Improving Student Learning in Mechanical Engineering Using Low Cost 3D Printed Laboratory Devices in Active Learning Experiences

在主动学习体验中使用低成本 3D 打印实验室设备改善机械工程学生的学习

• 批准号: 2002350
• 负责人: Ayse Tekes
• 金额: $ 29.73万
• 依托单位: Kennesaw State University Research and Service Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-07-01 至 2023-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2002350&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Improving; Student; Learning; Mechanical; Engineering

This project aims to serve the national interest by creating active learning exercises that help students learn abstract concepts in mechanical engineering. The project focuses specifically on concepts related to vibrations and control. Learning abstract concepts can be enhanced through guided explorations that involve real world phenomena. Such explorations often occur in the laboratory, where students use special equipment to explore applications of the concepts. Unfortunately, engineering laboratory equipment is not usually portable for use outside of the lab and can be expensive. This project will develop 3D printed laboratory devices that support student learning of mechanical engineering concepts and that are also inexpensive, compact, modular, and portable. The devices can be used in the laboratory, but also in classroom demonstrations and at home. Analogous to engaging in undergraduate research experiences, an undergraduate Research Design Group will plan, print, and evaluate the new devices. Thus, undergraduates will be involved in design and production of laboratory devices that are intended to support the learning of other students. The devices will be bundled with ready-to-use learning activities designed using a learning sciences approach. An online repository containing device plans and associated learning activities will enable other engineering programs to adopt this approach. The results of this project may present a new approach for improving engineering education while decreasing the cost of education.The goal of this project is to improve student learning in core mechanical engineering courses, namely, dynamics, vibrations, machine design, and control theory. The devices and classroom activities will be designed by adapting Hanson’s Activity Design Methodology and will focus on demonstrating fundamental concepts of vibrations such as natural frequency, free response to an initial disequilibrium condition, and forced response to an external input applied to a system. The project will address two research questions: (1) What types of devices will enhance student learning by measuring key physical behaviors of mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical systems? (2) What is the impact on learning for students using these devices in classroom learning activities and for the students who design these devices? Student learning and professional outcomes will be assessed in lecture and laboratory courses, comparing the results of students who used the devices in the learning activities to a control group that did not have the learning activities. Student learning will be assessed using exam questions, homework, and reflective writing. Students’ professional development will be assessed using established instruments for growth mindset, motivation, and engineering identity. Given the low cost of producing these devices, this approach could be widely adopted in the mechanical engineering education community to improve student learning. This project is supported by the NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Program: Education and Human Resources Program, which supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该项目旨在通过创建积极学习练习来帮助学生学习机械工程中的抽象概念。该项目专门针对与振动和控制有关的概念。学习抽象概念可以通过涉及现实现象的指导探索来增强。这种探索经常发生在实验室中，学生使用特殊设备探索概念的应用。不幸的是，工程实验室设备通常不可用于实验室以外使用，而且可能很昂贵。该项目将开发3D打印的实验室设备，以支持学生对机械工程概念的学习，并且还便宜，紧凑，模块化和便携式。这些设备可用于实验室，还可以在课堂示范和在家中使用。本科研究小组会因从事本科研究经验而发热，将计划，打印和评估新设备。这是旨在支持其他学生学习的实验室设备的设计和生产的本科生。这些设备将与使用学习科学方法设计的现成学习活动捆绑在一起。包含设备计划和相关学习活动的在线存储库将使其他工程计划能够采用这种方法。该项目的结果可能会提出一种新的方法来改善工程教育的同时降低教育成本。该项目的目的是改善核心机械工程课程中的学生学习，即动态，振动，机器设计和控制理论。设备和课堂活动将通过调整Hanson的活动设计方法来设计，并将着重于展示诸如固有频率，对初始差异的自由响应等振动的基本概念，并强迫对应用于系统的外部输入的反应。该项目将解决两个研究问题：（1）哪些类型的设备将通过测量机械，机电系统的关键物理行为来增强学生学习？ （2）在课堂学习活动中使用这些设备的学生以及设计这些设备的学生的学习有什么影响？学生学习和专业成果将在讲座和实验室课程中进行评估，将学习活动中使用设备的学生与没有学习活动的对照组进行比较。学生学习将使用考试问题，家庭作业和反思性写作进行评估。学生的专业发展将使用既定的增长心态，动力和工程认同的工具进行评估。鉴于生产这些设备的低成本，这种方法可以在机械工程教育社区中广泛采用，以改善学生的学习。该项目得到了NSF改善本科STEM教育计划：教育和人力资源计划的支持，该计划支持研发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。通过订婚的学生学习轨道，该计划支持了有希望的实践和工具的创建，探索和实施。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响审查标准，通过评估被认为是宝贵的支持。

项目成果

3D-Printed Laboratory Equipment for Vibrations and Control Theory Courses: Pendulum, Cantilever Beam, and Rectilinear System

用于振动和控制理论课程的 3D 打印实验室设备：摆、悬臂梁和直线系统

• DOI: 10.1115/imece2021-69866
• 发表时间: 2021
• 期刊: ASME 2021 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
• 作者: Garcia, Martin;Estrada, Benji;Lucier, Elizabeth;Tekes, Coskun;Utschig, Tris;Tekes, Ayse
• 通讯作者: Tekes, Ayse

Impact of 3D-printed laboratory equipment in vibrations and controls courses on student engineering identity, motivation, and mindset

振动和控制课程中 3D 打印实验室设备对学生工程身份、动机和心态的影响

• DOI: 10.1177/03064190231205013
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education
• 影响因子: 1.4
• 作者: Utschig, Tris;Tekes, Ayse;Linden, Maureen
• 通讯作者: Linden, Maureen

Two New Open Source Devices for Project-Based Learning in Controls

用于控制中基于项目的学习的两种新开源设备

• DOI: 10.1109/southeastcon51012.2023.10115159
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: IEEE SoutheastCon 2023
• 作者: Tran, Kevin;Nguyen, Tony;Ramirez, Ricardo;Utschig, Tristan;Tekes, Coskun;Tekes, Ayse
• 通讯作者: Tekes, Ayse

Reinforcing student learning by MATLAB simscape GUI program for introductory level mechanical vibrations and control theory courses

通过 MATLAB simscape GUI 程序强化学生入门级机械振动和控制理论课程的学习

• DOI: 10.1177/03064190221085038
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education
• 影响因子: 1.4
• 作者: Pena, Paul;Utschig, Tristan;Tekes, Ayse
• 通讯作者: Tekes, Ayse

Learning by Doing in the Dynamics and Mechanical Vibrations Courses Using 3D Printed Equipment

使用 3D 打印设备在动力学和机械振动课程中边做边学

• DOI: 10.1115/imece2022-94180
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: ASME 2022 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
• 作者: Tran, Thuong;Tran, Tinh;Tran, Kevin;Oun, Karena;Tekes, Ayse
• 通讯作者: Tekes, Ayse