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Anytime-anywhere Engineering Experimentation

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Conference

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Location

Virtual Conference

Publication Date

July 26, 2021

Start Date

July 26, 2021

End Date

July 19, 2022

Conference Session

Remote Physical Laboratories: Experimentation and Laboratory-oriented Studies

Tagged Division

Experimentation and Laboratory-Oriented Studies

Page Count

16

DOI

10.18260/1-2--36688

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/36688

Download Count

455

Paper Authors

biography

John M. Sullivan Jr Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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Professor John Sullivan joined WPI in 1987. He has had continuous external research funding from 1988 thru 2013. He has graduated (and supported) more than 75 MS and PhD graduate students. He has served as the ME Department Head and in 2012 was elected Secretary of the Faculty through 2015. Prof. Sullivan has always maintained a full teaching load. He strongly supports the WPI project-based undergraduate philosophy.

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Ahmet Can Sabuncu Worcester Polytechnic Institute Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0001-7905-421X

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Dr. Sabuncu holds a Ph. D. in Aerospace Engineering from Old Dominion University. Dr. Sabuncu’s professional interests spans from engineering education research, history of science and engineering, thermo-fluids engineering, and microfluidic technology. Dr. Sabuncu is eager to discover next generation workforce skills and to educate next generation of engineers who will carry industry 4.0 forward considering the needs of the global world.

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Valerie B. Smedile Rifkin Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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Valerie Smedile Rifkin is an Instructional Designer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She assists faculty with the design, development, and delivery of both online and face-to-face courses, with the goal of promoting a positive and engaging experience for all learners. Valerie has over 15 years of experience working in higher education, primarily in online graduate education, faculty support, and instructional design. She holds an M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology and an M.A. in Anthropology from Brandeis University.

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Kimberly Lechasseur Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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Dr. Kimberly LeChasseur is a researcher and evaluator with the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She holds a dual appointment with the Center for Project-Based Learning and the Morgan Teaching and Learning Center. She holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Temple University and has more than ten years of experience researching professional learning of educators and evaluating efforts to improve students' opportunities to learn.

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Caitlin A. Keller Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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Caitlin Keller is an Instructional Designer for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Her primary role involves designing and delivering faculty development opportunities aimed at preparing faculty for effective course design processes in the online, blended/hybrid, and in-person active learning environments. Caitlin holds a Master of Science degree in Learning Technologies and Instructional Design from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Lebanon Valley College.

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Abstract

This work examines the delivery of quality, hands-on engineering experimentation in a home or remote environment. The course was designed to develop experimental skills in engineering measurement methods, based on electronic instrumentation and computer-based data acquisition systems, using the microcontrollers Raspberry Pi and/or an Arduino. The learning outcomes involved developing student confidence, proficiency in data acquisition, statistical assessment of data, experimental setup and implementation. There were 6 formative modules to develop confidence in making engineering measurements with a variety of sensors and a summative module that involved a student-created, open-ended project involving a minimum of 3 sensors and/or controllers to perform a student-defined integrated objective. An analysis of the student perceived outcomes showed significant learning relative to traditional classroom laboratory instruction. Student engagement was high, and a primary contributing factor perceived by the students was their ability to create or choose their projects, select the sensors, and design their experimental set-up. In summary, we conclude that this anytime-anywhere experimentation laboratory is a viable option for keeping remote students engaged and will continue as a significant enhancement in student learning opportunities.

Sullivan, J. M., & Sabuncu, A. C., & Smedile Rifkin, V. B., & Lechasseur, K., & Keller, C. A. (2021, July), Anytime-anywhere Engineering Experimentation Paper presented at 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual Conference. 10.18260/1-2--36688

ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2021 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015