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Articles 1 - 30 of 30
Full-Text Articles in Education
Out-Of-Classroom Experiences: Bridging The Disconnect Between The Classroom, The Engineering Workforce, And Ethical Development, Brian A. Burt, Donald D. Carpenter, Matthew A. Holsapple, Cynthia J. Finelli, Rob M. Bielby, Janel A. Sutkus, Trevors S. Harding
Out-Of-Classroom Experiences: Bridging The Disconnect Between The Classroom, The Engineering Workforce, And Ethical Development, Brian A. Burt, Donald D. Carpenter, Matthew A. Holsapple, Cynthia J. Finelli, Rob M. Bielby, Janel A. Sutkus, Trevors S. Harding
Brian Burt A.
The extant research on engineering ethics instruction shows that students receive ethics instruction within the engineering curricula. Unfortunately, the methods used in engineering undergraduate classrooms are described as ‘‘abstract’’ and have mixed results related to impacting students’ ethical development. Thus, exploring how out-of-classroom experiences—as a curricular alternative—influences students’ ethical development is warranted. This is an exploratory investigation to determine how out-of-classroom experiences influence students’ ethical development. The authors define ethical development using three constructs: knowledge of ethics, ethical reasoning, and ethical behavior. We draw upon a conceptual model that suggests students’ ethical development is impacted by what takes place inside …
E-Mentoring For Employability, Andrea S. Wheeler, Simon Austin, Jacqui Glass
E-Mentoring For Employability, Andrea S. Wheeler, Simon Austin, Jacqui Glass
Andrea S. Wheeler
Recession and higher costs of higher education have over the past few years increased concerns over employability amongst engineering and construction students.
The Honour House Project: Reservist Re-Entry Program, Sarah A. Rajala, Kevin J. Wainwright, Barbara E. Endicott-Popovsky
The Honour House Project: Reservist Re-Entry Program, Sarah A. Rajala, Kevin J. Wainwright, Barbara E. Endicott-Popovsky
Sarah A. Rajala
Both the United States and Canada invest a great deal of resources in the training of their military personal. Many of the skills and experiences accumulated by soldiers are those that are highly valued by civilian employers. Further, these skills are often embodied in academic programs, suggesting soldiers would have a comparative advantage in such programs; however, despite the efforts of government agencies, many soldiers are unable to convert their skills and training into meaningful careers. While there are several reasons why individuals leaving military duty have trouble re-integrating into work and education, one of the major obstacles is the …
Alternative Approach To Assessing Military Training For Advanced Placement Into Engineering And Technology Programs, Kevin James Wainwright, Barbara Ellen Endicott-Popovsky, Sarah A. Rajala
Alternative Approach To Assessing Military Training For Advanced Placement Into Engineering And Technology Programs, Kevin James Wainwright, Barbara Ellen Endicott-Popovsky, Sarah A. Rajala
Sarah A. Rajala
Both the United States and Canada invest a great deal of resources in the training of their military personal. Many of the skills and experiences accumulated by soldiers are those that are highly valued by civilian employers. Further, these skills are often embodied in academic programs, suggesting soldiers would have a comparative advantage in such programs; however, despite the efforts of government agencies, many soldiers are unable to convert their skills and training into meaningful careers. While there are several reasons why individuals leaving military duty have trouble re-integrating into work and education, one of the major obstacles is the …
Greening The Curriculum: Augmenting Engineering And Technology Courses With Sustainability Topics, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Elif Kongar
Greening The Curriculum: Augmenting Engineering And Technology Courses With Sustainability Topics, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Elif Kongar
Kurt A. Rosentrater
Duties of engineers and technologists often entail designing and implementing solutions to problems. It is their responsibility to be cognizant of the impacts of their designs on and thus, their accountability to society in general. They must also be aware of subsequent effects upon the environment. They need to be able to concurrently satisfy these often competing priorities as well as constraints specific to the technical challenges at hand. Responding to these contending forces are the growing fields of green engineering and sustainable engineering. Both of these areas encompass many concepts, ideas and tools all of which are essential for …
Ifees: Enhancing Engineering Education At A Global Scale, Lueny Morrell, Claudio Borri, Hans J. Hoyer, Sarah A. Rajala, Seeram Ramakrishna, Xavier Fouger, Bruno Laporte, José Carlos Quadrado, Maria M. Larrondo Petrie, Duncan Mckenzie Frasier
Ifees: Enhancing Engineering Education At A Global Scale, Lueny Morrell, Claudio Borri, Hans J. Hoyer, Sarah A. Rajala, Seeram Ramakrishna, Xavier Fouger, Bruno Laporte, José Carlos Quadrado, Maria M. Larrondo Petrie, Duncan Mckenzie Frasier
Sarah A. Rajala
Engineering and technology play a key role in globalization as developed and developing countries develop and implement effective and efficient strategies that advance their economies and social development. Engineering has played a critical role in economic development in the history of civilization, because engineers are important not only in solving local problems but also in knowledge creation and knowledge transfer. Thus, science and technology education need to be in continuous evolvement in order to keep assisting countries reduce poverty, boost socio-economic development and make the right decisions for sustainable and environmentally compatible development. In a flat world, a global approach …
Not Just Informative, But Necessary: Infusing Green And Sustainable Topics Into Engineering And Technology Curricula, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Elif Kongar
Not Just Informative, But Necessary: Infusing Green And Sustainable Topics Into Engineering And Technology Curricula, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Elif Kongar
Kurt A. Rosentrater
Generally accepted duties of engineers and technologists encompass designing and implementing solutions to problems. When so doing, it is their responsibility to be cognizant of the impacts of their designs on, and thus their accountability to, not only society in general, but also subsequent effects upon the environment. They need to be able to concurrently satisfy these competing needs, as well as constraints specific to the design challenges at hand. Responding to these requirements are the growing fields of green engineering and sustainable engineering. Both of these areas encompass many concepts, ideas, and tools, all of which are essential information …
An Integrated Living And Learning Community For First And Second Year Undergraduate Women In Science & Engineering, Katherine Titus-Becker, Sarah A. Rajala, Laura Bottomley, Dianne Raubenheimer, Jo-Ann Cohen, Kala Bullett, Susan Grant, Fay Cobb Payton, Barbara Kirby, Adrianna Kirkman, Wendy Krause, Carrie Thomas
An Integrated Living And Learning Community For First And Second Year Undergraduate Women In Science & Engineering, Katherine Titus-Becker, Sarah A. Rajala, Laura Bottomley, Dianne Raubenheimer, Jo-Ann Cohen, Kala Bullett, Susan Grant, Fay Cobb Payton, Barbara Kirby, Adrianna Kirkman, Wendy Krause, Carrie Thomas
Sarah A. Rajala
The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Village combines a group living experience with resident, upper-class mentors who assist in the transition to university life. Programs for the WISE community are designed to promote academic success, foster the formation of lasting relationships with fellow students, professors and mentors, and provide out-of-classroom experiences. The WISE Village is a supportive environment in which women engage in focused inquiry within their disciplines and develop the skills and talents necessary to become successful students and professionals in STEM fields. When the WISE Village began in 2003, it was as a partnership with University Housing, …
The Development Of Undergraduate Distance Education Engineering Programs In North Carolina, Sarah A. Rajala, Tom Miller
The Development Of Undergraduate Distance Education Engineering Programs In North Carolina, Sarah A. Rajala, Tom Miller
Sarah A. Rajala
The College of Engineering at North Carolina State University has a strong track record in providing distance education to the citizens in North Carolina through credit-based courses and degree programs. To provide increased access to engineering education on the undergraduate level and enhance the success of the student transfer population, the College of Engineering developed two new 2+2 engineering programs and a distance education bachelor of science in engineering program. The 2+2 programs are designed to provide students enrolled at institutions without engineering programs the opportunity to take some of the fundamental engineering courses in addition to their general education …
The Global Relevance Of Bio-Based Industries To Engineering And Technology Education, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Radha Balamuralikrishma
The Global Relevance Of Bio-Based Industries To Engineering And Technology Education, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Radha Balamuralikrishma
Kurt A. Rosentrater
The society in which we live has developed an insatiable demand for energy and material goods. In particular, recent data reveals that the aggressive pursuit of improved standards of living in the highly populated countries of India and China has contributed to increased demand for fossil fuels, which has exacerbated the recent spike in energy costs. Historically, these needs have been met primarily by fossil fuels and other non-renewable raw materials. As environmental concerns grow, however, renewable resources are gaining increased attention. This paper examines the emergence and importance that bio-based industries are increasingly beginning to play. A bio-based enterprise, …
An Evaluation Of An Established Case Study For Engineering Technology Education, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Radha Balamuralikrishma
An Evaluation Of An Established Case Study For Engineering Technology Education, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Radha Balamuralikrishma
Kurt A. Rosentrater
Engineering and technology educators focus on meeting existing and future needs of industry when designing the content domain and planning instructional methods in their discipline. However, undergraduate students in engineering and technology rarely have an opportunity to solve real world problems that require integration across several disciplinary branches of engineering and those outside of engineering. This makes it difficult for students to make the transition from academia to industry especially in an era where the principles of concurrent engineering are employed in new product design and development. Therefore, there is a strong need to bring challenging, industry involved problems into …
Biorefining Of Renewable Resources—Emerging Opportunities For Engineering Education, Kurt A. Rosentrater
Biorefining Of Renewable Resources—Emerging Opportunities For Engineering Education, Kurt A. Rosentrater
Kurt A. Rosentrater
The society in which we live has developed an insatiable demand for energy and material goods. Historically these needs have primarily been met by utilizing fossil fuels and other nonrenewable raw materials. As environmental concerns grow, however, renewable resources are gaining increased attention. This paper examines industrial biorefineries, which are at the leading edge of the development of emerging biobased industries. Biorefineries, similar in concept to traditional petroleum refineries, utilize various conversion technologies to produce multiple products, including fuels, chemicals, industrial products, and electrical power from renewable biomass sources, such as corn stover, residue straw, perennial grasses, legumes, and other …
Preparing New Faculty Members To Be Successful: A No-Brainer And Yet A Radical Concept, Rebecca Brent, Sarah A. Rajala, Richard M. Felder
Preparing New Faculty Members To Be Successful: A No-Brainer And Yet A Radical Concept, Rebecca Brent, Sarah A. Rajala, Richard M. Felder
Sarah A. Rajala
A multifaceted program at North Carolina State University involving workshops and mentorships helps prepare new faculty members and graduate students for successful academic careers. This paper describes the elements of the program, reviews assessment data for each element, and offers recommendations to engineering schools wishing to establish their own programs for new and future faculty members.
Ethics For Industrial Technology Majors: Need And Plan Of Action, Kurt A. Rosentrater, R. Balamuralikrishma
Ethics For Industrial Technology Majors: Need And Plan Of Action, Kurt A. Rosentrater, R. Balamuralikrishma
Kurt A. Rosentrater
The recent introduction of sessions dedicated to “Industrial Technology” in the annual ASEE conference is testimony that this discipline has gained its rightful place in the company of engineering and engineering technology. This new level of partnership and collaboration between engineering and technology programs promises to be a step in the right direction for society at large. Engineering and technology majors both supplement and complement each other’s knowledge and skills and it is crucial for educators to build bridges of active interaction. This paper takes aim at one specific as well as basic need in teamwork and interdisciplinary projects – …
Ethics For Industrial Technology, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Radha Balamuralikrishma
Ethics For Industrial Technology, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Radha Balamuralikrishma
Kurt A. Rosentrater
This paper takes aim at one specific, as well as basic, need in teamwork and interdisciplinary projects – ethics and its implications for professional practice. A preliminary study suggests that students majoring in industrial technology degree programs may not have adequate opportunity to formally study and engage in ethical aspects of technology vis-à-vis the practices of the profession. It is reasonable to assume that the ethical dilemmas faced by an industrial technologist would parallel those of engineers and managers. To address this issue, this paper identifies a domain of knowledge that would constitute a necessary background in ethics for industrial …
The North Carolina State University Women In Science And Engineering Program: A Community For Living And Learning, Sarah A. Rajala, Laura J. Bottomley, E. A. Parry, J. D. Cohen, Susan C. Grant, C. J. Thomas, T. M. Doxey, G. Perez, R. E. Collins, J. E. Spurlin
The North Carolina State University Women In Science And Engineering Program: A Community For Living And Learning, Sarah A. Rajala, Laura J. Bottomley, E. A. Parry, J. D. Cohen, Susan C. Grant, C. J. Thomas, T. M. Doxey, G. Perez, R. E. Collins, J. E. Spurlin
Sarah A. Rajala
Women are underrepresented in many of the disciplines in engineering, the mathematical sciences, and the physical and natural sciences, both at the undergraduate and the graduate levels. Depending upon the discipline, we lose women at varying points along the way. The pipeline of women interested in studying in engineering disciplines and in physics, for example, narrows considerably at the undergraduate level. In other disciplines such as mathematics, the retention rate for women at major research universities is much lower than at liberal arts institutions and the percentage of women who pursue graduate studies is much lower than that of their …
Assessment Of Introduction To Engineering And Problem-Solving Course, Joni E. Spurlin, Jerome P. Lavelle, Mary Clare Robbins, Sarah A. Rajala
Assessment Of Introduction To Engineering And Problem-Solving Course, Joni E. Spurlin, Jerome P. Lavelle, Mary Clare Robbins, Sarah A. Rajala
Sarah A. Rajala
At North Carolina State University, the freshmen’s first course in engineering is E101, Introduction to Engineering and Problem-Solving. It is offered each fall to over 1,100 first year engineering students. In an effort to continuously improve the course, we put into place a plan to assess the course's learning outcomes. Assessment data collected in fall 2001 and fall 2002 through surveys, rubrics, and class assignments were evaluated to determine how well students met learning outcomes related to communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. This paper presents the assessment methods used in this course and provides examples of how the assessment findings were …
K-12 And University Collaboration: A Vehicle To Improve Curriculum And Female Enrollment In Engineering And Technology, Janis P. Terpenny, Thomas Gralinski
K-12 And University Collaboration: A Vehicle To Improve Curriculum And Female Enrollment In Engineering And Technology, Janis P. Terpenny, Thomas Gralinski
Janis P. Terpenny
In 1993, the State of Massachusetts enacted the Educational Reform Act to improve student performance and to increase school accountability. One of the curriculum frameworks of this initiative is titled Science and Technology/Engineering. One of the strands within that framework, Technology/Engineering, outlines standards in seven curriculum areas to be assessed at the high school level on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). This framework is somewhat controversial but supported by numerous surveys focusing on national needs. The movement of traditional Industrial Arts programs to a Technology/Engineering approach in both delivery and content has created a new set of problems with …
Outcomes Assessment: Developing An Electronic Assessment Database As A Model For Collection And Analysis Of Data, Joni E. Spurlin, Sarah A. Rajala, Jerome P. Lavelle, O. Jerome Hoskins
Outcomes Assessment: Developing An Electronic Assessment Database As A Model For Collection And Analysis Of Data, Joni E. Spurlin, Sarah A. Rajala, Jerome P. Lavelle, O. Jerome Hoskins
Sarah A. Rajala
As the ABET process in each institution moves toward outcomes assessment, it pushes each program to develop and implement its outcome assessment plans. Assessment plans document how programs will gather data, interpret the findings, and use the results to make improvements in programs, curricula, and resources. The ABET team at North Carolina State University (faculty from each engineering discipline along with assessment-knowledgeable personnel) has developed a model that academic programs within the College of Engineering use to determine what data to gather, where to obtain the data, and what criteria may be most appropriate when interpreting the data. This paper …
Utilizing The Internet To Improve Student Learning In A First Course In Engineering Economy With Real-World Unsolved Problems In Collaboration With Industry, Janis P. Terpenny, William G. Sullivan, Harpreet Singh, Kimberly Sward
Utilizing The Internet To Improve Student Learning In A First Course In Engineering Economy With Real-World Unsolved Problems In Collaboration With Industry, Janis P. Terpenny, William G. Sullivan, Harpreet Singh, Kimberly Sward
Janis P. Terpenny
This paper reports on results of an experiment to investigate whether technology and the Internet facilitate student learning of Engineering Economy through real world problems in collaboration with industry. An overview of the organization and administration of the collaborative projects is presented. Learning aids and Internet tools are included in this discussion. Assessment results of student performance and perception are also presented. It was found using a bootstrap sample, at a significance level of 0.05, that the grade point average (GPA) of students working on projects in collaboration with industry administered through a variety of tools over the Internet (Experimental …
Succeed-Sponsored Freshman Year Engineering Curriculum Improvements At Nc State: A Longitudinal Study Of Retention, Matthew W. Ohland, Sarah A. Rajala, Timothy J. Anderson
Succeed-Sponsored Freshman Year Engineering Curriculum Improvements At Nc State: A Longitudinal Study Of Retention, Matthew W. Ohland, Sarah A. Rajala, Timothy J. Anderson
Sarah A. Rajala
NC State’s involvement in the NSF-sponsored SUCCEED Coalition has led to a number of changes to the freshman year of the engineering curriculum as reported previously (e.g., ASEE 1999, Porter, et al.). An explicit objective of these changes was to retain in engineering those students who were qualified and interested in engineering, but were leaving engineering for other reasons. While a number of isolated innovations have been studied and have demonstrated positive benefit, this study looks at each freshman cohort from 1987 through 1998 to evaluate changes in retention in engineering during that period. Eleven cohorts were studied; five (1987- …
Ec2000 Criterion 2: A Procedure For Creating, Assessing, And Documenting Program Educational Objectives, Michael Carter, Sarah A. Rajala, Rebecca Brent
Ec2000 Criterion 2: A Procedure For Creating, Assessing, And Documenting Program Educational Objectives, Michael Carter, Sarah A. Rajala, Rebecca Brent
Sarah A. Rajala
Criterion 2 [Program Educational Objectives (PEO)] is arguably the most important part of ABET EC2000. PEO embody the broad vision for an engineering program that drives the overall accreditation process. They also provide a crucial nexus point for the assessment of each program, the point at which the programmatic issues of the other EC2000 criteria—curriculum, faculty, facilities, etc.—are considered within the larger context of the needs of key constituencies of the program and the mission of the institution. Criterion 2 plays an essential role in EC2000's goal of encouraging continuous improvement in engineering programs and of providing the opportunity for …
Virtual Classroom For Teaching The Economics Of Engineering Design, Janis P. Terpenny, Kimberly Sward
Virtual Classroom For Teaching The Economics Of Engineering Design, Janis P. Terpenny, Kimberly Sward
Janis P. Terpenny
As decision-makers, engineers must be knowledgeable and competent in multiple aspects of design. Engineering is more than a problem solving activity focusing on simply the expected performance of designed artifacts. Consideration must also be given to the economic consequences of design decisions on life-cycle issues. A major challenge to undergraduate engineering education is to increase student competency in the economic elements that are such a critical part of the engineering process. Many believe that success in this endeavor requires new methods and materials that actively engage students in learning, are more closely aligned with engineering decision-making, and include real-world problems …
Senior Design Projects To Aid The Disabled, Janis P. Terpenny, Robert Gao, John Ritter, Donald Fisher, Sundar Krishnamurty
Senior Design Projects To Aid The Disabled, Janis P. Terpenny, Robert Gao, John Ritter, Donald Fisher, Sundar Krishnamurty
Janis P. Terpenny
A new two-semester capstone senior design course sequence in the area of assistive technology has been developed and integrated within the established curriculum of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst. Entitled “Senior Design Projects to Aid the Disabled,” the capstone sequence includes close collaborations with the Lemelson Assistive Technology Development Center (LATDC) at Hampshire College and Adaptive Design Services (ADS) under the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation (DMR). The new design course allows students to work directly with collaborators and disabled clients to solve specific assistive technology design problems. Through these …
North Carolina State University Summer Transition Program – A High School To College Bridge Program For Enhancing Undergraduate Engineering Education, Tony L. Mitchell, Alisa Hunt-Lowery, Sarah A. Rajala
North Carolina State University Summer Transition Program – A High School To College Bridge Program For Enhancing Undergraduate Engineering Education, Tony L. Mitchell, Alisa Hunt-Lowery, Sarah A. Rajala
Sarah A. Rajala
The NC State University College of Engineering is an internationally recognized producer of engineers and computer scientists who are prepared to make an immediate contribution to the workforce. Our research faculty are recognized around the world for cutting edge research. Essential to our mission and continued success is a steady stream of top-notch students who contribute to and celebrate ethnic, academic and gender diversity. Each year an entering freshman class of 1100 new engineering students includes 20% women and 20% underrepresented minority students. The rate at which they persist through our undergraduate program is impacted by how they adapt during …
North Carolina State University Center For Minority Engineer Development, Tony L. Mitchell, Sarah A. Rajala, Laura J. Bottomley, Mary Clare Robbins
North Carolina State University Center For Minority Engineer Development, Tony L. Mitchell, Sarah A. Rajala, Laura J. Bottomley, Mary Clare Robbins
Sarah A. Rajala
North Carolina State University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, is the largest state-supported university of the sixteen-campus University of North Carolina educational system. The College of Engineering at NC State University is among the best in the country, offering outstanding degree programs and preparing students for exciting and rewarding careers. Our graduates are heavily recruited internationally for positions in a variety of settings, including business management, construction, transportation, hardware and software development, computer engineering and design. The College of Engineering comprises 10 departments offering 16 BS, 17 MS, and 14 Ph.D. degree programs and conducts the largest undergraduate and …
Introduction To Engineering Problem Solving—A New Course For 1100 First Year Engineering Students, Richard L. Porter, Laura J. Bottomley, Mary Clare Robbins, Walthea V. Yarbrough, Sarah A. Rajala, Hugh Fuller
Introduction To Engineering Problem Solving—A New Course For 1100 First Year Engineering Students, Richard L. Porter, Laura J. Bottomley, Mary Clare Robbins, Walthea V. Yarbrough, Sarah A. Rajala, Hugh Fuller
Sarah A. Rajala
During the past several years, NC State University has offered several experimental courses designed for the first year student in engineering; IMPEC, an integrated approach to mathematics, physics, engineering, and chemistry; E123, a mechanical dissection course which is now linked with the first year writing and composition course; and ECE 292D, a hands-on team based design course offered to upper class students as well. All were offered as an alternative to the introductory course (E100) that had little academic content, no engineering problem solving, and consisted of a large lecture room format with information dissemination as the major goal. Although …
Attitude About Engineering Survey, Fall 1995 And 1996: A Study Of Confidence By Gender, Hugh Fuller, Susan C. Grant, Kristine C. Lawyer, Richard L. Porter, Sarah A. Rajala
Attitude About Engineering Survey, Fall 1995 And 1996: A Study Of Confidence By Gender, Hugh Fuller, Susan C. Grant, Kristine C. Lawyer, Richard L. Porter, Sarah A. Rajala
Sarah A. Rajala
One of the primary goals of the North Carolina State University College of Engineering (COE) is to enroll the best undergraduate students possible. One factor hampering the achievement of this goal is the lack of interest of many female high school students in the traditionally male-dominated field of engineering. With no special recruiting activities aimed at informing young women about the field of engineering and recruiting them to our campus, the results are not surprising: even though women represent forty percent of the undergraduate enrollment at the University, they represent just under twenty percent in the COE. In order to …
Relevant Design Experiences For Agricultural And Biosystems Engineers: Team Focus Through Competition, D. Raj Raman, Ronald E. Yoder
Relevant Design Experiences For Agricultural And Biosystems Engineers: Team Focus Through Competition, D. Raj Raman, Ronald E. Yoder
D. Raj Raman
The multitude of specializations within biosystems engineering makes traditional capstone design courses, which typically focus on a single topic, less relevant. In our department, our year-long capstone design experience involves machine component design. While this experience is useful to students in all concentrations, ideally, students concentrating on biological-, food-, and soil and water-engineering will have a capstone design experience that integrates their unique technical capabilities. New capstone courses should also enhance the broader skills of undergraduate engineers, including teamwork, time and resource management, oral and written communication, and integrated computer skills. However, a variety of issues militate against simply adding …
The Evolution Of An Introductory Biological Engineering Course: Design Is The Endpoint!, D. Raj Raman
The Evolution Of An Introductory Biological Engineering Course: Design Is The Endpoint!, D. Raj Raman
D. Raj Raman
Four the past four years, I have taught the sophomore level course, Agricultural Engineering 243 Material and Energy Flows in Biological Systems each spring semester. During the first offering, I used the lecture method to transmit information, and homework assignments and exams to reinforce skills and test comprehension. The greatest weakness of this technique seemed the lack of hands-on experience which I gave my students, and their subsequent lack of physical intuition. Enhancing their physical intuition drove the first curricular revision—using in-class demonstrations and simulations of key physical and biological processes. This technique did not work as well as expected, …