus on the first-year cohorts where the attrition rates are the highest. A learningcommunity can be functionally defined as “a broad structural innovation that can address avariety of issues from student retention to curriculum coherence, from faculty vitality to buildinga greater sense of community within our colleges.”1 Learning communities are more sustainablethan many other educational reforms10.High attrition rates are even more pronounced among low-income, first-generation collegestudents (which closely resemble the student demographics at Colorado State University -Pueblo

Conference Session

Evolving Engineering Libraries: Services, Spaces, and Collections

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeff McAdams, University of Texas, San Antonio

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Libraries

everyone who uses those rooms, to our surprise. It is a very popular feature. The remaininggroup study room is slightly smaller, only holding a table that seats four. All three group studyrooms also feature a large white-board on one of the walls, along with three glass walls whichallow for marker writing (and are also used heavily). The rooms check out for four hours, andwe have students lining up at our door before we open to grab them. They are in constant usethroughout the day until we close. There are ten desktop computers on a high counter that is a comfortable height for walk-up use. However, for each computer there is a comfortable chair that is raised for the counterheight (See Fig. 1). The computers are managed by our campus

Conference Session

K-12 and Pre-College Engineering Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David G. Rethwisch, University of Iowa; Frankie Santos Laanan, Iowa State University; Melissa Chapman Haynes, Independent External Evaluation Consultant, Professional Data Analysts, Inc.; Soko S. Starobin, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

guided this evaluation at this early stage:  RQ1: What are the socio-demographic, academic, and cognitive characteristics of PLTW students and what characteristics are associated with PLTW participation?  RQ 2: Do PLTW students take more math and science courses than non-PLTW students?  RQ3: Is the cognitive improvement for PLTW students greater than that for non- PLTW students?DataThese three research questions were investigated using merged datasets, which are maintained bythe Iowa Department of Education. This merged PLTW dataset currently includes two datasources. These are: 1) Project EASIER, which includes PK-12 data, including PLTW status, standardized test

Conference Session

Students' Abilities and Attitudes

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andrew G Bennett, Kansas State University; Todd Moore; Xuan Hien Nguyen, Kansas State University

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

” perspective [5]. Theconceptualization of transfer shifts away from the expert’s viewpoint to an actor’s or learner’sviewpoint. In this approach, the goal is to understand the “relations of similarities created” by thelearner and how they are supported by the environment. The focus is not on whether the righttype of transfer is obtained but rather on determining what kind of similarities the students see.Another modern approach to transfer has been proposed by Bransford & Schwartz [1]. Transferstudies in their view have relied too much on “sequestered problem-solving”, in which a studentis explained a problem then asked “cold” to solve a similar problem thus giving negative results.They promote an approach using “preparation for future learning

Conference Session

Issues and Answers in Mathematics Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter J. Sherman, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

with manyuniversity-level educators, and, in turn, stimulate education researchers to re-evaluate thepotential of current STEM initiatives to reverse the declining trend in STEM education in theU.S.A.1. IntroductionThe needs related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in theUSA are many. A well-recognized need is for more K-12 students to pursue STEM disciplines atthe university level. It is the acknowledgement of this need that is central to the various STEMinitiatives at the National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as other funding agencies. Thereare a wide variety of reasons responsible for the increased lack of interest in STEM subjectsamong younger (K-12) students. Based on the proposals that were funded

Conference Session

Engineering Economy Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Heather Nachtmann, University of Arkansas; Kim LaScola Needy, University of Arkansas; Emily M. Evans, University of Arkansas

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Economy

quantitativequestions include those with multiple choice answers or data that was easy to measure, while thequalitative questions include those with open-ended responses. The survey questions aregrouped into five sections pertaining to 1) Instruction, 2) Course Description, 3) StudentPerception, 4) Course Material and Content, and 5) Teaching Methods. Presented in this paperare the major findings from the quantitative survey questions. See Figure 1 for a list of thesequestions. A forthcoming paper will report on the full survey results. Page 22.58.2 Instructor What is the highest degree you obtained? What

Conference Session

Alternative Energy Laboratory Experiences

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Erik A. Mayer, Pittsburg State University; Albert Leroy Powell, Bowling Green State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

andTechnology Gateway Ohio (SETGO) Summer Research Program at Bowling Green StateUniversity which facilitated undergraduate research and was sponsored by the National ScienceFoundation.1Solar Cell I-V Characteristic CurvesSolar cells are characterized by their current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curves.2,3 An exampleof one is shown in green in Fig. 1. This curve shows how the voltage generated by the solar cellvaries with the current drawn from it. The I-V curve shows how the solar cell will operate undervarying parameters such as light intensity and temperature. Ironically, the hotter the solar cellgets, the less efficient it becomes. With the solar cell being underneath the sun all day, thisbecomes an issue.Two important points on the I-V

Conference Session

Engineering Technology Design I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Charles G. Drake, Ferris State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

. Page 22.60.3Force Table: Workbenches and ordinary classroom tables were made into force tableswith some common hardware as seen in Figure 1. Pulley supports were made in a varietyof ways starting with steel angle braces, eye hooks, and C-clamps. (See Figure 2.)Students were required to hang different masses on two the three strings shown and bringthe system into equilibrium by pulling on the third string with a force gauge; pulleypositions and masses were adjusted as needed such that the knot was over the table. A360 degree protractor was then used to identify directions for each string. Starting with aFBD, students were to add the three applied forces confirm that the net force was zero.Graphical, trigonometric, and components solutions were

Conference Session

Computational Tools

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joel Esposito, U.S. Naval Academy; Carl E. Wick, U.S. Naval Academy; Kenneth A. Knowles, U.S. Naval Academy

Tagged Divisions

Computers in Education

the robot’s functionality from within MATLAB’spowerful integrated development environment, which already includes numerical solvers, imageprocessing routines, neural network libraries, and control system design tools. We describe thedevelopment process and the toolbox’s features; and illustrate its capabilities with some projectsfrom our own Introductory Robotics class where it was beta tested. A student opinion surveyindicated that the toolbox was well received, but suggests its stability could be improved.1. IntroductionIt has been widely noted that engineering students benefit from a variety of teaching approaches,in particular visual and experiential learners prefer hands on laboratory experiences [1].Teaching robotics is no exception [2

Conference Session

Mechanical and Architectural Engineering Laboratories

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

A. Simionescu, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Mehrube Mehrubeoglu, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Korinne Caruso, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Gregory R. Reuter, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi

Tagged Divisions

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

Materials and Manufacturing. Even if produced elsewhere, the cost,quality and speed to market are not guaranteed unless products are designed for bothfunctionality and manufacturability by engineers trained to work in a team environment1,2.This paper describes one of the laboratory experiments developed for the ManufacturingProcesses class in the Mechanical Engineering Program at Texas A&M University-CorpusChristi. This four-credit-hour junior-level course is offered along with the following fourlaboratory experiments:1) Aluminum casting of multiple parts shaped as tensile testing specimens: Students evaluate thequality of these parts through visual inspection and destructive testing. This is the most involvedexperiment of all four and the main

Conference Session

Computer Science and Information Technology in K-12 Engineering

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Laura E. LeMire, Community College of Baltimore County

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

training team were shared with their counterparts from the Affiliate Universities.Meetings were then held to obtain input and feedback on the lesson plans and assessments,discuss the structure and frequency of the training, address past challenges and successes, andprepare the new teams for implementation of the professional development model. The firstround of training sessions was conducted between September and November 2010 forapproximately 80 teachers, and was met with high teacher satisfaction as evidenced by thesurvey ratings and comments, and a documented increase in teacher knowledge. Scores on thestandardized assessments increased 28% for CEA, 23% for Inventor Level 1, 62% for InventorLevel 2 questions and 25% for Inventor Level 2

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Darrin S. Muggli, Benedictine College; Brian Tande, University of North Dakota

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees

chatsessions for student help, student study group areas, and individual and private student grading. Video of Professor Powerpoint slides or Professor’s writing here Figure 1: DEDP screen shotFigure 1 is a screen shot of a typical DEDP course. Students see video and hear the audio of theprofessor’s lecture as he or she displays the presentation slides (or writing on the board) duringthe on-campus lecture. The presentation slides comprise most of the screen. In addition,professors use tablet monitors to ‘write’ electronically on the presentation slides to highlightimportant information, all of which is captured digitally. Thus, distance-education students willview

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Technical Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Magdalini Z. Lagoudas, Texas A&M University; Bugrahan Yalvac, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

9.10% Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering 2.90% Industrial Distribution 2.90% 2.90% Industrial Engineering Industrial Engineering Mechanical Engineering Freshmen (N=12) Sophomore and Juniors (N=34) Seniors (N=15)Figure 1. Engineering majors of 2009 SEI program

Conference Session

The CE Profession: Perspectives from the U.S. & Canada

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Martin E. Bollo, British Columbia Institute of Technology; Carlos Estuardo Ventura, University of British Columbia

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

the undergraduate curriculum) in terms ofcredit hours in these programs ranged from 74.0% to 89.8%1. Core courses make up89.8% of the credit hour requirements at the University of British Columbia (UBC),which until 2010 was the only institution in British Columbia (B.C.) to offer anaccredited program in Civil Engineering. There is therefore limited opportunity to takespecialized and advanced optional technical structural engineering courses in the typicalCanadian undergraduate civil engineering program and in B.C. specifically.The practice of Professional Engineering in Canada is self-regulated by Provincial andTerritorial associations. Each of the associations’ Code of Ethics are modeled on those ofEngineers Canada, which contains an

Conference Session

Innovations in Power Engineering Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sanghun Choi, Purdue University; Maryam Saeedifard, Purdue University; Rohit Shenoy, MathWorks

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

prior theoretical knowledge and background of the students in power electronics,combines the sophisticated Texas Instruments (TI)’s hardware tools with MATLAB/Simulinksoftware tools to design, test, and rapidly prototype power-electronic circuits. A detaileddescription of the tools along with their use in the developed laboratory is presented.Index Terms – Power electronics, digital control, micro-controller, MATLAB/Simulinkenvironment, MATLAB Real Time Workshop, rapid prototyping.IntroductionPower-electronic-based systems are being used in a wide range of applications includingvehicular propulsion systems, industrial applications and motor drives, electromechanical motioncontrol, and grid integration of renewable energy resources [1, 2]. The

Conference Session

Teams and Teamwork in Design

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Teodora Rutar, Seattle University; Brandon Shuman, MS

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

projects in school year 2009-2010. It also shows qualitative assessment data that support following conclusions: 1) studentstook more ownership of their duties on the project through involvement in planning andmodules; 2) students implemented project scheduling and monitoring to their capstone projects,effectively beginning to develop related skills; and 3) faculty advisors were for most partfocusing only on the technical parts of the project, effectively leaving the management tostudents and a few in-class workshops. The paper also offers suggestions on how to motivateand train the students and faculty for future years.IntroductionAt Seattle University all engineering seniors are required to participate in a three quartercapstone senior design

Conference Session

Professional Identity

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Holly M. Matusovich, Virginia Tech; Brock E. Barry, U.S. Military Academy; Kerry Meyers, University of Notre Dame; Rachel Louis, Virginia Tech

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

student’s development over time.IntroductionResearch has shown that identifying with engineering contributes positively to students’persistence in earning an engineering degree.1, 2 While some students may enter engineeringprograms with the belief that he or she is “an engineering-type person,” this is not true for allstudents.3 Therefore, engineering educators and administrators need ways to encourage students’engineering identity development. However, current research lacks a clear understanding of howstudents’ develop identification with engineering and what universities can do to enhancestudents’ identification with the profession.To begin closing this gap, we designed a multi-institution study that enabled us to examine andcompare a military

Conference Session

Persistence and Retention I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Qu Jin, Purdue University, West Lafayette; P.K. Imbrie, Texas A&M University; Joe J.J. Lin, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Xingyu Chen, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

. Page 22.70.2Research QuestionsThe research questions in this study are: 1) How do prediction performances of multi-outcome model compare with those of individual single-outcome models? 2) Do the important predictors identified by the multi-outcome models align with those identified by single-outcome models? 3) Are the important predictors of first-year retention the same as those of first-year GPA?Modeling Student Success in EngineeringFigure 1 shows the framework of our model of student success. The predictors, listed at the leftin the figure, can be grouped into two categories: the affective measures and the high schoolhistory matrix. Affective measures include nine factors: expectancy, leadership, meta-cognition,major

Conference Session

Engineering Ethics and Justice

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Caroline Baillie, University of Western Australia

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

reporting only on the first stage of theproject.The curriculum team focuses on critique of current practices as well as the development ofknowledge for the Socially and Environmentally Just Engineer. They are considering thequestions below:1.What does engineering look like, now and in the past, which contributes to social andenvironmental justice/ injustice both locally and globally?2.What does / how should a post development critique of industrial development contribute toengineering practice in developing countries in a time of globalisation?3.Learning from history to avoid repeating the atrocities of the past. What examples are therenow and in the past of how engineering contributed to abuse of power and inequalities amongpeople? How can we

Conference Session

Student Entrepreneurial Skills and Mindset I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeremy Brett Ross, East Tennessee State University; Keith V. Johnson, East Tennessee State University; Kevin Wade Varney, East Tennessee State University

Tagged Divisions

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation

: Page 22.72.6 Table 1: Approximate Costs per Student $2,475 Program costs (housing, side trips, etc.) $1,000 Airfare $ 795 Tuition $ 500 Food $ 300 Books, passport, entry fees, other $5,070 TOTALFor most of our students, this cost is quite extensive. However, there is some financial aid atETSU which assist in these expenses. Every student at ETSU pays a $10 fee per semester forforeign travel. This money is made available in the form of scholarships to students who desireto travel abroad. For the ETSU at Rome Program, students can apply for up to

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Poster Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Willard W. Neel P.E., Virginia Military Institute; Jon-Michael Hardin, Virginia Military Institute

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

containing highly tensioned cords made ofsinew or hair. Figure 1 shows a 1/12 scale model of a 1 talent (58 lb stone) ballista built byone of the authors. The full size machine would top out at about 18 feet high. Page 22.73.2 Figure 1 The form of the ballista that is described by Heron and Philon.In this configuration wooden arms were inserted perpendicularly through the cord bundlesabout half way up the spring cylinders which were made up of the cords. The two outsideends of the arms were attached to a bowstring which was drawn back by a windlass and heldin place by a trigger device. Then the projectile, either an arrow or a stone sphere

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Technical Session

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Steven G. Northrup, Western New England College

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

computer engineering studentsinto the project. The main idea at that point was to attempt to form multidisciplinaryteams. The teams were multidisciplinary but there was little interdisciplinary interaction.Around 6 years ago, in 2004, standardization of the design practices was implementedand multidisciplinary interaction increased slightly. In 2005, further improvements weremade to the project that required more interdisciplinary design and testing effort. 4 Whilethese changes were effective, the mechanical engineering faculty involved with theproject deemed the required effort to be high for the 1 credit course. Subsequent surveydata showed that the level of interdisciplinary interaction decreased after the additionalrequirements were not