Paper Authors

Abstract

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Main Menu Session 2768

Incorporating Web-Based Homework Problems in Engineering Dynamics

Ralph E. Flori, David B. Oglesby, Timothy A. Philpot, Nancy Hubing, Richard H. Hall, Vikas Yellamraju

University of Missouri-Rolla

Abstract

We are involved in a project funded by the Department of Education (FIPSE) which focuses on developing interactive software to improve the teaching and learning of engineering statics, dynamics, and mechanics of materials. This paper presents an overview of this project, discusses its objectives, and focuses on one particular aspect of the project—the use of web-based homework problems as assessment tools to evaluate student learning. The overall project includes creating, for all three engineering mechanics courses, the following web-based learning tools: (a) Animated theory modules, using Macromedia’s Flash development software, which display basic theory and example problems in an engaging, clear, and concise way; (b) Conceptual quizzes to evaluate student understanding of the theory; (c) Web-based homework problems to assess students’ quantitative skills; (d) Other media elements, including streaming video mini-lectures over key topics, and video of real mechanisms and examples. The paper will give examples of web-based homework used in dynamics, discuss aspects of creating and using these, and give some results of student feedback from using these problems.

I. Introduction: Mechanics Software Development Efforts at UM-Rolla

The faculty of the Basic Engineering Department at the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) have been involved in developing educational software for nearly a decade. The first project, BEST (Basic Engineering Software for Teaching) Dynamics, led by Dr. Ralph Flori, consisted of forty simulations of kinematics and kinetics problems that enabled learners to vary inputs to test and observe a wide variety of configurations and behavior (1). Dr. David Oglesby and Ed Carney created BEST Statics and On Call Instruction (OCI) for Statics, which were subsequently combined to create Statics On-Line, an interactive multimedia collection of problems and lessons which forms an integral part of the statics course currently taught at UMR (2). Dr. Tim Philpot, while at Murray State University, created MD-Solids, used to enhance teaching of Mechanics of Materials. Since joining the faculty at UMR in 1999, he has continued to expand and refine this work (3). Dr. Nancy Hubing has recently created, using Flash®, some very effective modules for teaching and learning topics in Statics. (4)

Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2002, American Society for Engineering Education

Main Menu

• Citation

• Format
  • APA
  • APA - LaTeX bibitem
  • MLA
  • MLA - LaTeX bibitem
  • Bibtex
  • EndNote - RIS

Hall, R., & Hubing, N., & Oglesby, D., & Yellamraju, V., & Flori, R., & Philpot, T. (2002, June), Incorporating Web Based Homework Problems In Engineering Dynamics Paper presented at 2002 Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada. 10.18260/1-2--10699