A Team-Based CAD Project Utilising the Latest CAD Technique and Web-Based Technologies

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 294-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazem Alemzadeh ◽  
Stuart Burgess

This paper describes a newly created third-year CAD project in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Bristol University which brings together the most current CAD practices and web-based technologies to provide a stimulating and dynamic learning environment for the students. The project involves the design of a machine that sorts chips of different materials. The main objective is to provide a complete and up-to-date CAD experience for the students. The CAD project provides the opportunity for students to practise geometric modelling, mechanism design, assembly modelling, product visualisation (simulation and animation) and product customisation in an active learning environment. It also teaches the students parametric modelling and how quickly and efficiently to build, visualise and animate a CAD model of a proposed design, with further customisation using CAD principles.

Author(s):  
Bryan W. Weber

Abstract Active learning techniques are well known to improve student outcomes and shift their thinking higher on Bloom’s Taxonomy. In this paper, I will present experiences from my implementation of active learning in sophomore-level Mechanical Engineering thermodynamics classes using Jupyter Notebooks. Jupyter Notebooks are a web-based programming environment widely used in software and other industries that allows students to combine code with equations and explanations of their work. By using this software to solve open-ended design problems, students move from the Remember, Comprehend, and Apply steps of Bloom’s Taxonomy to the Analyze, Synthesize, and Evaluate stages. Successfully integrating Jupyter Notebooks with these classes has required a shift in the focus of contact hours, going from didactic presentation of material to active practice with problem-solving techniques; most class material has been moved online. This approach has been successfully implemented over several semesters, but there are nonetheless still improvements to be made, which are discussed at the end of the manuscript.


2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 124-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry R. Goldberg ◽  
Eileen Haase ◽  
Artin Shoukas ◽  
Lawrence Schramm

In this study, the role of the classroom instructor was redefined from a “lecturer” responsible for delivering the core curriculum to a “facilitator” at the center of an active learning environment. Web-based lectures were used to provide foundation content to students outside of the classroom, which made it possible to improve the quality of student-faculty contact time in the classroom. Students reported that this hybrid format of instruction afforded them a better understanding of the content, a higher probability of retaining the content, and the opportunity to spend more time thinking about the application of the content compared with more traditional lecture-based methods of instruction.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan W. Weber

Active learning techniques are well known to improve student outcomes and shift their thinking higher on Bloom’s Taxonomy. In this paper, I will present experiences from my implementation of active learning in sophomore-level Mechanical Engineering thermodynamics classes using Jupyter Notebooks. Jupyter Notebooks are a web-based programming environment widely used in software and other industries that allows students to combine code with equations and explanations of their work. By using this software to solve open-ended design problems, students move from the Remember, Comprehend, and Apply steps of Bloom’s Taxonomy to the Analyze, Synthesize, and Evaluate stages. Successfully integrating Jupyter Notebooks with these classes has required a shift in the focus of contact hours, going from didactic presentation of material to active practice with problem-solving techniques; most class material has been moved online. This approach has been successfully implemented over several semesters, but there are nonetheless still improvements to be made, which are discussed at the end of the manuscript.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-33
Author(s):  
Zarina Che Imbi ◽  
Tse-Kian Neo ◽  
Mai Neo

In the era of digital learning, multimedia-based classroom has been commonly used in higher education including Malaysian higher education institutions. A case study has been performed to evaluate web-based learning using Level 1 to 3 of Kirkpatrick's model in a multi-disciplinary course at Multimedia University, Malaysia. In this study, mixed method research was employed in which triangulation was performed from multiple sources of data collection to give deeper understanding. Students perceived that learning with multimedia was enjoyable. They were also motivated in learning and engaged through the use of web module as multimedia was perceived to motivate them and make learning fun. Students showed significant improvements in their knowledge based on the pre-test and post-test results on learning evaluation. Students were perceived to transfer the learning from web-based learning into the learning outcome. The systematic evaluation can provide the feedback that educators and institution as a whole need to improve the learning environment and programme quality. This study contributes to the research field by adding another perspective in evaluations of web-based learning. It also provides empirical evidence on student perspectives, learning and behaviour in a private university. It demonstrated that the Kirkpatrick's model is useful as an evaluation tool to be used in higher education.


2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsien-Chin Liou ◽  
Jason S. Chang ◽  
Hao-Jan Chen ◽  
Chih-Cheng Lin ◽  
Meei-Ling Liaw ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia J. Khanlarian ◽  
Rahul Singh

ABSTRACT Web-based homework (WBH) is an increasingly important phenomenon. There is little research about its character, the nature of its impact on student performance, and how that impact evolves over an academic term. The primary research questions addressed in this study are: What relevant factors in a WBH learning environment impact students' performance? And how does the impact of these factors change over the course of an academic term? This paper examines and identifies significant factors in a WBH learning environment and how they impact student performance. We studied over 300 students using WBH extensively for their coursework, throughout a semester in an undergraduate class at a large public university. In this paper, we present factors in the WBH learning environment that were found to have a significant impact on student performance during the course of a semester. In addition to individual and technological factors, this study presents findings that demonstrate that frustration with IT use is a component of the learning environment, and as a construct, has a larger impact than usefulness on student performance at the end of a course. Our results indicate that educators may benefit from training students and engaging them in utility of co-operative learning assignments to mitigate the level of frustration with the software in the WBH learning environment and improve student performance.


Author(s):  
Elena Bartolomé ◽  
Paula Benítez

Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is a powerful quality tool, widely used in industry, for the identification of failure modes, their effects and causes. In this work, we investigated the utility of FMEA in the education field to improve active learning processes. In our case study, the FMEA principles were adapted to assess the risk of failures in a Mechanical Engineering course on “Theory of Machines and Mechanisms” conducted through a project-based, collaborative “Study and Research Path (SRP)” methodology. The SRP is an active learning instruction format which is initiated by a generating question that leads to a sequence of derived questions and answers, and combines moments of study and inquiry. By applying the FMEA, the teaching team was able to identify the most critical failures of the process, and implement corrective actions to improve the SRP in the subsequent year. Thus, our work shows that FMEA represents a simple tool of risk assesment which can serve to identify criticality in educational process, and improve the quality of active learning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Jin Cho ◽  
Michael R. Melloch ◽  
Chantal Levesque-Bristol

Abstract Background Active learning pedagogy has recently received a great deal of attention, and many universities have attempted to create student-centered learning environments to improve students’ academic success. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of concept-point-recovery (CPR) teaching sessions as an active learning strategy on students’ perceptions of the learning environment, motivation, and academic learning outcomes in an electrical engineering course. To investigate the effectiveness of CPR sessions, students’ perceptions of learning and their performance were compared to those of students in a control classroom. Finally, students’ written comments on the course and instructor were explored in further analysis. Results The quantitative findings revealed that there was a significant change in students’ perceptions of learning after the CPR teaching sessions, and there was an increase in students’ perceptions and learning outcomes compared with those of the control group. In addition, the qualitative findings from students’ written feedback demonstrated that students felt that the instructor cared about students’ learning and success and that they had a positive learning environment. Conclusions CPR teaching sessions can be an alternative model for instructors to connect with students and create supportive environments to help students achieve academic success, which in turn promotes the satisfaction of students’ basic psychological needs and self-determined motivation. Therefore, increasing students’ engagement in their learning processes and making connections with students through CPR teaching sessions can facilitate improvements in students’ motivation and academic success. How this new active learning technique can be applied to higher education is discussed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document