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Web Portal for Basic Engineering Courses with a Problem Database and Integrated Communication

Mandeep Thukral and Kurt Gramoll Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering University of Oklahoma

Abstract

This paper presents the use of a web-based teaching and learning environment for both dynamics and statics courses. The web portal or system incorporates communication, electronic media, problem database, course content, animations, simulations, collaboration tools, security and testing features to enhance its usefulness for engineering education. This paper covers the overall website features plus its security, communication and testing features.

The system has an online database of over 1000 problems for instructors to use for homework, quizzes and tests. The problem sets can be customized with random problem order, random answer order for each problem, and random parameter values for some problems. The instructor for the class can also choose between four answers (three wrong and one right) or include a fifth choice of “none of the above”. Depending upon the class requirements, any combination of problem generation features can be incorporated. The system, in all cases, remembers the degree of variation assigned to individual student for a particular problem in a given assignment.

The communication features of the web site include a discussion web-board and true web-based collaboration drawing boards. Both these features incorporate security since they recognize and only allow users of a particular class to login and use the system. Thus no anonymous messages can appear on the discussion board or class drawing board. The system has a four-tier authorization system for each of the main users; students, teaching assistants, instructors, and portal administrators. As a further security feature, there is a single login of any user so that the site cannot be entered without user verification.

I. Introduction

The use of Internet and electronic media for technical teaching purposes has grown tremendously over the past few years. New and interesting teaching methods are being developed and implemented almost monthly due to the versatility of the Internet. In particular, the Internet allows convenient collaboration between students [1] for both engineering education and design [2]. Computers and electronic media can also be used to supplement traditional methods of instruction, such as lectures and textbooks, with simulations, animations and even on-demand video [3]. It would be hard to say that these new media types and networks are not useful in teaching engineering education or for technical training. However, to use the Internet or

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

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Thukral, M., & Gramoll, K. (2002, June), Web Portal For Basic Engineering Courses With A Problem Database And Integrated Communication Paper presented at 2002 Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada. 10.18260/1-2--10173