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Maximizing STEM Relevance Through Project-Based Learning for Freshman Engineers

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Conference

2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Columbus, Ohio

Publication Date

June 24, 2017

Start Date

June 24, 2017

End Date

June 28, 2017

Conference Session

Practices for Student Learning Engagement

Tagged Division

Manufacturing

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

16

DOI

10.18260/1-2--27422

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/27422

Download Count

680

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Paper Authors

biography

Aditya Akundi University of Texas, El Paso Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-8656-7002

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Aditya Akundi is currently affiliated to Industrial Manufacturing and Systems Engineering department, and Research Institute for Manufacturing and Engineering Systems at University of Texas, ElPaso.

He earned a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, India. He earned a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Intrigued by Systems Engineering , he earned a Ph.D in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a concentration in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at Unniversity of Texas in 2016. His research is focused on undersanding Complex Technical and Socio-Technical Systems from an Infromation Theortic approach.
He has worked on a number of projects in the field of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Additive Manufacturing and Green Energy Manufacturing. His research interests are in Systems Engineering & Architecture, Complex systems, Systems testing and Application of Entropy to Complex Systems.

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biography

Amit J Lopes University of Texas, El Paso

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Dr. Lopes' research interests focus on additive manufacturing and its applications. His research also includes Service Systems Engineering applications to additive manufacturing, healthcare, and energy systems. He is also interested in the application of lean manufacturing principles to improve additive manufacturing processes and operations.

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Abstract

This paper presents the results of a STEM Accelerator focused redesign of the ‘Foundation of Engineering’ course at University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) towards a more hands-on, interactive, and project based effort while also providing them with the tools and life-structure needed to be successful in Engineering study. As part of this effort, the following tools are highlighted: Winning The First Month; Math Stress Quests; and Semester Project. The above efforts assisted in changing the ‘Foundations of Engineering’ course from a teacher dominated instruction and philosophy course to a more student learning centered, engaging, hands-on, engineering problem solving course that improves student-faculty interaction and student motivation which will better prepare them to have a successful engineering education and career. A survey was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the course redesign.

Akundi, A., & Lopes, A. J. (2017, June), Maximizing STEM Relevance Through Project-Based Learning for Freshman Engineers Paper presented at 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Columbus, Ohio. 10.18260/1-2--27422

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