Preparing Students for Industry by Integrating Commercial Software into Coursework

Joseph A. Untener; Robert L. Mott; Buck Jones

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Conference: 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Seattle, Washington
Publication Date: June 14, 2015
Start Date: June 14, 2015
End Date: June 17, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-692-50180-1
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Software Applications in ET Programs
Tagged Division: Engineering Technology
Page Count: 13
Page Numbers: 26.1249.1 - 26.1249.13
DOI: 10.18260/p.24586
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/24586
Download Count: 509

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Paper Authors

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Joseph A. Untener P.E. University of Dayton

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Joe is a professor of Engineering Technology at the University of Dayton. With degrees from General Motors Institute and Purdue University, and experience with General Motors and other engineering and manufacturing companies, he teaches courses in Mechanical Engineering Technology, and co-authors text with Robert L. Mott.

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Robert L. Mott University of Dayton

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Robert L. Mott, P.E. is professor emeritus of engineering technology at the University of Dayton. He is a member of ASEE, SME, and ASME. He is a Fellow of ASEE and a recipient of the ASEE James H. McGraw Award. He is a recipient of the SME Education Award. He holds the Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from General Motors Institute (Now Kettering University) and the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. He has authored the textbooks; Applied Fluid Mechanics 7th ed. and Machine Elements in Mechanical Design 5th ed., published by Pearson/Prentice-Hall; Applied Strength of Materials 5th ed. with CRC Press and the 6th edition is in preparation.

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Buck Jones Engineered Software

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Jones graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering Physics and Christian Brothers University with a MBA specializing in Finance and Marketing. He has spent over 25 years in engineering, sales, marketing, and training positions. His experiences and education have afforded him the opportunity to develop collaborative agreements with customers, marketing teams, manufacturers, engineers and vendors which enhanced product value; have created prototypes, created product opportunities, and value analysis and value engineering.

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Abstract

Preparing Students for Industry by Integrating Commercial Software into CourseworkJoseph A. Untener, University of Dayton, Dayton, OhioRobert L. Mott, University of Dayton, Dayton, OhioBuck E. Jones, Engineered Software Inc., Lacey, WashingtonThe “automation” of engineering tasks has been an issue in engineering education since at least thetime of the first handheld calculator. Whether or not to require the use of “trig tables” is an argumentsettled long ago, but the role of software in engineering education continues to be a topic of discussion.Graduates are best positioned to serve industry well if their courses offer them BOTH the undergirdingfoundation AND a familiarity with the use of commercial software that automates these processes.Faculty should not have to choose between a strictly traditional course format OR training on the use ofsoftware. Instead, students need a firm grasp of the underlying concepts including the ability tomanually calculate solutions, but also must be ready to move to a work environment where thesecalculations are often automated.This paper presents one model that addresses this topic from the development of the textbook all theway through the delivery of the student experience by individual faculty members. In this case, textbook authors partnered successfully with an engineering software company and continue to work withinstructors of the course to close the loop on the educational experience. The authors worked tointegrate software seamlessly into a traditional text that has been successful over six previous editions.The result was a simple integration with no additional costs or contracts. Google analytics are used toshow use of the software, monitor the degree of student engagement, and offer feedback to instructors.This approach can result in a tremendous enhancement to a text, without requiring that instructorsmake a dramatic shift in their syllabi or teaching approach. It also yields the opportunity to close theloop with instructors who have adopted the text by providing feedback on the acceptance of thesoftware as a viable component of the course.This paper is jointly written by the textbook authors, the engineering software company, and facultyteaching the course with this new component after teaching it many times without this facet. Theintention is to present one model for updating a course to bring more practical application withoutlosing the foundational work that supports it.

Citation
Format

Untener, J. A., & Mott, R. L., & Jones, B. (2015, June), Preparing Students for Industry by Integrating Commercial Software into Coursework Paper presented at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/p.24586

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -                                       Preparing Students for            Industry by Integrating Commercial Software into CourseworkJoseph A. Untener, University of Dayton, Dayton, OhioRobert L. Mott, University of Dayton, Dayton, OhioBuck E. Jones, Engineered Software Inc., Lacey, WashingtonThe “automation” of engineering tasks has been an issue in engineering education since at least thetime of the first handheld calculator. Whether or not to require the use of “trig tables” is an argumentsettled long ago, but the role of software in engineering education continues to be a topic of discussion.Graduates are best positioned to serve industry well if their courses offer them BOTH the undergirdingfoundation AND a familiarity with the use of commercial software that automates these processes.Faculty should not have to choose between a strictly traditional course format OR training on the use ofsoftware. Instead, students need a firm grasp of the underlying concepts including the ability tomanually calculate solutions, but also must be ready to move to a work environment where thesecalculations are often automated.This paper presents one model that addresses this topic from the development of the textbook all theway through the delivery of the student experience by individual faculty members. In this case, textbook authors partnered successfully with an engineering software company and continue to work withinstructors of the course to close the loop on the educational experience. The authors worked tointegrate software seamlessly into a traditional text that has been successful over six previous editions.The result was a simple integration with no additional costs or contracts. Google analytics are used toshow use of the software, monitor the degree of student engagement, and offer feedback to instructors.This approach can result in a tremendous enhancement to a text, without requiring that instructorsmake a dramatic shift in their syllabi or teaching approach. It also yields the opportunity to close theloop with instructors who have adopted the text by providing feedback on the acceptance of thesoftware as a viable component of the course.This paper is jointly written by the textbook authors, the engineering software company, and facultyteaching the course with this new component after teaching it many times without this facet. Theintention is to present one model for updating a course to bring more practical application withoutlosing the foundational work that supports it.
AU  - Joseph A. Untener P.E.
AU  - Robert L. Mott
AU  - Buck Jones
CY  - Seattle, Washington
DA  - 2015/06/14
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Preparing Students for Industry by Integrating Commercial Software into Coursework
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/24586
DO  - 10.18260/p.24586
ER  -