Hands-on Engineering Homework: A New Approach to Out-of Class Learning

9455705 Bedard这个项目开辟了一种新的方式，提供实验补充理论课程。目标是训练学生用他们所学到的东西来检验他们所看到的一切，并由此提出问题。基本的想法是创建一套简单的实验，可以在家里做，像家庭作业一样布置。这种简单而优雅的实验被称为“动手做作业”（Hands-On-Homework， HOH），它鼓励学生用工程理论来解释日常现象，并将他们的观察结果与理论预测进行比较；*提供开放式的机会，利用现成的材料和熟悉的经验探索工程问题；*培养学生进行“现实检验”，将理论分析自然地应用于实验观察；并且*为学生在整个大学生涯中提供持续的机会，以经验探索工程问题，并培养有助于终身学习的习惯。这个项目与新综合教学实验室计划的课程变化有关。动手作业是贯穿整个课程的，主要是在前三年，包括数学和物理入门课程。如静力学、动力学、热力学和电路等初始学科课程，以及流体力学、传热、控制理论或材料等更高级的课程都会受益。卫生保健问题在两个课程中进行试点，同时进行外展以确定进一步的课程。评估是通过在学期中举行共识小组，比较有和没有HOH的学生的表现来完成的。结果将在会议和审查中提出。最终，将制作一份用户指南，其中包含所有的动手作业以及绩效评估。因为HOH的成本低，他们可以很容易地再现和项目的成果广泛出口。

9455705 Bedard This project pioneers a new way to provide experimental complements to theoretical courses. The goal is to train students to use what they learn to examine all that they see and as a result, to question. The fundamental idea is to create a suite of simple experiments which can be done in the home and assigned like homework problems. Such simple, but elegant experiments are dubbed Hands-On-Homework (HOH) which: * encourages students to use engineering theory to explain everyday phenomena, and to compare their observations to theoretical prediction; * provides open-ended opportunities to explore engineering questions using readily available materials and familiar experiences; * trains students to conduct "reality checks" and naturally apply theoretical analysis to experimental observations; and * provides continuous opportunities for students to empirically explore engineering questions throughout their college careers and develop habits contpibuting to life long learning. This project is tied to curriculum changes planned for the new Integrated Teaching Laboratory. Hands-On Homework is liberally sprinkled throughout the entire curriculum, primarily in the first three years, including introductory mathematics and physics courses. Initial disciplinary courses such as statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and circuits benefit, as well as more advanced courses such as fluid mechanics, heat transfer, control theory, or materials. HOH problems are piloted in two courses while doing an outreach to identify further courses. Evaluation is done by holding consensus groups during the semester and comparing performance of students with and without HOH. Results will be presented at meetings and reviews. Ultimately, a user's guide will be produced containing all the Hands-On-Homeworks as well as the performance evaluations. Because HOH's are low-cost, they can be easily rep- licated and the results of the project widely exported.