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Session 2793

Web-Based Engineering Science Course Modules Overview and an Experiment in Engineering Economics

Jeff Goldberg, Mark Hickman, Kevin Lansey College of Engineering and Mines, University of Arizona

Abstract

As curricula receive increasing pressure to reduce credit hours while including non-traditional elements, the engineering science component has sometimes been the target of cutbacks. However, knowledge of the fundamental concepts remains critical to engineering education. The existing paradigm for teaching engineering science is three credit hour blocks of material. This three-unit course depth may not be necessary, but a basic comprehension of the material is vital.

To better prepare graduates, a series of one-unit modules are being developed at the University of Arizona. Students will have the opportunity to take several of these modules in place of the currently required three unit engineering courses. Module topics include statics, engineering economics, electric circuits, mechanics of materials, hydraulics, material science, dynamics, and thermodynamics. These courses will be taught in a web-based format with opportunity to interact with faculty and teaching assistants during live and electronic office hours. The web- based materials will provide the basis for asynchronous learning and will be similar to electronic texts but allow students to question a faculty when reviewing the material. There is also interest in the materials at the community college level.

In this paper we report on the development effort and the difficulties involved, both in faculty buy-in and in course development. We have run a small experiment using the materials for engineering economics and our results are included.

1. Introduction

In Spring 1998, the General Electric Foundation (GE) granted $450,000 to the University of Arizona (UofA), College of Engineering and Mines (COEM). The project covered three main areas:

1. The development of 1-credit web based modules on various topics of engineering science. 2. The development of materials in systems/statistical thinking that could be used by faculty to develop curricula and by students to learn the content material. 3. The development of a sophomore level class that builds on our freshman design experience and covers some of the "softer" ABET 2000 criteria (communication, teamwork, ethics, contemporary issues, global environment).

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. Copyright 2001, American Society for Engineering Education

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Hickman, M., & Lansey, K., & Goldberg, J. (2001, June), Web Based Engineering Science Course Modules Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--10011