Characterizing Student Work while Solving Ill-Defined Statics Problems in Groups

Max Magee; Jessica Swenson

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Conference: 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Baltimore , Maryland
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
Start Date: June 25, 2023
End Date: June 28, 2023
Conference Session: Keeping It Real: Real World Examples and Systems Thinking
Tagged Division: Mechanics Division (MECHS)
Page Count: 20
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--43190
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/43190
Download Count: 145

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Paper Authors

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Max Magee University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

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Max Magee is an undergraduate research assistant in the Department of Engineering Education at the University at
Buffalo. He is majoring in Aerospace Engineering and minoring in Law and Mathematics and set to graduate in May
2023. After graduation, Max plans on seeking employment in the Aerospace field, preferably working with space craft.

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biography

Jessica Swenson University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

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Jessica Swenson is an Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo. She was awarded her doctorate and masters from Tufts University in mechanical engineering and STEM education respectively, and completed postdoctoral work at the University of Michigan. Her current research involves examining different types of homework problems in undergraduate engineering science courses, the intersection of affect and engineering identity, and improving the teaching of engineering courses.

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Abstract

Engineering problems are ill-defined, require assumptions and have multiple unique solutions. Industry engineers are often tasked with solving these kinds of problems in teams with other engineers, and having multiple engineers working on the same project brings a large variety of skills and diverse viewpoints to the task, which can result in a solution that wouldn’t have been formed by an engineer working independently. Although most industry engineers solve ill-defined problems in groups, students typically only practice this in engineering design courses. Our research aims to expand these experiences to engineering science courses.

Currently, most engineering science courses assign ‘classic’ textbook problems, where they are given certain physical parameters of a system, and are told to calculate an unknown value. An example of this is a mechanical engineering student who is tasked to find the strain in a perfectly cylindrical tube undergoes when a certain force is applied. This problem has one answer, and requires the student to plug values from the problem into an equation with little ability to practice engineering judgment. Although physics knowledge is an important aspect of engineering, students who only practice what they learn in class with these well defined questions are not getting an accurate representation of what they will be encountering when they join the workforce.

Ill-defined modeling problems provide students with more opportunities to utilize engineering judgment when compared to traditional textbook problems, and when these problems are solved in a group setting, it is both a better representation of how engineering is performed in the industry, and can help students better understand the class concepts. An example of an ill-defined modeling task is a problem that asks students to design a portable pool lift. Most students don’t have prior experiences with portable pool lifts, which will lead them to perform research, along with creating assumptions that may simplify their model while developing communication skills and engaging in discussion about how to arrive at the best solution. When working in a group, students have the opportunity to help each other understand what was taught in class, along with the ability to push back on other students' ideas. This will prepare students for their future career, lead to knowledge creation and help solidify concepts taught in class.

This full paper analyzes data (approximately 15.5 hours) that was collected in the form of recordings of zoom meetings of two groups that were tasked with solving an ill-defined modeling problem in a second year statics course. Using comparative coding, we categorized how students spent time when working in their group. Preliminary results show students alternate between negotiating tasks, comparing assumptions, and aiding each other in understanding course concepts. Implications of this work include forming a better understanding of how students make decisions, judgments and build knowledge when working together on an ill-defined modeling problem. Similarly, the results may assist professors in iterating on assignment design to further engage students in knowledge creating and engineering judgment practices.

Citation
Format

Magee, M., & Swenson, J. (2023, June), Characterizing Student Work while Solving Ill-Defined Statics Problems in Groups Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43190

TY - CPAPER
AB - Engineering problems are ill-defined, require assumptions and have multiple unique solutions. Industry engineers are often tasked with solving these kinds of problems in teams with other engineers, and having multiple engineers working on the same project brings a large variety of skills and diverse viewpoints to the task, which can result in a solution that wouldn’t have been formed by an engineer working independently. Although most industry engineers solve ill-defined problems in groups, students typically only practice this in engineering design courses. Our research aims to expand these experiences to engineering science courses.

Currently, most engineering science courses assign ‘classic’ textbook problems, where they are given certain physical parameters of a system, and are told to calculate an unknown value. An example of this is a mechanical engineering student who is tasked to find the strain in a perfectly cylindrical tube undergoes when a certain force is applied. This problem has one answer, and requires the student to plug values from the problem into an equation with little ability to practice engineering judgment. Although physics knowledge is an important aspect of engineering, students who only practice what they learn in class with these well defined questions are not getting an accurate representation of what they will be encountering when they join the workforce.

Ill-defined modeling problems provide students with more opportunities to utilize engineering judgment when compared to traditional textbook problems, and when these problems are solved in a group setting, it is both a better representation of how engineering is performed in the industry, and can help students better understand the class concepts. An example of an ill-defined modeling task is a problem that asks students to design a portable pool lift. Most students don’t have prior experiences with portable pool lifts, which will lead them to perform research, along with creating assumptions that may simplify their model while developing communication skills and engaging in discussion about how to arrive at the best solution. When working in a group, students have the opportunity to help each other understand what was taught in class, along with the ability to push back on other students&#39; ideas. This will prepare students for their future career, lead to knowledge creation and help solidify concepts taught in class.

This full paper analyzes data (approximately 15.5 hours) that was collected in the form of recordings of zoom meetings of two groups that were tasked with solving an ill-defined modeling problem in a second year statics course. Using comparative coding, we categorized how students spent time when working in their group. Preliminary results show students alternate between negotiating tasks, comparing assumptions, and aiding each other in understanding course concepts. Implications of this work include forming a better understanding of how students make decisions, judgments and build knowledge when working together on an ill-defined modeling problem. Similarly, the results may assist professors in iterating on assignment design to further engage students in knowledge creating and engineering judgment practices.

AU - Max Magee
AU - Jessica Swenson
CY - Baltimore , Maryland
DA - 2023/06/25
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Characterizing Student Work while Solving Ill-Defined Statics Problems in Groups
UR - https://peer.asee.org/43190
DO - 10.18260/1-2--43190
ER -