Interactive Computer and Web-Based Learning of Software Packages Used in Engineering

工程中使用的软件包的交互式计算机和基于网络的学习

• 批准号: 0089035
• 负责人: Stephen Crown
• 金额: $ 32.42万
• 依托单位: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-06-01 至 2005-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0089035&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Interactive; Computer; Web; Based; Learning

Engineering - Mechanical (56)It is essential for the modern engineer to have a high degree of technological sophistication and computer literacy, and so learning commercial engineering analysis software packages has become a significant part of many engineering courses. Although the use of these commercial software packages may aid in teaching fundamental concepts to students, it can often have the opposite effect when valuable course time is taken up in teaching students the basics of using the software. The primary objective of this project is to put students in a position where they can quickly and easily learn necessary software, and then use that software to reinforce course concepts. This is being accomplished through the development of full-screen, audio-visual, interactive tutorials for software that is used extensively in four Mechanical Engineering courses, beginning with a freshman course (Engineering Graphics) and continuing in three upper-level courses (Measurements and Instrumentation, Kinematics and Dynamics of Machines, and Computer-Aided Engineering). In addition, a "Faculty Multimedia Tools Development Toolbox" is being assembled to facilitate development of software tutorials and interactive instructional tools by faculty in any discipline. The Principal Investigator for this project previously developed interactive computer tutorials, games, and quizzes for a freshman Engineering Graphics course, which has been recognized and awarded regionally and nationally for excellence in instructional courseware. In the first year of the three-year grant, the Engineering Graphics materials are formatively evaluated, enhanced, and implemented at the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA), and development begins on materials for the other three project courses. In the second year, the Engineering Graphics course is implemented and evaluated at other cooperating institutions-South Texas Community College (in McAllen, Texas), North Central Technical College (in Mansfield, Ohio), and the University of Nevada-Reno. UTPA is a minority institution, with a population that is 85% Hispanic. Implementing and assessing the materials at multiple institutions verifies that it is effective for diverse audiences. Furthermore, in the second year, the materials developed for the other three project courses are implemented and assessed at UTPA. In the third year, the materials developed in the first two years are published and tested at other institutions and the "Faculty Multimedia Tools Development Toolbox" is created. This "Toolbox", created out of the experience of the investigators in developing such tools for diverse courses and diverse audiences, allows faculty in other locations and other disciplines to create similar software tutorials and teaching aids for their own applications with minimum effort. The course materials and "Toolbox" will be published and distributed through a major publisher of academic materials.

对于现代工程师来说，具有高度的技术复杂性和计算机素养是必不可少的，因此学习商业工程分析软件包已成为许多工程课程的重要组成部分。尽管使用这些商业软件包可能有助于向学生教授基本概念，但当宝贵的课程时间被用来教授学生使用软件的基础知识时，往往会产生相反的效果。这个项目的主要目标是让学生能够快速、轻松地学习必要的软件，然后使用这些软件来强化课程概念。这是通过开发全屏、视听、互动的软件教程来实现的，该软件广泛应用于四门机械工程课程，从大一课程（工程图形学）开始，到三门高级课程（测量与仪器、机械运动学与动力学、计算机辅助工程）。此外，一个“教师多媒体工具开发工具箱”正在组装，以促进任何学科教师的软件教程和交互式教学工具的开发。该项目的首席研究员之前为一门大一的工程图形学课程开发了交互式计算机教程、游戏和测验，该课程因教学课件的卓越性而获得了地区和国家的认可和奖励。在三年资助的第一年，工程图形学材料将在德克萨斯大学泛美分校（UTPA）进行正式评估、改进和实施，并开始开发其他三个项目课程的材料。第二年，工程图形学课程在其他合作机构实施和评估，包括南德克萨斯社区学院（位于德克萨斯州麦卡伦）、北中央技术学院（位于俄亥俄州曼斯菲尔德）和内华达大学里诺分校。UTPA是一所少数族裔机构，85%的人口是西班牙裔。在多个机构实施和评估这些材料，验证了它对不同的受众是有效的。此外，在第二年，为其他三个项目课程编写的材料将在UTPA执行和评估。第三年，出版前两年开发的材料，并在其他机构进行测试，并创建“学院多媒体工具开发工具箱”。这个“工具箱”是根据研究人员为不同的课程和不同的受众开发此类工具的经验而创建的，它允许其他地点和其他学科的教师为他们自己的应用程序创建类似的软件教程和教学辅助工具，而付出的努力最少。课程材料和“工具箱”将通过一个主要的学术材料出版商出版和分发。