Cutting Computation Time and Mastering the Underlying Science of Introductory Thermodynamics

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido W. Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Computer Software ◽  
Computation Time ◽  
Engineering Programs ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Based Instruction

Traditionally, the teaching and learning of introductory undergraduate Thermodynamics in Mechanical Engineering programs stressed the manipulation of formulas and the use of property tables. At present, the use of computer-based instruction is becoming more common in the classroom and it is proving to be a valuable tool for enhancing the educational experience of students. In teaching Thermodynamics, for example, much of the tedious manipulative and computational work encountered while solving problems can now be effectively and quickly executed by computer software. This approach leaves ample time for instructors to emphasize concepts and principles instead of procedures, and to foster an environment that helps students to master the underlying science of the discipline while minimizing computational burden. A comparative study between teaching introductory Thermodynamics using a traditional approach versus using the software EES (acronym for Engineering Equation Solver) as a computational tool is presented in this paper. A statistical comparison of academic performance in introductory Thermodynamics between two groups of engineering students of comparable academic level and capability but enrolled in different schools is also part of this study. Qualitative and quantitative results suggest that students can achieve a clearer understanding of concepts, definitions and principles of introductory Thermodynamics when using computer software as a tool in their learning process.

scholarly journals The Personalized System of Instruction: Review and Applications to Distance Education

2003 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyle K. Grant ◽  
Robert E. Spencer
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Distance Teaching ◽  
Personalized System Of Instruction ◽  
History Of ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Personalized System ◽  
Based Instruction ◽  
Basic Features ◽  
Key Terms

<P class=abstract>The present paper (a) outlines the basic features of the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI); (b) provides a brief history of PSI; and (c) describes the application of PSI to distance education. Some common misconceptions about PSI are also addressed. PSI is presented as a helpful universally applicable set of instructional practices that are well suited to distance teaching and learning.</P> <P class=abstract><B>Key Terms:</B> Personalized System of Instruction, distance learning, computer-based instruction, mastery-learning, self-pacing, higher-order objectives, scholarship of teaching, proctors, tutoring.</P> <p>

Developing Engineering Students' Communication and Information Retrieval Skills Utilizing Capstone Projects

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron S. Blicblau ◽  
Jamal Naser
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
International Students ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
The World ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Capstone Projects ◽  
Key Aspects

The pedagogy of engineering requires a better understanding of the requirements of students' abilities to learning the skills necessary for working in the engineering community. In many engineering courses around the world, one of the key aspects required of the students is that they complete an independent project in their final year of studies incorporating information retrieval and subsequent communication skills. The current work provides details teaching and learning approaches to enhance student abilities and expertise involving research skills, communication skills, and information retrieval integrated within capstone projects. Findings from this the work indicated that both domestic and international students benefited from the intensive tutorial activities involving computer based information retrieval skills. The implementation of active tutorial sessions resulted in increased grades for the majority of students, highlighting the importance of intensive active learning events for final year capstone engineering students.

Nurturing Creativity and Design Teaching: Are We Doing All We Can?

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gu¨l E. Okudan ◽  
Ann McKenna ◽  
Carolyn Plumb ◽  
Hyun K. Ro ◽  
Alexander Yin
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Major Theme ◽  
Skill Levels ◽  
Engineering Programs ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Contextual Awareness ◽  
Faculty And Administrators

In this paper, we report on the results from a qualitative study of six exemplary engineering programs focusing on the ways and the extent of nurturing creativity in engineering students. The study (P360: Prototyping the Engineering of 2020) included data collection from students, faculty, and administrators at the six institutions. This data collection focused mainly on three student outcomes, including design and problem solving. Creativity and how creativity was nurtured, both inside the classroom and outside, often emerged as a major theme. We also support our qualitative findings with quantitative data. Overall, the results indicate that although students improve their creativity in design settings, this result is mostly a by-product of design teaching, and creativity is not taught per se. Quantitative results show that program emphasis on creativity and innovation significantly correlates to skill levels in design problem solving, interdisciplinarity, contextual awareness, and recognizing perspectives. Qualitative data provide supporting evidence for this.

scholarly journals Improving students' attitude, conceptual understanding and procedural skills in differential calculus through Microsoft mathematics

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Jean Mendezabal ◽  
Darin Jan Tindowen
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Understanding ◽  
Differential Calculus ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Procedural Skills ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Experimental Group

This study examined the effects of using Microsoft Mathematics on students’ attitude, conceptual understanding, and procedural skills in Differential Calculus. A quasi-experimental research design was used in which two different learning environments were compared. The participants of the study were two classes of Electrical Engineering students enrolled in Differential Calculus course, assigned randomly as control and experimental groups with 30 students in each group. The control group was taught using the traditional approach of teaching Differential Calculus while the experimental group was taught the same lessons using the Microsoft Mathematics embedded activity sheets. The experimental group learned through exploration and discovery of various concepts. The findings indicated that the participants had little understanding of the concepts and processes of Calculus prior to the conduct of the study. A significant improvement in their performances was noted after the experimentation. This suggests that the use of Microsoft Mathematics in teaching and learning Differential Calculus improves students’ conceptual understanding and procedural skills. It is also found that the use of Microsoft Mathematics in teaching and learning calculus is equally effective as the traditional approach. In terms of attitude, the experimental group demonstrated a “favorable” to “very highly favorable” attitude along the five (5) domains of the MTAS. A significant difference exists between the pretest and posttest attitude of the subjects on the domain “learning Mathematics with technology”. 

Effectiveness of Technology in Precollege Mathematics and Science Teaching

1983 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Kulik ◽  
Robert L. Bangert-Drowns
Keyword(s):  
Student Achievement ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Individualized Instruction ◽  
Programmed Instruction ◽  
Science Classrooms ◽  
Computer Based Instruction ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Based Instruction ◽  
Mathematics And Science

The first major applications of scientific technology to education were made by psychologist B. F. Skinner three decades ago. In the years since, the emphasis in instructional technology has shifted from programmed instruction to individualized systems of teaching to computer-based instruction. These three approaches show different degrees of promise as aids in precollege mathematics and science classrooms. Programmed instruction and individualized instruction have had only limited success in raising student achievement or improving student attitudes in precollege education. Computer-based instruction, on the other hand, has raised student achievement significantly in numerous studies, dramatically affected the amount of time needed for teaching and learning, and greatly altered student attitudes toward the computer.

Developing Engineering Students' Communication and Information Retrieval Skills Utilizing Capstone Projects

2018 ◽  
pp. 1803-1824
Author(s):  
Aaron S. Blicblau ◽  
Jamal Naser
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
International Students ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
The World ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Capstone Projects ◽  
Key Aspects

The pedagogy of engineering requires a better understanding of the requirements of students' abilities to learning the skills necessary for working in the engineering community. In many engineering courses around the world, one of the key aspects required of the students is that they complete an independent project in their final year of studies incorporating information retrieval and subsequent communication skills. The current work provides details teaching and learning approaches to enhance student abilities and expertise involving research skills, communication skills, and information retrieval integrated within capstone projects. Findings from this the work indicated that both domestic and international students benefited from the intensive tutorial activities involving computer based information retrieval skills. The implementation of active tutorial sessions resulted in increased grades for the majority of students, highlighting the importance of intensive active learning events for final year capstone engineering students.

PENGEMBANGAN MODEL COMPUTER-BASED E-LEARNING UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KEMAMPUAN HIGH ORDER MATHEMATICAL THINKING SISWA SMA

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Jarnawi Afgani Dahlan ◽  
Yaya Sukjaya Kusumah ◽  
Mr Heri Sutarno
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Mathematical Thinking ◽  
Computer Software ◽  
High Order ◽  
Learning Activity ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
The Impact

The focus of this research is on the development of mathematics teaching and learning activity which is based on the application of computer software. The aim of research is as follows : 1) to identify some mathematics topics which feasible to be presented by computer-based e-learning, 2) design, develop, and implement computer-based e-learning on mathematics, and 3) analyze the impact of computer-based e-learning in the enhancement of SMA students’ high order mathematical thinking. All activity in this research achieved in 2 phases. In the first phase, the following activities are conducted: analysis theoretically topics which are difficult to be delivered by conventional methods, need too many repetitions, need high accuracy, need high speed process, and can be presented more interestingly. In the second phase, the following activities are conducted: designing, developing, and implementing a number of teaching and research instruments; implementing computer-based e-learning on mathematics for SMA students’, and analyzing the impact of computer-based e-learning in the enhancement of SMA students’ high- order mathematical thinking. Key words: computer-based e-learning model, high-order mathematical thinking

scholarly journals SoSTeM Model Development for Application of Soft Skills to Engineering Students at Malaysian Polytechnics

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 204
Author(s):  
Ahmad Esa ◽  
Suhaili Padil ◽  
Asri Selamat ◽  
Mohammad Talha Mohamed Idris
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Methods ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Technical Skills ◽  
Job Market ◽  
Learning Methods ◽  
Engineering Programs

<p class="apa">Soft skills are some of the skills needed to ensure that graduates fulfill the needs of the job market. Until 2010, almost 30% of unemployed graduates in Malaysia are technical graduates and one third comes are graduates from polytechnic. Most engineering graduates are proficient in technical skills but lack in soft skills. The lack of relevant knowledge among lecturers in order to identify appropriate ways and methods in the process of teaching and learning is one of the causes of lack in soft skills application. This study aims to identify the suitable teaching methods for the application of soft skills in the engineering programs for engineering students in Malaysian polytechnics. 488 students and 332 lecturers in engineering courses at the polytechnic had been questioned using questionnaires and interviews. The results showed that there is a relationship between the level of application of soft skills element with the teaching &amp; learning methods used by lecturers. Based on these relationships, researchers had produced <em>SoSTeM </em>model as the model of application of soft skills for engineering students. Researchers also discovered that the use of teaching &amp; learning methods for applying soft skills in engineering programs vary according to the elements of soft skills.</p>

scholarly journals Barriers to Digital Literacy: Learning to Program

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andréa Cartile
Keyword(s):  
Computer Science ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Approaches To Learning ◽  
Literacy Learning ◽  
First Year ◽  
Science Domain ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Learning Programming

There are many challenges associated with teaching and learning computer programming for first year engineering students in non-computer based fields. This paper discusses barriers to acquiring the digital literacy needed to learn end-user programming, or programming as a tool to support activities in a non-computer science domain. The first barrier discussed is the gap in educational curriculum, where the first formal introduction to computer science and programming is found in pre-university preparatory courses. The second barrier is a lack of consensus in approaches to learning programming in online resources. A solution of integrating opportunities to use programming as a tool in existing course curriculum activities is proposed, as a way to improve programming accessibility and allow future engineers to use digital skills to innovate in non-computer based applications.

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