Engineering Commons^™

Designing A Microcontroller Training Platform For Active Distance Learning Engineering And Technology Students, Steve C. Hsiung, James E. Eiland, John R. Hackworth, John Ritz

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

This is an active distance-learning project that addresses the hands-on microprocessor/ mi-crocontroller-related courses. A research team designed a low-cost training system with supporting instructional materials to assist the teaching of these concepts. Individual laboratory activities are being developed to reinforce student learning and skill development in programming concepts. This basic system format eventually will support an array of engineering and technology courses. This project involves two community colleges, Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) and Olympic College (OC), and a four-year university, Old Dominion University (ODU), in a collaborative research team to design and develop a specific PIC microcontroller training system …

An Assessment And Continuous Improvement Model For Engineering Technology Programs, Alok Verma, Gary Crossman

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Assessment and continuous improvement are essential and critical processes for higher education. Development and implementation of such processes are not only required by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) but it is also a necessary condition for the maturation and development of any engineering technology program. The assessment and continuous improvement plan discussed here was developed at Old Dominion University (ODU) and implemented during the last accreditation cycle within the Engineering Technology Department. The plan is based on two cycles of assessment and evaluation, a short cycle of one year and a long term cycle of three years. …

Investigating Student Interest In Post-Secondary Stem Education, Anant R. Kukreti, Shafiqul Islam, Daniel B. Oerther, Karen C. Davis, Mark G. Turner, Catherine V. Maltbie, Thaddeus W. Fowler

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Interest among students for post-secondary STEM education and causes behind the declining enrollment rate was analyzed. A K-12 survey was developed at the University of Cincinnati to gather information directly from students to verify the teachers' statements regarding K-12 students' perceptions of the engineering profession and studying engineering in college. The K-12 student survey respondents indicated that about 28% of the 6-12 graders were interested in engineering. The survey also showed that students wanted to be an engineer because it was a stable living.

A Matter Of Priorities: Effects Of Increased Opportunities For Extracurricular And Non-Traditional Learning Experiences On Student Time Management And Attitudes, David Spurlock, Daniel J. Bailey, Susan L. Murray, Andrew S. Ricke

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Many schools are emphasizing non-traditional and extracurricular learning experiences for undergraduate engineering students. These include activities such as incorporating servicelearning projects into the classroom, involving students in design competitions (e.g., solar car, formula car races), and promoting involvement in traditional campus organizations. Often this emphasis is in response to changes in ABET requirements, desires of future employers, and needs to improve student retention. What are the effects of emphasizing these sorts of activities on student attitudes and time management decisions? We examine the influences on students' priorities for allocating their time and their perceptions of the relative importance of available …

Increasing Student Commitment To Class Preparation, Susan L. Murray

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Most of us know the rule-of-thumb that students should spend a certain number of hours outside of class studying for every hour in class. Unfortunately, students often develop the view that it is more efficient to come to class and have the instructor cover the material and then only study material that was emphasized or unclear. As faculty members this results in the dilemma of either assuming the students are not prepared and lecturing over basic material or trying to require the students to prepare. Some use readiness quizzes covering the required readings. Some try to intimidate, calling on students …

Penn State University Nsf Gk-12 Project: Using Web-Based Education And Interaction With K-12 And College Freshman To Promote Science And Engineering, Elana M. Chapman, Angela D. Lueking, Robin A. Tallon, Philip H. Henning, William S. Carlsen, Daniel C. Haworth

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Penn State University has hosted an NSF-sponsored GK-12 Outreach project for the past five years, and has just begun the second phase of the project. The Penn State project utilizes the talents of many science and engineering graduate students as teachers, mentors and role models for the K-12 classrooms. The project focuses on developing skills of students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics through the use of Advanced Transportation Technologies. A new project component was devised and implemented-the interaction of K-12 students with college freshman via a website project. The college freshmen were asked to create a …

A Template Functional-Gage Design Using Parameter-File Table In Autodesk Inventor, Cheng Lin, Moustafa Moustafa

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

A systematic approach using Autodesk Inventor to design the functional gages of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) is presented. The gages can be used to check straightness, angularity, perpendicularity, parallelism, and position tolerances of a part when geometric tolerances are specified with Maximum Material Condition (MMC). Four steps are proposed to accomplish the task: (1) creation of two-dimensional (2-D) initial template files, (2) generation of hierarchical folders for the template files, (3) creation a 3-D gage model from a specific template file, and (4) dimensioning and generation of the gage drawing. Results show that, by following this approach, students can …

Privatization Initiatives: A Source For Engineering Economy Case Studies, Paul Kauffmann, Tarek Abdel-Salam, Keith Williamson, Carol L. Considine

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

A case study method which reviews the basic structure of the circular A-76 privatization decision model is discussed. It highlights the possibilities for development of case studies that can challenge student teams to apply engineering economy tools while developing skills in a range of circular areas that are important to undergraduate engineering education and career success in engineering practice. Beyond building quantitative and qualitative business analysis skills, engineering economy cases can enhance student skills in other topical areas such as technical presentations, and report writing. The privatization initiatives and related decision models can also enhance human relations oriented skills in …

Project Planning & Development For Engineering Freshmen, Bouzid Aliane, Michael Collura, Samuel Bogan Daniels, Jean Nocito-Gobel

Engineering and Applied Science Education Faculty Publications

The nature and background of students seeking an engineering education has changed drastically in the last decade, as has the expectations of industrial employers. Many students lack the organizational skills needed for academic success. Similar organizational skills, although more advanced, are required for managing engineering projects. A new course was developed by the faculty at the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of New Haven. Through this course, a key component of the Multidisciplinary Engineering Foundation Spiral, seeks to promote higher retention rates, increase student motivation and begin a confidence-building transition to professional practice. Project management concepts …

Does Academic Dishonesty Relate To Unethical Behavior In Professional Practice? An Exploratory Study, Trevor S. Harding, Donald D. Carpenter, Cynthia J. Finelli, Honor J. Passow

Materials Engineering

Previous research indicates that students in engineering self-report cheating in college at higher rates than those in most other disciplines. Prior work also suggests that participation in one deviant behavior is a reasonable predictor of future deviant behavior. This combination of factors leads to a situation where engineering students who frequently participate in academic dishonesty are more likely to make unethical decisions in professional practice. To investigate this scenario, we propose the hypotheses that (1) there are similarities in the decision-making processes used by engineering students when considering whether or not to participate in academic and professional dishonesty, and (2) …

Mapping Of Thermo-Fluids Laboratory Experiments Into Web-Based Experiments, Sushil Chaturvedi, Rick Mckenzie, O. A. Akan, A. Priyadershini

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

A methodology is being developed for transforming physical experiments from the undergraduate thermo-fluids laboratory into a web-based virtual experiments. Important characteristics of physical experiments are identified in order to preserve them in physical to virtual domain mapping. Several commercially available software are employed to incorporate in the web-based experiments characteristics such as recreation of physical phenomenon in the virtual domain, measurement of physical quantities on a computer screen, assembly of virtual probes and coupling of the virtual experiment with a data acquisition software. A virtual reality software has been incorporated to enable web-based students to navigate through the virtual laboratory, …

Undergraduate Summer Research In Structural Engineering, Norbert J. Delatte

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

For the last seven years, a summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates site in structural engineering, funded by the National Science Foundation, has operated at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During this time, 33 students from 22 colleges and universities have participated in the site. Participants are recruited nationally and have come from as far away as California and Puerto Rico. The program is intended to provide students interested in graduate studies with an introduction to research methods, and to provide students who will not continue their studies past a bachelor of science in civil engineering with a better understanding …

Project-Based Freshmen Engineering Courses In Civil Engineering Technology, Vernon W. Lewis Jr., Carol L. Considine

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Old Dominion University (ODU) has developed two fundamental courses for freshmen engineering students. The first course introduces the fundamentals of the practice of engineering including innovation, creativity, design and manufacturing, commercialization, teaming skills, environmental impact, and ethics. The second course is an exploration of engineering and engineering technology disciplines with an emphasis on projects. The purpose of these courses is to engage the students in the application of engineering early in their course of study with the hope that their interest will be reinforced and the likelihood of their being retained as students will increase. The courses are divided into …

Design, Development, And Delivery Of Certificate Programs For Funding Opportunities And Industry Collaboration, Carol Considine, Paul Kauffmann

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Many engineering technology departments have four general areas that are used for evaluation of tenure and promotion. These areas include teaching, research and scholarly activities, service, and other professional activities. Although teaching is the primary mission in most engineering technology programs, external funding as part of the research area is playing a larger role in tenure decisions at many universities. Many faculty members in engineering technology programs come from an industrial background and do not have a specific research area of interest and contacts within the research community. These faculty members must look at other avenues to develop the external …

An Integration Of Pc Hardware & Software In Teaching Engineering Technology Courses, Steve Hsiung, Richard Jones

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

As technology advances, the price of a PC drops dramatically. This trend has resulted in PCs that are complex, powerful, and very affordable. Today's PC is a popular and essential tool in teaching software programming course(s) in C, C++, Visual Basic, or Java, running commercial software supporting courses in circuit simulation/design or circuit board layout, and acting as a workstation to gain access to the Internet or LAN networks. In most Engineering Technology curricula there is a limited amount of linkage between those PC applications. The actual effort to merge the hard-gained knowledge of hardware & software concepts together through …

Nsf Ccli: Developing A Molecular Biology Lab Course In Environmental Engineering And Science, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A new course and associated short course, to teach molecular biology skills to undergraduate and graduate students in environment engineering and practitioners of environmental engineering across the state of Ohio and around the world, is developed. Environmental engineers use microorganisms as biocatalysts to degrade pollutants in sewage as well as in the sites undergoing bioremediation. A series of courses to introduce engineering students to the principles of biology, at the University of Cincinnati are developed. These courses include, 'introduction to environmental engineering', required for all third year civil engineering students.

Integrating Biological Principles In Environmental Engineering Education: Summary Results Of A Three-Year Pilot Study, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Teaching biology to engineers is a challenge. For environmental engineers, biological principles are necessary to understand microorganisms that are removed from drinking water as well as microorganisms that treat waste in sewage treatment plants and bioremediation field sites. At the University of Cincinnati, we integrated state-of-the-art research in environmental microbiology within our graduate and undergraduate environmental engineering curricula. For the past three years, we taught a novel course entitled, "Molecular Biology in Environmental Engineering." Course evaluations over the past three years suggested that the course was successful for primarily two reasons, namely: (1) the course employed a problem-based learning approach …

Environmental Sustainability Education At The University Of Michigan: Collaboration With Industry To Provide Experiential Learning Opportunities, Angela D. Lueking, Deborah A. Ross, Walter Weber Jr

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Concentrations in Environmental Sustainability (ConsEnSus) Program at the University of Michigan is a new multi-disciplinary opportunity for graduate students in the College of Engineering to pursue interests in environmental sustainability white obtaining a traditional engineering Master's degree. Students from several engineering departments complement traditional disciplinary course requirements with courses in environmental regulations, policies, and technology. A required case studies course of the ConsEnSus Program brings practicing engineers together with students to discuss real-world sustainability problems. The industrial participants interactively present relevant case studies, and provide opportunities for experiential learning through classroom activities and term projects. This paper …

Guidelines For The Development Of Computer-Based Instruction Modules For Science And Engineering, Jessica R. Lux, Barry D. Davidson

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering - All Scholarship

The design and development of a prototype computer-based instruction (CBI) module is described. The module covers introductory structural analysis techniques and demonstrates the practicality of CBI for undergraduate engineering education. The module’s generic learning objectives are used to develop a set of guiding principles for CBI development. Choice of authoring software and the module architecture are presented, followed by the details of the user interface, logic, and screen layout. The module design and software development process outlined here are easily extended to computer-based tutorials that present problem solving methods for engineering, mathematics, and the natural sciences.

Active Learning In Distance Education, Carol Considine, Tony Dean

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Although there are many strategies for incorporating active learning exercises into the traditional classroom, incorporating active learning exercises in a distance education delivery format is more challenging. Active learning has been shown to enhance student performance and attitudes when used in conjunction with a traditional lecture format.¹ In order for students to be actively involved they must read, write, discuss, problem solve and engage higher-order thinking tasks such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.² The implementation of active learning exercises in distance education classes may help establish student rapport and enhance the feeling of community among the students in …

Performing Interactively A Thermo-Fluids Laboratory Experiment In The Virtual Domain, Sushil K. Chaturvedi, Ali O. Akan, Tarek M. Abdel-Salam, A. Priyadershini

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper deals with the development of an experiment in the virtual domain for the undergraduate thermo-fluids laboratory in the mechanical engineering program. A physical experiment titled "Venturimeter as a Flow Measuring Device" is replicated as a computer-based experiment as part of the ongoing effort at Old Dominion University to develop web-based laboratories that would provide students hands-on experience in the virtual domain. A web-based module is developed that allows experimentation and data taking in a virtual setting much like in the physical experiment. This module incorporating the virtual venturimeter has been used by students to take data for several …

Using The Ltpp Database In A Pavement Design Course, Norbert J. Delatte

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The Strategic Highway Research Program Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database provides considerable information about a large number of pavement test sections. The information may be easily accessed using DataPave 2.0 software, available free from the Federal Highway Administration. This software provides information on approximately 3,000 sections, with several modules for data analysis and extraction. This paper describes the integration of LTPP DataPave 2.0 software into a pavement design course. The database was used at several points throughout the course, including lessons on traffic characterization, materials, reliability, performance, and design. Twelve Texas pavement case studies were used. Each student was …

Introducing Molecular Biology To Environmental Engineers: Through Development Of A New Course, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The introduction of a course "Molecular Methods in Environmental Engineering" is discussed. The course is developed to address the growing national need for integrating geonomics and molecular biology into the engineering curriculum. Fifteen graduate students were successfully introduced to molecular biology through lectures and hands-on laboratory excercises following the "full-cycle 165 rRNA approach". The course helps in providing supportive and independent learning environment to the students.

Principles Of Biology In Environmental Engineering: Molecular Biology-Based Identification Of Microorganisms, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The various aspects of a course on use of technology from molecular biology to screen microorganism in environmental samples and to monitor microbial biocatalysts in reactors, is discussed. The objective of the course is to teach students to adapt techniques from molecular biology to address important issues in environmental engineering. In case of methanogens, design considerations in environmental engineering include stabilization of sewage sludge through anaerobic digestion and wastewater treatment. The hands-on format encourages students to develop scientific questions, learn appropriate methodology, conduct careful experimentation, and draw conclusions worthy of presentation.

Incorporating Web-Based Homework Problems In Engineering Dynamics, Ralph E. Flori, David B. Oglesby, Timothy A. Philpot, Nancy E. Hubing, Richard H. Hall, Vikas Yellamraju

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We are involved in a project funded by the Department of Education (FIPSE) which focuses on developing interactive software to improve the teaching and learning of engineering statics, dynamics, and mechanics of materials. This paper presents an overview of this project, discusses its objectives, and focuses on one particular aspect of the project.the use of web-based homework problems as assessment tools to evaluate student learning. The overall project includes creating, for all three engineering mechanics courses, the following web-based learning tools: (a) Animated theory modules, using Macromedia.s Flash development software, which display basic theory and example problems in an engaging, …

Engineering Management At Umr -- Alumni Voices, Stephen A. Raper

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Department of Engineering Management at the University of Missouri-Rolla is among the oldest of its kind in the United States, and has over 2000 Bachelors level alumni graduates. The Department will undergo ABET accreditation under the new assessment based criteria in the fall of 2002. The new criteria specify that engineering programs should seek to continuously improve their degree offerings through an ongoing assessment process that includes constituent input. Our own department has specified undergraduate alumni as one of the prime or key constituents that will be queried for input into our own processes. For the first time in …

Systemic Issues In Asynchronous Delivery Of Graduate Engineering Management Programs, Charles Keating, David Dryer, Andres Sousa-Poza, William Peterson, Robert Safford

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The purpose of this paper is to examine systemic issues that impact the design, delivery, and maintenance of asynchronous engineering management educational products. Asynchronous education continues to rapidly evolve as an alternative to traditional classroom delivery. An asynchronous educational system requires the effective integration of technology, supporting processes, and infrastructure design to prepare, deliver, and maintain asynchronous educational products. Currently, the technological capabilities for delivery of asynchronous education have outstripped the ability to maximize those advanced technologies. To help understand this rift between technology and our ability to deploy that technology this paper examines three critical areas. First, the distinctions …

Engineering Management- The Minor Of Choice, William Peterson, Paul Kauffmann, Charles Keating, Resit Unal

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The minor in engineering management provides several real benefits to undergraduate engineering and engineering technology students, not the least of which can be a substantially larger starting salary. The other benefits it offers students are in the skill sets developed (project management, engineering economics, organization behavior / principles of management, and either statistical concepts or decision techniques), the preparation to start an engineering management graduate degree, and the bridging of the competency gaps identified in several national surveys. This paper addresses the benefits of the minor to engineering management programs.

Interactive Virtual Laboratory For Experience With A Smart Bridge Test, Elizabeth C. Eckhoff, Vicki M. Eller, Steve Eugene Watkins, Richard Hall

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Virtual laboratory experiments can be cost effective, convenient instructional resources that have appeal to a wide range of learning styles. Expensive, time-consuming laboratory tests can be experienced repeatedly and remotely using interactive simulations and original video footage or animations. A virtual experiment can incorporate meaningful exercises, procedural options, and background hyperlinks to create a comprehensive "hands on" environment. Also, it may be used as preliminary training for the actual experiment.

An interactive LabVIEW-based laboratory for a load test simulation of an existing demonstration bridge was created. This smart truss bridge is instrumented with fiber optic strain sensors situated on the …

An Instrument For Assessing Knowledge Gain In A First Course In Circuit Theory, Vishnu K. Lakdawala, Stephen A. Zahorian, Oscar R. González, Amit Kumar H., James Leathrum

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Although there has been considerable research on the development and use of assessment instruments to measure the effectiveness of various pedagogical approaches to teaching introductory physics classes (Hestenes et al. 1, Hestenes et al 2, Hake 3, Saul et al. 4) and other science courses (for example, see Vosniadou 5), there is relatively little similar work that has been done to develop assessment instruments for the first circuit theory course that is taught in electrical and computer engineering. Given the large numbers of students nationwide who take such a course, the challenge this course presents to beginning engineering students, and …