Enhancing Engineering Education with Computational Thinking

本项目探讨了科学模拟对学习工程的教育价值，通过让高中生在计算机模拟的帮助下设计和建造一个节能的模型屋，并进行验证测量，以验证模拟和实践项目是相互有益的。该项目正在开发一个面向教育，学生友好的仿真工具，sieng，能够准确地建模学生在这个项目中遇到的工程问题。目前正在开发四个教学单元：介绍科学概念和工程原理的导论；设计和建造节能房屋的基本原理；探索自然供暖；发明自然冷却装置。正在为每个单元开发模拟和实践项目。学生的学习和表现在两种情况下进行研究：利用实践经验的实验处理，辅以四萌模拟软件；控制组由相同的实践经验和传统的课程材料组成。该研究探索了使用模拟的潜在学习增强功能，这在基于设计的学习、工程教育和网络学习中至关重要。虽然本研究的重点是热系统的工程设计，但其研究方法具有广泛的适用性，研究结果对一般的工程教育具有重要意义。本研究还探讨了网络学习的关键问题，如通过虚拟实验室学习和通过物理实验室学习的关系。教学材料和模拟工具是开源的，可以在网上免费获得。这些材料正在不同社会经济背景的学生群体中进行测试，以确保研究结果适用于所有学生。

This project investigates the educational value of scientific simulations for learning engineering through engaging high school students in designing and building an energy-efficient scale model house with the aid of computer simulations and probeware measurement in order to test the assertion that simulations and hands-on projects are mutually beneficial. The project is developing an education-oriented, student-friendly simulation tool, SimEng, which is capable of accurately modeling the engineering problems students encounter in this project. Four instructional units are being developed: an introduction presenting science concepts and engineering principles; fundamentals of designing and building energy-efficient houses; exploring natural heating; and inventing natural cooling devices. Simulations and hands-on projects are being developed for each unit. Student learning and performance are being studied under two conditions: the experimental treatment utilizing hands-on experiences supplemented by the SimEng simulation software; and the control treatment consisting of the identical hands-on experiences and traditional curriculum materials.The research explores potential learning enhancements using simulations, which are critically important in design-based learning, engineering education, and cyberlearning. Although this project focuses on engineering design of thermal systems, the research methodology is broadly applicable and the outcomes have important implications for engineering education in general. This study also explores critical cyberlearning questions such as the relationship of learning through virtual labs and learning through physical labs. The instructional materials and the simulation tool are open source and freely available online. The materials are being tested with socio-economically diverse groups of students to ensure that the outcomes of the research apply to all students.