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Assessment of Active Learning Modules: An Update on Research Findings

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Conference

2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana

Publication Date

June 15, 2014

Start Date

June 15, 2014

End Date

June 18, 2014

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

NSF Grantees’ Poster Session

Tagged Division

Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies

Tagged Topic

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Page Count

31

Page Numbers

24.212.1 - 24.212.31

DOI

10.18260/1-2--20103

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/20103

Download Count

409

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Paper Authors

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Ashland O. Brown University of the Pacific

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Ashland O. Brown, Ph.D, P.E. is currently a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of the Pacific School of Engineering and Computer Science. He served as a Program Director in the Mechanical/ Civil Engineering Section of the National Science foundation from 1998 to 1999. He served as Dean of Engineering at the University of the Pacific from 1991 to 1998, and Dean of Engineering Technology at South Carolina State University from 1989 to 1991. He served as a Engineering Group Manager for Body Structures Design Group at General Motor Corporation in the Warren Technical Center from 1984 to 1989, and served as a Engineering Principal Engineer for a number of engine, and structural design groups at Ford Motor Company from 1977 to 1984. He served as a Research Engineer at Eastman Kodak Corporation from 1974 to1977. He received his M.S.(1970) and Ph.D.(1974) in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut in Storrs,CT and his B.S.(1966) in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. He is currently the PI at the University of the Pacific for the four year Collaborative National Science Foundation TUES DUE grant entitled" Improving Learning for Undergraduate Engineering Programs using Finite Element Learning Modules" a joint collaboration award with The University of Texas, in Austin. He has authored approximately 50 papers with over 20 on using finite element learning modules in undergraduate engineering. He was the PI for the initial four year NSF CCI grant entitled" The Finite Element Method Exercises for use in Undergraduate Engineering Programs ".

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Kyle A. Watson University of the Pacific

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Kyle Watson earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Villanova University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University. He has been a faculty member at the University of the Pacific since 2003 and has taught undergraduate courses in thermodynamics, heat transfer, combustion, air-conditioning, dynamics, and senior capstone design.

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Jiancheng Liu University of the Pacific

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Dr. Jiancheng Liu is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of the Pacific. Dr. Liu’s research experience and teaching interest have been in the areas of machine design and manufacturing engineering, with specific focuses on CNC machine tool design, mechanical micro machining, cutting process, flexible manufacturing system automation, sensing and control technology, and intelligent CAM technology. With his many years’ experience in industry and universities, Dr. Liu has published over 80 technical journals and conference papers. He was awarded four patents. Many of his research results have been successfully implemented as commercial products or practically applied. Among his many honors is the Industrial LEAD Award from SME.

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Ismail I. Orabi University of New Haven

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Joseph J. Rencis P.E. Tennessee Technological University

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Dr. Joseph J. Rencis is the dean of engineering by the Clay N. Hixson Chair for Engineering Leadership, and professor of mechanical engineering at Tennessee Technological University. From 2004 to 2011, he was in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and was Department Head, inaugural 21st Century Leadership Chair in Mechanical Engineering, and professor. From 1985 to 2004, he was professor and director of Engineering Mechanics in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His research focuses on boundary element methods, finite element methods, atomistic modeling, and engineering education. He currently serves on the editorial board of Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements and the Journal of Online Engineering Education. He is an associate editor of the International Series on Advances in Boundary Elements. He currently serves as chair of ASEE Professional Interest Council (PIC) III. He received the 2002 ASEE New England Section Teacher of Year Award, the 2004 ASEE New England Section Outstanding Leader Award, the 2006 ASEE Mechanics Division James L. Meriam Service Award, and the 2010 ASEE Midwest Section Outstanding Service Award. Rencis is a fellow of ASEE and ASME. He received a B.S. from Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1980, a M.S. from Northwestern University in 1982, and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in 1985.

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Chuan-Chiang Chen California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

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Chuan-Chiang Chen is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona since 2009. He earned his B.S. degree from National ChiaoTung University, Taiwan, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Ohio State University, all in the field of mechanical engineering. Prior to joining Cal Poly Pomona, he was an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Tuskegee University. His teaching and research interests include solid mechanics, system dynamics, measurements, noise, and vibrations.

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Firas Akasheh Tuskegee University

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John J. Wood U.S. Air Force Academy

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Dr. John J. Wood is currently an Associate Professor of Engineering Mechanics at the United States Air Force Academy. Dr. Wood completed his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University in the design and empirical analysis of compliant systems. He received his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Wright State University and his B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1984. Dr. Wood joined the faculty at the United States Air Force Academy in 1994 while serving on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. After completing his Ph.D. in 2002, he returned to the Air Force Academy where he has been on the faculty ever since. The current focus of Dr. Wood’s research includes the development of robotic ground and air vehicle systems using innovative design techniques using current technology implementations, as well as futuristic projections. Dr Wood also publishes research on advances in the methodology for creative electromechanical systems design.

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Kathy Schmidt Jackson Pennsylvania State University, University Park

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Dr. Kathy Jackson is a senior research associate at Pennsylvania State University’s Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence. In this position, she promotes Penn State’s commitment to enriching teachingnand learning. Dr. Jackson works in all aspects of education including faculty development, instructional
design, engineering education, learner support, and evaluation.

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Rachelle Kisst Hackett University of the Pacific

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Ella R. Sargent University of the Pacific

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Brock Dunlap University of Texas, Austin

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Christopher Allen Wejmar University of the Pacific

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Christopher Wejmar is currently a graduate research assistant and blended mechanical engineering student in the School of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of the Pacific.

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Richard H. Crawford University of Texas, Austin

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Dr. Richard H. Crawford is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin and is the Temple Foundation Endowed Faculty Fellow No. 3. He is also Director of the Design Projects program in Mechanical Engineering. He received his BSME from Louisiana State University, and his MSME and Ph.D. from Purdue University. He teaches mechanical engineering design and geometry modeling for design. Dr. Crawford’s research interests span topics in computer-aided mechanical design and design theory and methodology. Dr. Crawford is co-founder of the DTEACh program, a ”Design Technology” program for K-12, and is active on the faculty of the UTeachEngineering program that seeks to educate teachers of high school engineering.

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Daniel D. Jensen U.S. Air Force Academy

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Dr. Dan Jensen is a Professor of Engineering Mechanics at the U.S. Air Force Academy where he has been since 1997. He received his B.S. (Mechanical Engineering), M.S. (Applied Mechanics) and Ph.D. (Aerospace Engineering Science) from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has worked for Texas Instruments, Lockheed Martin, NASA, University of the Pacific, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and MSC Software Corp. His research includes design of Micro Air Vehicles, development of innovative design methodologies and enhancement of engineering education. Dr Jensen has authored approximately 100 papers and has been awarded over $3 million of research grants.

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Abstract

Assessment of Active Learning Modules: An Update on Research FindingsAbstractThe landscape of contemporary engineering education is ever changing, adapting and evolving.Finite element theory and application has often been the focus of graduate-level courses inengineering programs; however, industry needs bachelor's-level engineering graduates to haveskills in applying this essential analysis and design technique. We have used the Kolb LearningCycle as a conceptual framework to improve student learning of difficult engineering concepts,and to gain essential knowledge of finite element analysis (FEA) and design content knowledge.Originally developed using MSC Nastran, followed by development efforts in SolidWorksSimulation, ANSOFT, ANSYS, and other commercial FEA software packages, a team ofresearchers, with National Science Foundation support, have created over twenty-eight activelearning modules. We will discuss the implementation of these learning modules which havebeen incorporated into undergraduate courses that cover topics such as machine design,mechanical vibrations, heat transfer, bioelectrical engineering, electromagnetic field analysis,structural fatigue analysis, computational fluid dynamics, rocket design, chip formation duringmanufacturing, and large scale deformation in machining.This update on research findings includes statistical results for each module which compareperformance on pre- and post-learning module quizzes to gauge change in student knowledgerelated to the difficult engineering concepts that each module addresses. Statistically significantstudent performance gains provide evidence of module effectiveness. In addition, we presentstatistical comparisons between different personality types (based on Myers-Briggs TypeIndicator, MBTI subgroups) and different learning styles (based on Felder-Solomon ILSsubgroups) in regards to the average gains each subgroup of students has made on quizperformance. Although exploratory, and generally based on small sample sizes at this point inour multi-year formative evaluation process, the modules for which subgroup differences arefound are being carefully reviewed in an attempt to determine whether modifications should bemade to better ensure equitable impact of the module across students from specific personalityand /or learning styles subgroups (e.g. MBTI Intuitive versus Sensing; ILS Sequential versusGlobal). 1  

Brown, A. O., & Watson, K. A., & Liu, J., & Orabi, I. I., & Rencis, J. J., & Chen, C., & Akasheh, F., & Wood, J. J., & Jackson, K. S., & Hackett, R. K., & Sargent, E. R., & Dunlap, B., & Wejmar, C. A., & Crawford, R. H., & Jensen, D. D. (2014, June), Assessment of Active Learning Modules: An Update on Research Findings Paper presented at 2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana. 10.18260/1-2--20103

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