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Session 3263

WEB PAGE CREATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE WRITTEN REPORTS IN AN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING COURSE

Michael Bailey-Van Kuren, Karen E. Schmahl

Manufacturing Engineering Department Miami University Oxford, Ohio

Abstract

As a part of an undergraduate advanced manufacturing processes course, students are required to perform in-depth research into an assigned manufacturing process. Over the past three semesters, students have presented their results in the form of a web site rather than in wr itten format. The assignment gives students the opportunity to gain detailed knowledge of a process, to work with a classmate in a team effort, and to experience creation of an alternative means of communication. Each semester, the students were surveyed on their experience with this format versus previous experience with paper-based team reports. This paper provides the results regarding the effectiveness of the assignment in terms of teamwork, creativity, and learning.

Introduction

Effective oral and written communication skills are important for students to develop as they matriculate through an engineering program. They must effectively communicate within teams on an interpersonal level as well as being able to convey results of research and analyses through written reports and oral presentations. The proliferation of the web as a communication tool has added another dimension to communication skills where students should have a basic level of awareness and proficiency. The challenge for educators is to help students develop these skills within the context of engineering subject matter.

Engineering educators have implemented a variety of web based tools to enhance their courses. These tools have included web based communication [1], web based instruction [2], and web based laboratories [3]. Most of these methods focus on information flow from the instructor to the students. Peer to peer communication is rarely addressed by course instructors. Gehringer [4] utilized the web to perform peer grading of homework assignments. Hailey et.al. [5] studied the use of the world wide web for peer to peer communication on design teams. However, the need for engineers to communicate effectively through technical writing on the web is growing. Many

“Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright Ó 2002, American Society for Engineering Education”

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Bailey-Van Kuren, M. (2002, June), Web Page Creation As An Alternative To Written Reports In An Advanced Manufacturing Course Paper presented at 2002 Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada. 10.18260/1-2--10696