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Can Hands-on Statics Improve Student Learning?

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Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

July 12, 2024

Conference Session

Learning Mechanics through Visual and Tactile Modalities

Tagged Division

Mechanics Division (MECHS)

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/48440

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Paper Authors

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Eric Davishahl Whatcom Community College Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0001-9506-2658

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Eric Davishahl serves as professor and engineering program coordinator at Whatcom Community College in northwest Washington state. His current project involves developing and piloting an integrated multidisciplinary learning community for first-year engineering. More general teaching and research interests include designing, implementing and assessing activities for first-year engineering, engineering mechanics, and scientific computing. Eric has been an active member of ASEE since 2001. He was the recipient of the 2008 Pacific Northwest Section Outstanding Teaching Award and currently serves on the ASEE Board of Directors as Zone IV Chair.

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Alan Zhang California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

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John Chen P.E. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

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John Chen is a professor of mechanical engineering. His interests in engineering education include conceptual learning, conceptual change, student autonomy and motivation, lifelong learning skills and behaviors, and non-cognitive factors that lead to stu

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biography

Kathryn Mary Rupe Western Washington University

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Kathryn Rupe is an assistant professor of math education at Western Washington University. Previously, she taught middle school math and worked as an instructional coach in Chicago Public Schools for 10 years.

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Abstract

Mechanics instructors frequently employ hands-on demonstrations and activities in hopes of improving student learning outcomes. This paper presents results from a study exploring the effectiveness of a hands-on statics curriculum that spans several topics and is designed for implementation over multiple weeks. The modeling kit and associated series of activities integrates conceptual exploration with analysis procedure tutorials and aims to scaffold students’ development of representational competence, their ability to use multiple representations of a concept as appropriate for learning, problem solving, and communication. We conducted this study over two subsequent fall terms in multiple sections of a statics course at a mid-size public university. The intervention sections in fall 2023 were taught by two instructors who were both using the modeling kit for the first time. Both instructors administered a test of 3D vector concepts and representations called the Test of Representational Competence with Vectors (TRCV) in weeks 1 and at mid-term, the Mental Cutting Test (MCT) for spatial abilities in weeks 1 and at end-of-term (nine weeks later), and the Concept Assessment Test in Statics (CATS) at end of term. The control sections were taught by the same two instructors in fall 2022. These sections administered the same assessments on the same schedule but did not use the hands-on curriculum. We compare learning outcomes between the control and intervention sections as measured by the scores on the assessments described above as well as final course grades. We also share reflections from the two faculty participants regarding their experiences teaching with the models.

Davishahl, E., & Zhang, A., & Chen, J., & Rupe, K. M. (2024, June), Can Hands-on Statics Improve Student Learning? Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/48440

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