Engineering Commons^™

An Exploratory Study Of Engineering Identity Development In African American Youth, Coletta Elayne Johnson Bey

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Over the next ten years, the United State government forecasted a shortage of one million science, technology, engineering and mathematic (STEM) workers. This shortage of STEM workers can adversely impact the global competitiveness and sustainability of America. Within the workforce, African Americans are grossly underrepresented. The emerging body of knowledge has derived a process by which potential engineers make be identified. There is wide recognition in the body of knowledge that developing engineers have growth mindsets; strong math and science skills; and associate in engineering communities of practice. Authors of published research also agree that parents influence their child(ren)’s career …

A Study To Determine How To Measure The Laser Safety Climate At Academic Institutions, John Settlemyer

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

Statement of Problem

The purpose of this study was to determine if the laser safety climate can be measured at academic institutions and what factors would provide valid measures of the laser safety climate at academic institutions. Specifically, the study attempted to answer the following questions:

Research Questions

RQ1. Can laser safety climate be measured at academic institutions using a climate survey instrument?

RQ2. What factors should be measured by a laser safety climate instrument?

RQ3. What measures would provide actionable data for prescriptive intervention by laser safety professionals at academic institutions? (p. 4)

Impact Of Bioinspired Robots On Veterans Pursuing Stem Degrees, Otilia Popescu, Vukica M. Jovanovic, Krishnanand Kaipa, Karina Arcaute, Anthony W. Dean

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The gap in the area of advanced manufacturing skilled workforce and the efforts in guiding veterans towards STEM careers are merged in the NSF funded project presented in this paper. While most of the products and STEM educational programs focused on a maker concept that are currently available are specifically designed for young population, at various K-12 grade levels, to increase their interest in STEM and engineering careers in particular, there is a limited availability of such programs to address adult population. The study presented in this paper focuses on developing and implementing a series of workshops for veterans, using …

Teaching Introduction To Welding In Undergraduate And Graduate Engineering Technology Programs, Hamid Eisazadeh, Milan Rakita, Mona Torabizadeh, Vukica Jovanovic

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Recent trends in the industry have led to an increased need for engineers with welding training. Not many universities in the U.S.A. offer welding courses at undergraduate level. Engineers that do not receive education about this complex process, sometimes they make a very costly and dangerous mistake. More profound understanding of the welding process that expands beyond the basic comprehension of technology use is needed for the advanced manufacturing sector. Welding related courses, as it involves the complex interplay of the four states of matter (solid, liquid, gas and plasma) as governed by the laws of physics, need topics such …

A Ulysses Pact With Artificial Systems. How To Deliberately Change The Objective Spirit With Cultured Ai, Bruno Gransche

Computer Ethics - Philosophical Enquiry (CEPE) Proceedings

The article introduces a concept of cultured technology, i.e. intelligent systems capable of interacting with humans and showing (or simulating) manners, of following customs and of socio-sensitive considerations. Such technologies might, when deployed on a large scale, influence and change the realm of human customs, traditions, standards of acceptable behavior, etc. This realm is known as the "objective spirit" (Hegel), which usually is thought of as being historically changing but not subject to deliberate human design. The article investigates the question of whether the purposeful design of interactive technologies (as cultured technologies) could enable us to shape modes of …

A Utility Framework For Selecting Immersive Interactive Capability And Technology For Virtual Laboratories, Shuo Ren

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

There has been an increase in the use of virtual reality (VR) technology in the education community since VR is emerging as a potent educational tool that offers students with a rich source of educational material and makes learning exciting and interactive. With a rise of popularity and market expansion in VR technology in the past few years, a variety of consumer VR electronics have boosted educators and researchers’ interest in using these devices for practicing engineering and science laboratory experiments. However, little is known about how such devices may be well-suited for active learning in a laboratory environment. This …

5th/6th Graders And Preservice Teachers Explore Engineering And Coding In A Combined After-School Technology Club/Educational Technology Course, Jennifer Kidd, Sam Sacks, Krishnanand Kaipa, Kelly Rippard

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Elementary schools are increasingly encouraged to adopt STEM education efforts that include engineering and programming, yet pre-service teachers (PSTs) are not traditionally prepared to teach these subjects. This pilot study describes an innovative preparation experience designed to help PSTs gain experience and confidence in these areas. As part of an undergraduate educational technology course, PSTs led an after-school technology club at a local public school. PSTs enrolled in the course worked alongside fifth and sixth grade students on a series of collaborative design challenges that culminated in the creation of animal-inspired robots. The “WoW Club”, as it came to be …

Scaffolding Project-Based Learning In An Engineering And Education Partnership Using Open-Access Technology, Pilar Pazos, Stacie I. Ringleb, Jennifer Kidd, Rachel Jones

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper describes the use of a freely-accessible open-source platform based on Google Apps for Education that combines Google Sites, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Hangouts and script language in a custom-based interface that supports collaborative service-learning projects for teams of Engineering and Education students. The approach discussed in this paper was successful in promoting collaboration among students from two different disciplines working remotely. The analysis suggests that balanced participation in the team, presence of shared goals and clear roles that emphasized individual and collective responsibilities were key to a successful interdisciplinary project experience. While many students still reported struggling …

An Interdisciplinary Research-Based Education Program For Engaging Plant/Agriculture Sciences, Chemical Sciences, And Engineering Students (Irep-4-Pace) At Minority Institutions, Sharanabasaweshwara Asundi, Gregory C. Bernard, Willard E. Collier

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

An interdisciplinary Research-based Education Program for Engaging Plant/Agriculture sciences, Chemical sciences and Engineering students (iREP-4-PACE) is envisioned with the underlying intent to improve Tuskegee University's (TU’s) STEM retention through the introduction of interdisciplinary, guided, inquiry experiments focused on the production of high-value chemicals from plants. At large, chemicals are synthesized from petroleum resources and it is well established that the continued extraction of these resources is detrimental to the environment. On the contrary, synthesizing chemicals from "plant factories" may be a boon to the environment and have a negative carbon …

Design A Portable Sensing Platform With A Lidar And Ti Arm M4 Controller, Bin Hu, Steve C. Hsiung, Matthew B. Kersey

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The Microcontrollers/microelectronics have been used in variety of engineering applications on complex and efficient operations. One of the challenges in applying existing microelectronic technologies to these engineering systems lies in the need of modular portability, scalability, customizability, and compatibility. This paper focuses on addressing such challenges by designing a portable sensing platform that integrates a Lidar with USB interface and TI ARM M4 microcontroller. This developed sensing system will serve as an effective teaching platform to create new or enhance existing microelectronic courses that allow students to gain hands-on experiences in mobile embedded system designs. Moreover, the customizability and portability …

Doctoral Engineering Grant Writing Experience To Prepare Future Professionals And Faculty, Katherine Smith, Nathapon Siangchokyoo, Erika Gamarra, Ashish Tamhane, Anthony W. Dean

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

While there have been many efforts to broaden opportunities for all STEM students by engaging in interdisciplinary endeavors and education focusing on professional development, there are particular problems facing students pursuing doctoral degrees in engineering disciplines. Doctoral programs of the future need to become better equipped to prepare students for future careers as engineering professionals or faculty. It has been noted recently that many doctoral degree recipients are turning to jobs outside of academia but increases in undergraduate enrollment and the average age of the professoriate indicate an increase in demand for new faculty. Both future faculty and professionals can …

Sustainability In Higher Education: Perceptions Of Social Responsibility Among University Students, Younghan Jung, Kayoung Park, Junyong Ahn

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Many construction-related training and education programs in the United States have now embraced the concept of sustainability, offering sustainable construction courses that highlight sustainable design and construction practices. These courses have mainly focused on green building strategies for the design and construction of built environments and indoor environmental quality necessary for students’ knowledge enhancement and career development. This study examined the effect of sustainability course on students’ knowledge as well as their perceptions of social responsibility and sustainable behaviors. Data were collected by conducting a survey from construction related programs in U.S. universities. Students were categorized based on their experience …

Exposing Students To Stem Careers Through Hands-On Activities With Drones And Robots, Vukica M. Jovanović, George Mcleod, Thomas E. Alberts, Cynthia Tomovic, Otilia Popescu, Tysha Batts, Ms. Mary Louise Sandy

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Autonomous robots have been used in a variety of ways from collecting specimen in hazardous environments to space exploration. These robots can be found in various manufacturing systems as Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to transport parts and assemblies throughout the manufacturing system. They have also been used as a vehicle to convey design thinking and other STEM-related concepts in mechanical engineering/mechanical engineering technology, electrical engineering/electrical engineering technology, computer science, and computer engineering. Various outreach events have included robotics based activities that engage students in building and programming autonomous robots for the purpose of achieving a specific task. These events are …

Exporting Online Engineering Management Programs: Enablers, Barriers, And Descriptions Of Programs At Two Universities, Luna Magpili, Alice F. Squires, Kim Bullington, Linda Vahala, Aysen K. Taylor

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper investigates enablers and barriers for Engineering Management Degree Granting Programs offered online by universities located in the United States to students located in foreign countries. Using a strong foundation of literature research and two universities on opposite sides of the country (one east coast, one west coast) exporting online Engineering Management programs as examples, the paper investigates seven enablers and seven barriers. The enablers and barriers are reviewed in the context of delivering engineering management education online across national borders, without requiring students to travel to another country (referred to as Mode 1 service export). The investigation reveals …

Board 78: Establishing A Pathway To Completion For Pursuing Engineering And Engineering Technology Degrees Through A Scholarship Program At Old Dominion University, Vukica M. Jovanovic, Anthony W. Dean, Kim Bullington Sibson, Cynthia Tomovic, Rafael Landaeta

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

There are various barriers facing adult students and veterans completing engineering degrees. Many of these student’s work part- or full-time while in college. In order to help these students, enable high retention rates, and decrease time to graduation require an in-depth understanding of specific student populations, especially ones classified as underrepresented. This paper provides an initial look into the first year of a scholarship program, funded by the National Science Foundation, and student success activities designed to support high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need pursuing bachelor's degrees in engineering and engineering technology. Support services and scholarships are for veterans …

Continued Efforts In Ti Arm M4 Microcontroller Curricula Developments And Assessments Between Three Different Institutions And Programs, Steve C. Hsiung, Lijian Xu, Feng Jao, Yonghui Wang, Suxia Cui

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

This project is a continuation in efforts to upgrade the curricula in microcontroller related courses that are facing difficulties in the disappearing and lack technical supports in hardware and software of 68XXX and 80XXX microcontrollers. Through the study of a NSF supported project "Transform the Innovated Design and Development of an Embedded Design Training System and Associated Support Curricula into a Commercial Available Product" that interviewed 130 faculty/teachers/students across the U.S. has revealed on finding newly available microcontrollers is an urgent issue in the academic communities. Based on the supports on hardware and software and function libraries, the TI ARM …

Analysis Of Blended And Multi-Modal Instruction And Its Effects On Spatial Visualization Ability, Diana Bairaktarova, Daron Williams, Petros Katsioloudis

STEMPS Faculty Publications

For the last decade, remedial spatial visualization training has been offered to first-year engineering students in traditional classroom settings where students attend class and interact face-to-face with an instructor and peers. An alternative to the traditional pedagogical approach is a multi-modal blended learning format that combines in-class instruction with videos that can be viewed at the student’s convenience. The new setting affords students the opportunity to repeatedly revisit the basic instruction at the time and place of their choosing. This case study investigated student outcomes in a blended multi-modal Introduction to Spatial Visualization course that integrated video lectures; free-hand sketching …

The Legacy Project: Rodney L. Custer, Dte, Rodney L. Custer Dte, Johnny J. Moye Dte

STEMPS Faculty Publications

An interview with vice president of Dept. of Technical Education, Rodney Custer is presented. Topics discussed include interest in technology and engineering education; academic qualification; and experience as university department chair administrator and working with the Center for Math, Science, and Technology (CeMast).

Improving Stem Recruitment Through A Theme-Based Summer Residential Camp Focused On Sea Level Rise, Vukica M. Jovanović, Balša Terzić, Mujde Erten-Unal, Victoria Hill, George Mcleod, Michelle Covi, David Burdige, Jenifer Alonzo, Justin Mason, Tysha Batts, Cynthia Tomovic

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

In this paper, the authors present an enrichment program that focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) concepts. The program is named Building Leaders to Advance Science and Technology (BLAST) and is held each summer at three universities across the Commonwealth of Virginia: Old Dominion University, the University of Virginia, and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. BLAST is sponsored in partnership among these three universities and the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC), and is funded by the General Assembly of Commonwealth of Virginia. Its main purpose is to expose high school students to topics related to different STEM fields through …