Development of an Innovative Integrated Learning Environment for Laboratory Instruction in Engineering

为工程实验室教学开发创新的综合学习环境

• 批准号: 9751372
• 负责人: David McDonald
• 金额: $ 5.63万
• 依托单位: Lake Superior State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1997
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1997-07-01 至 2000-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9751372&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Development; Innovative; Integrated; Learning; Environment

The current paradigm in engineering course instruction builds on a lecture prerequisite structure but ignores the need for a laboratory prerequisite structure. Educational quality is therefore diminished as instructors optimize specific laboratories but fail to optimize the overall program laboratory experience. This project focuses on creating a learning environment that forces students to use not only concepts and skills but also actual data and models from lower division laboratories in upper division laboratories. The integration occurs because students must utilize their previous laboratory work as a reference as they study the different facets of the same experimental setups in multiple engineering laboratories. The vertically integrated learning environment builds on a lower division course such as electrical circuits and targets upper division courses such as dynamics and automatic controls. This approach requires the students to use specific skills in modern instrumentation from circuits to verify mathematical models in dynamics, and then use these mathematical models as sequential building blocks when completing laboratory exercises in the automatic controls course. The learning environment occurs in a new Integrated Systems Engineering Laboratory that, in addition to dynamics and controls, supports laboratories in machine design, vibrations, and digital signal processing, as well as projects in senior design and undergraduate student research. This laboratory uses experimental setups such as a vertical pendulum and a mobile robot that can be shown to be ideal platforms to support this vertically integrated learning environment. A comprehensive evaluation plan entails coordination of an internal and external evaluator by the Dean of Engineering. Further, an aggressive dissemination plan is outlined that relies heavily on modern technology such as the Internet and a recordable CD ROM. This project has the potential for national impact because it challenges the existing par adigm of laboratory instruction and completely redefines the way universities develop instructional laboratories.

目前的工程课程教学模式建立在讲座的先决条件结构，但忽略了实验室的先决条件结构的需要。 因此，教育质量下降，教师优化特定的实验室，但未能优化整体计划实验室的经验。 该项目的重点是创造一个学习环境，迫使学生使用不仅是概念和技能，但也实际数据和模型，从较低的部门实验室在较高的部门实验室。 之所以进行整合，是因为学生在多个工程实验室中研究相同实验设置的不同方面时必须利用之前的实验室工作作为参考。 纵向一体化的学习环境建立在较低的分工课程，如电路和目标上师课程，如动力学和自动控制。 这种方法要求学生使用电路中的现代仪器的特定技能来验证动态中的数学模型，然后在完成自动控制课程的实验室练习时使用这些数学模型作为顺序构建模块。 学习环境发生在一个新的综合系统工程实验室，除了动力学和控制，支持实验室在机器设计，振动和数字信号处理，以及在高级设计和本科生研究项目。 这个实验室使用的实验装置，如垂直摆和移动的机器人，可以被证明是理想的平台，以支持这种垂直整合的学习环境。 一个全面的评估计划需要由工程系主任协调内部和外部评估人员。 此外，一个积极的传播计划，在很大程度上依赖于现代技术，如互联网和可记录的CD ROM。该项目具有潜在的国家影响，因为它挑战了现有的标准adigm的实验室教学和完全重新定义的方式大学发展教学实验室。