Engineering Education Commons^™

Exploring The Impact Of Social Interactions And Representation On The Development Of Engineering Students' Sense Of Belonging In A Summer Program., Liliana Martinez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that engineering students from underrepresented minority (URM) populations experience significant retention gaps compared to their majority peers (Dickerson et al., 2014). One factor that can significantly promote academic success, retention, persistence, and psychological adjustment is a sense of belonging (Hausmann et al., 2007; Hoffman et al., 2002). There is evidence showing that Summer Bridge Programs (SBPs) can foster students’ sense of belonging (Strayhorn, 2019); however, little is known about the mechanisms through which an SBP impacts URM engineering students’ sense of belonging. This study addresses this knowledge gap by investigating the impact of the Brown Forman …

How Do Parents Influence Female Students' Engineering Trajectory?, Niloufar Bayati, Cameron Denson

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Using the Parental Socialization Framework, this research provides a detailed analysis of how early STEM exposure, parental confidence in abilities, and gender-neutral upbringing contribute to the development of STEM identities among women. Employing a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, six undergraduate women engineering majors were interviewed in-depth about their parents' influence on their STEM pathways. The findings reveal that parents' high academic expectations, confidence in their daughters' abilities, verbal and non-verbal encouragement, and early STEM opportunities are pivotal in steering female participants toward engineering. The study also underscores the importance of creating a gender-neutral environment that allows girls to explore and develop …

Learning Through Online Participation: From Breakout Rooms To Discord, Makayla Moster

All Dissertations

For software development teams, teamwork is an essential part of their day-to-day lives. However, due to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, more companies have allowed employees to have more hybrid and remote work options than before. As more companies are adopting hybrid and remote workstyles, we need to ensure that we are preparing the next batch of young software developers to conduct teamwork in remote and hybrid settings. In this dissertation, I address the tools students use for teamwork and how to improve their teamwork inside and outside of the classroom. I present my research on improving student experiences …

Game Changing Education: Empowering High School Stem Teachers To Teach Engineering Using Games, Leslie Brown

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In response to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) released in 2013, there was a nationwide push for K-12 schools to include engineering concepts in science classrooms. However, there is an overall lack of teacher preparedness and training towards engineering topics as shown by common engineering misconceptions. To improve this issue, I initiated a qualitative study to describe the strategies and attitudes of high school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers that have implemented game-based, engineering activities into their classroom. Game-based learning is an instructional framework that utilizes game-like elements in a classroom and was used in this study …

Le Numérique En Administration Pédagogique Des Écoles : État Des Lieux, Impacts Et Défis. Cas De La Direction Provinciale D’Ouarzazate, Mohamed Boukhch, Abdessamad Boulkhalil

Dirassat

This article attempts to explore the subject of the digitalization of school administration. The digitization of the sector was initiated by the Minister of Education already ten years ago through the implementation of digital systems available to school administrators. We are wondering here about the probable existence of a link between the digitalization of the school administration system and student’s learning. the question we asked is: To what extent does the digitalisation put in place relate to student’s learning ?

to answer this question, we have opted for a practical exploratory approach in order to provide elements of clarification on …

65 - Evaluating Drone-Based Stem Camps For Enhanced Engagement And Sel Development, David Morgan

Undergraduate Research Symposium

STEM camps are programs designed to promote exposure to learning associated with science, technology, engineering, and math educational outcomes. However, there is a significant gap in participation for Black and Brown individuals in STEM careers. This study seeks to understand how STEM programs during out-of-school time may support students from underrepresented communities and foster future interest in STEM-related careers. This study employs a retrospective qualitative research design investigating program participation in a week-long STEM camp in Hampton, Virginia. Thirty middle and high school students participated in the curriculum, technical drone skills, emphasizing emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and social awareness. These findings …

Exploring Credit Loss For Engineering Transfer Students, Amy J. Richardson, David B. Knight

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

One of the issues at the heart of transfer is the mobility of credits across institutions—moving credits from one institution to another is a crucial process for the transfer pathway to be a viable option. Credit loss is a critical issue for transfer students enrolled in highly sequential degrees, such as engineering. A student could be set back a year or more if they miss one required prerequisite course at the time of transfer. Determining who experiences credit loss in engineering could help ease the transfer process, improve graduation rates, and broaden participation in engineering since the transfer pathway has …

Underlying Mechanisms Of The Effect Of Microfines Of Manufactured Sand On Non-Linear Structural Build-Up Of Cement Paste, Jiang Zhu, Jiaping Liu, Kamal H. Khayat, Xin Cheng, Wei Zhao, Zhen Li, Xin Shu, Yongbo Huang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The rheological properties of cement-based materials made with manufactured sand vary with the content and physio-chemical properties of microfines in the sand. However, the evaluation of rheological properties regarding the structural build-up at early-age hydration remains challenging for the cementitious materials prepared with different manufactured sands, due to complicated underlying structuration mechanisms. This paper studies the effect of disparate microfines of different manufactured sands on the non-linear growth of static yield stress of cement pastes at rest. The paste mixtures were prepared with 0.40 and 0.275 water-to-cement mass ratio (W/C) and had a fixed mini-slump flow of 240 ± 5 …

Intersectional Predictors Of Early Mathematics Identity Among Underrepresented Engineering-Interested Students, Douglas D. Havard, Adriana Quirós-Arauz

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This study examines the intersectional factors influencing early mathematics identity development among underrepresented secondary students (grades 9-10) with aspirations in engineering. Mathematics identity is a well-established predictor of long-term persistence in engineering, making its early formation critical to understanding student retention in the engineering pipeline. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner's bioecological framework, this study situates learning within nested layers of influence. Using data form the nationally representative High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), which includes over 23,000 9th-graders, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted. The analysis examined intersections of race and gender identity across 16 variables spanning individual, micro-, meso-, …

Identifying Contributing Factors Of Black American Females’ Long-Term Persistence In Stem Education: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Chandra T. Oaks-Garcia

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain insights into contributing factors that have shaped the experiences of eight Black American females who pursued STEM education as they persisted from the secondary education setting to their collegiate setting in a STEM major. This qualitative phenomenological study collected data through in-depth semi-structured interviews with Black American female juniors and seniors studying at four different four-year institutions, all pursuing degrees in STEM-related fields. Demographic surveys and memo writing were incorporated to enhance the data analysis. To explore the lived experiences of Black American females in STEM education and identify factors that contributed …

Design And Development Of A Low-Cost Educational Robot: A Scalable And Affordable Software Learning Platform, Diana Refaat Henry Jacob, Mohamed Tarek Elawa, Ashraf Mohamed Hafez

Journal of Engineering Research

This study presents the design and development of a low-cost educational robot to enhance learning experiences in robotics and programming. The system integrates robust software development, ensuring seamless interaction between sensors, actuators, and a custom-designed graphical user interface (GUI). The robot is equipped with various sensors and actuators to support a broad range of experiments and educational applications. The software architecture is detailed, focusing on its modularity and ease of use, enabling students to intuitively program and interact with the robot. Additionally, a series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of the sensors and actuators, providing insights into …

Developing Students' Sociotechnical Thinking In The Humanities-Engineering Classroom: A Treatment Versus Control Study Using A Scenario-Based Assessment, Lori Czerwionka, Siddhant S. Joshi, Gabriel O. Rios-Rojas, Kirsten A. Davis

School of Engineering Education Faculty Publications

Background

Engineering problems are open-ended and complex, involving technical and social aspects, yet engineering education focuses on technical training and closed-ended problems. To prepare engineering students, curricula should foster sociotechnical thinking—the ability to consider the interplay of technical and social factors during problem solving. Although educational interventions in this area show promise, further insight into the benefits of interdisciplinary interventions is warranted, particularly with treatment and control group designs.

Purpose

We examine the effect of a Humanities-Informed Engineering Projects (HIEP) course on students' sociotechnical thinking development.

Method

We compared the sociotechnical thinking development of engineering students who took the HIEP …

Beyond Cultural Responsiveness: Elevating African American Stem Education Through African-Centered Models, Deanna Bailey, Charnee Bowens, Tamara Altman

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

Researchers posit that the way science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are taught to African Americans contributes to their underrepresentation in the STEM fields. STEM educators are increasingly utilizing culturally relevant pedagogy, culturally responsive teaching strategies, and culturally sustaining pedagogy to engage the African American STEM learner. However, these techniques are limited in addressing the holistic development, healing, and needs of African people.^[1] This essay advocates for the use and study of a new educational model titled African-centered STEM education (ACSE). The authors contend that this model is effective for African American STEM learners and African people and benefits …

Enhancing Road Performance With Void Reducing Asphalt Membrane, Tim Zahrn, Todd Thomas, Randy Miller

Purdue Road School

This presentation will discuss how using the technology of a Void Reducing Asphalt membrane can improve performance of our Asphalt Pavements by creating a more durable asphalt surface that resists cracking and reduces permeability. Void Reducing Asphalt Membrane (VRAM) Specifications: VRAM reduces voids in longitudinal joints, which improves the longevity of a quality road surface. INDOT has already required VRAM on certain road designs. We will review the current specifications for VRAM and outline specifications that may update with the technology. We will also discuss the Impact of Rumble Strips on Longitudinal Joint Performance. The session will also highlight how …

Extraction Of Contact Resistivity For Transition Metal Oxide-Based Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cell, Shanmugam K

Theses and Dissertations

Contact resistivity quantifies the charge transport barrier, which is one of the key parameters for choosing the carrier selective contact for silicon solar cells. Optically transparent and electrically selective contacts such as Transition Metal Oxide (TMO)–based contacts are employed in solar cell applications. Therefore, extracting contact resistivity for such Schottky contacts requires apposite validation.

In this work, the contact resistivity of TiOx/LiFx/Al stack over an n-type c-Si wafer is extracted using two conventional techniques: i) Shockley’s Transfer Length Method (TLM) and ii) Cox and Strack Method (CSM). The extracted contact resistivity is validated by comparing it with the solar cell’s …

How Does An Air Force Instructor Analyze Officer Occupational Competencies And Translate Them Into Professional Development Courses?, Julia A. Howard

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how Air Force instructors translate officer occupational competencies into professional development courses. The study aims to address a pressing need to align Civil Engineer education with the Department of the Air Force objective of competency based education in the midst of changing operational demands. The methodology uses expert elicitation, thematic analysis, qualitative and quantitative statistics to formulate a curriculum development methodology. Data collection involved an expert elicitation from subject matter experts in the Civil Engineer career field. This data helped to pair 32E competencies with course learning objectives. The expert opinions provided insight into where civil engineering …

Classification Of Microcontroller Integrated Circuit On The Pocket Of Jedec Tray Using Convolutional Neural Network In Embedded Machine Learning System, Mark Pallones, King Harold A. Recto

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Faculty Publications

One serious issue in the microcontroller manufacturing environment is the mixing of microcontroller unit (MCU) parts, leading to the wastage of materials, dissatisfied customers, and the implementation of non-value-adding activities to address it. More adverse effects include negative feedback from customers, loss of confidence, and impact on business growth. One root cause traces back to the final testing of the manufacturing back-end process when reusing unemptied standard JEDEC matrix trays for good and bad units in the test handler. Currently, emptying the JEDEC matrix tray and inspecting it is a manual process prone to human error due to high-volume test …

Design And Modelling Of Advanced Power Converter Control For Harmonics Suppression And Energy Management, Jayant Sharma S

Theses and Dissertations

The quality of electrical power plays a crucial role in both industrial and domestic sectors. This issue becomes even more critical in systems that incorporate power converter-based loads, which are commonly integrated at the grid connection point. Motor drives and grid-integrated electric vehicle (EV) charging stations belong to a category of non-linear loads that inherently introduce substantial harmonic distortion into the current drawn from AC mains. This harmonic distortion adversely affects power quality, potentially leading to overheating and malfunctions in sensitive equipment across the grid. Furthermore, the widespread adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology for EV charging stations has surged …

Fault Diagnosis And Fault Tolerant Structure For Multilevel Inverters Using Machine Learning Techniques, Sudha V

Theses and Dissertations

A paradigm shift towards electric drives in domestic and industrial sectors has significantly increased the use of multilevel inverters (MLI). MLIs are constructed using more semiconductor devices, which hinders safety and reliability. Literature states 31.2% of failures in MLIs are due to semiconductor devices. Hence, there is a need for fault detection and tolerant mechanisms to ensure the safety and reliability of MLIs.

MLIs like Cascaded H-bridge(CHB) and Packed U cell(PUC) are mostly preferred due to low harmonic distortion, which is considered in this work. The complexity associated with fault diagnosis with more components in MLIs is addressed by machine …

Effect Of Shrinkage-Mitigating Materials, Fiber Type, And Repair Thickness On Flexural Behavior Of Beams Repaired With Fiber-Reinforced Self-Consolidating Concrete, Jingjie Wei, Kamal H. Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

While self-consolidating concrete (SCC) has emerged as a highly effective approach for the repair of concrete structures, there have been few investigations regarding the effect of the combination of different fiber and shrinkage-mitigating material types (shrinkage-reducing admixture, SRA; superabsorbent polymer, SAP; and expansive agent, EA) on the flexural behavior of repaired structures. This study aims to explore the influence of three different shrinkage-mitigating materials (1.25%–2.5 % SRA, 4%–8% EA, and 0.2%–0.4 % SAP), four fiber types (two macro synthetic fibers, MSFA and MSFB; 5D hooked steel fibers, 5D; a combination of 80 % 3D hooked steel +20 % short steel …

Near-Peer Student-Run Virtual Stem Summer Camp: Lessons Learned, Andrew Lee, Jeremy Reynolds, Margaret Reynolds, Freda Li, Lubjana Beshaj

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The United States Military Academy is uniquely positioned to contribute to our nation’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) outreach initiatives. As one of the country’s most highly regarded undergraduate engineering schools, the institution receives a steady influx of Cadet near-peer mentors who volunteer to lead STEM modules. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person STEM workshops for the better part of 2020-2021, the Center for Leadership and Diversity in STEM adeptly transitioned to a virtual platform. Informed by research on STEM education and delivery, the Center successfully executed its signature summer camp event in a virtual format for two …

In Memoriam - Nora Sabelli: Master Orchestrator Of Grant Programs And Mentor For Advancing The Interdisciplinary Learning Sciences Field, Eric Hamilton, Jeremy Roschelle, Roy Pea, Barbara Means, Louis Gomez, Kim Gomez, Nancy Butler Songer

Education Division Scholarship

On Friday, September 6, 2024, the learning sciences field lost a giant in Dr. Nora Sabelli, 87 years old, a personal mentor to many researchers and an inspiration to so many learning scientists and STEM leaders. Nora’s first professional career was as a computational chemist, and later she became a passionate leader in research for improving STEM education. Nora’s time as a senior program officer at the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Education and Human Resources (EHR) directorate was legendary; she was a force of nature who reshaped funding priorities for stronger science and a stronger connection of science to education …

Critical Components Of Successful Cross-Race Mentoring Relationships: Perspectives Of Mentees And Mentors, Sylvia L. Mendez, Jennifer A. Tygret, Anneke Bruwer, Comas Haynes

The Qualitative Report

This intrinsic case study (Stake, 1995) explores the critical components of successful cross-race mentoring relationships from the mentees and mentors involved in the Increasing Minority Presence within Academia through Continuous Training (IMPACT) mentoring program. Stakeholders across academia need to better understand what facilitates successful cross-race mentoring, due to the underrepresentation of senior and emeriti faculty of color in engineering. Interviews with 16 Black engineering faculty mentees and 14 primarily White emeriti mentors were analyzed inductively and resulted in three interconnected themes: (a) self-awareness and empathy create trusting, honest conversations; (b) mentee career advancement must be core to the relationship; and …

Infinitesimal Elements In Cartesian, Cylindrical And Spherical Coordinate Systems, Ashanthi Maxworth Phd

EM Fields With Prof. Maxworth

In this chapter we introduce you to the infinitesimal surface and volument elements in Cartesian, Cylindrical and Spherical coordinate systems. Electromagnetic fields is based on multi-variate vector calculus. The following three documents show, how the infinitesimal surface area elements are defined in Catesian, Cylindrical and Spherical coordinate systems.

Maxwell's Second Equation: The Gauss's Law For Magnetostatic Fields, Ashanthi Maxworth Phd

EM Fields With Prof. Maxworth

Gauss's Law for magnetostatic fields says that the total magnetic flux through a closed surface is equal to zero. In otherwords, there are no magnetic monopoles. This law has been applied in multiple mathematical derivations. Watch the short video where Dr. Maxworth explains this law. In the worksheet you can observe the magnetic flux generated due to a current through a straight coaxial cable. Note that the magnetic flux always exisit as close loops making the total net flux through a closed surface zero and the direction of the magnetic field can be derived by the right hand rule, i.e …

Maxwell's Third Equation: The Faraday's Law, Ashanthi Maxworth Phd

EM Fields With Prof. Maxworth

Faraday's Law states that the voltage induced in a closed loop is equal to the rate of change of magnetic flux through that loop. As we know, when there is no fluctuating magnetic flux, there is no voltage difference across a closed loop. But when there is a changing magnetic field, a voltage is induced within a closed loop known as the electromotive force or the EMF. There are two types of electromotive forces: the motional EMF and the transformer EMF. In motional EMF the magnetic field is kept steady while the loop is moved such that it cuts the …

Taking The Leap: A Qualitative Study Exploring The Entanglement Of The Vertical Transfer Process And Engineering Identity Development Among Community College Students, Janice Edwards

Dissertations of Practice

Taking the Leap: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Entanglement of the Vertical Transfer Process and Engineering Identity Development among Community College Students

Community colleges provide an open access, cost effective pathway to earning a baccalaureate degree in engineering. However, the transfer and degree completion rates remain low. Improved persistence has been linked to a variety of factors including a strong engineering identity. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to expand the understanding of engineering identity development during the vertical transfer process. Each milestone in the process, framed within transfer student capital, was considered to determine what, if any, …

The Effect Of Participation In A Place-Based Engineering Learning Experience On Engineering Career Aspiration Of Nebraska’S Rural Students: A Mixed Method Study, Samereh Soleimani Babadi

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

This study investigates the influence of a place-based, hands-on engineering learning experience on rural middle school students' engineering career aspirations, using Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) as a framework. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we explored how these localized learning experiences shape students' career goals through socio-cognitive factors such as self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goals, and interest. Quantitative analysis of pre- and post-activity surveys revealed significant increases in career aspiration scores, particularly among students from farming backgrounds and female students with initially lower expectations. Path analyses indicated that self-efficacy and interest were the strongest mediators between Place-based learning and engineering career aspirations. …

Flexural Post-Cracking Performance Of Macro Synthetic Fiber Reinforced Super Workable Concrete Influenced By Shrinkage-Reducing Admixture, Jingjie Wei, Nima Farzadnia, Kamal H. Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Most literature has focused on the effect of shrinkage-reducing admixture (SRA) in shrinkage mitigation resistance of concrete. This study aims to examine the impact of SRA on the efficiency of macro synthetic fibers (MSF) in enhancing the flexural post-cracking behavior of fiber-reinforced super workable concrete (FR-SWC). A comparative analysis of the influence of fiber combinations on the flexural post-cracking behavior of beams is also included. Results showed that a higher dosage of SRA, particularly at 5 % by mass of binder, had a noticeable negative impact on flexural post-cracking performance of beams while exhibiting positive effect on workability and shrinkage …

Machine Learning Modeling For Hydrolysis Recycling Of Pet Waste, Jie Li, Lanjia Pan, Hossein Abedsoltan, Hailong Wang, Taiyang Liu, Xiangzhou Yuan, Yong Sik Ok, Yin Wang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into terephthalic acid (TPA) can efficiently recycle waste PET, but achieving high conversion efficiency through smart reaction design remains challenging. To develop a robust and accurate machine learning (ML) model for the in-depth understanding and intelligent design of PET hydrolysis, we compiled a new dataset comprising 942 data points and comprehensive information of 44 variables involved in heating type, acid/base catalyst (ABC), organic solvent (OS), co-solvent (CS), phase transfer catalyst (PTC), and operational conditions. The developed Neural Network model demonstrated the best performance in predicting PET conversion, with a testing determination coefficient (R^{2 …}