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Leveraging Simulation Tools to Deliver Ill-Structured Problems in Statics and Mechanics of Materials: Initial Results

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Conference

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Atlanta, Georgia

Publication Date

June 23, 2013

Start Date

June 23, 2013

End Date

June 26, 2013

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Statics & Strength of Materials - A nice couple

Tagged Division

Mechanics

Page Count

13

Page Numbers

23.866.1 - 23.866.13

DOI

10.18260/1-2--19880

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/19880

Download Count

472

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Paper Authors

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Christopher Papadopoulos University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus

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Christopher Papadopoulos is an Assistant Professor in the Department of General Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez (UPRM). He earned B.S. degrees in Civil Engineering and Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University (1993) and a Ph.D. in Theoretical & Applied Mechanics at Cornell University (1999). Prior to coming to UPRM, Papadopoulos served on the faculty in the Department of Civil Engineering & Mechanics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).

Papadopoulos has diverse research and teaching interests in structural mechanics, biomechanics, appropriate technology, engineering ethics, and engineering education. He serves as Secretary of the ASEE Mechanics Division and serves on numerous committees at UPRM that relate to undergraduate and graduate education.

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Aidsa Ivette Santiago Roman University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus

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Aidsa I. Santiago-Román is a Tenured Assistant Professor in the General Engineering Department at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus (UPRM). Dr. Santiago earned a BA and MS in Industrial Engineering from UPRM and Ph.D in Engineering Education from Purdue University. Before attending Purdue University, she has been an engineering instructor for about 10 years. Her primary research interests are investigating students’ understanding of difficult concepts in engineering science, especially for underrepresented populations and she also works in the implementation of best practices at UPRM.

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Genock Portela-Gauthier University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus

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Genock Portela is an Associate Professor in the Department of General Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez. He earned a Ph.D. degree in structural engineering at the University of Puerto
Rico, Mayaguez (2004). Portela has primary research and teaching interests in structural mechanics, mostly oriented to bridge engineering. At UPRM College of Engineering, Portela serves as Special Assistant to the Dean.

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Arturo Ponce University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

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Arturo Ponce has a BS in Computer Engineering and a MS in Electrical Engineering from UPR Mayaguez. He is an associate researcher at the UPR Mayaguez School of Engineering where he has done institutional research work since 2003. He worked in the ABET Accreditation process for the School of Engineering from 2003 to 2012.

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Abstract

Leveraging Simulation Tools to Deliver Ill-Structured Problems in Statics and Mechanics of Materials: Initial ResultsThis paper summarizes the initial results from an NSF TUES project in which new coursemodules that vertically integrate Statics and Mechanics of Materials are being developed,implemented, and assessed. These initial results are from the Fall 2012 semester in which thenew modules were newly introduced into three sections of the Statics course.The new modules engage students in ill-structured problems, i.e., problems which requirestudents to evaluate or provide assumptions, compare several “what if” scenarios, or otherwiseperform design or design-related tasks. The modules will simultaneously stretch the content ofthe Statics course to include some topics that are not traditionally covered, such as redundancy,structural displacements, and small displacement approximation. Simulation tools – primarilycustom designed templates for Excel, NX Finite Element Analysis, and SAP2000 – areintroduced as “sophisticated calculators” that enable students to efficiently solve analyticalquestions within the modules that would be tedious or intractable by hand calculation.To facilitate long term assessment of the modules, the module content is oriented toward thediscipline of structural engineering. While the interventions of this project will occurconsecutively in Statics and Mechanics of Materials I, student performance will continue to bemeasured in subsequent courses Mechanics of Materials II and Structural Analysis.The paper will be organized to address the following components of the project in detail:  A summary of the Delphi process used to develop content of the modules;  A description of each module, including its topical content, simulation platform, and location within the Statics schedule;  A discussion of the philosophy to introduce simulation tools to entry level students who have not yet learned the underlying numerical or modeling theory, and the development of customized templates and user interfaces to simplify students’ use of simulation software;  A preview of how the modules will be further developed and continued during Mechanics of Materials I;  A summary of the assessment results after the Fall 2012 semester, including performance on the modules, exams, the Concept Assessment Tool for Statics (CATS) concept inventory, and student interviews. We expect that the exposure to these modules and the students’ corresponding learning activities will accelerate the development of their mastery of mechanics and overall expertise in engineering.

Papadopoulos, C., & Santiago Roman, A. I., & Portela-Gauthier, G., & Ponce, A. (2013, June), Leveraging Simulation Tools to Deliver Ill-Structured Problems in Statics and Mechanics of Materials: Initial Results Paper presented at 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--19880

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