Collaborative Research: Multi-Scale Experimental Mechanics Education Module

该项目的重点是将固体力学实验和材料可视化相结合，以加强本科固体力学教育，并帮助学生建立抽象工程概念的适当心理模型，以提高学习效果。 这项工作采用了多个长度尺度的材料表征和可视化固体力学教育，基于网络的教育模块和体验式学习。 本研究的广泛影响是对未来专业工程师基础固体力学教育的贡献，以及能够将STEM进步转化为工程创新的关键人数的增加。本研究项目是通过建立材料结构和固体力学的关系来初步测试力学教育的有效性，帮助学生理解工程中复杂、抽象的概念。 为了了解建议的方法是否可以改善学生的学习和保留所涵盖的课程材料，主要特征分析，学生学习收获调查评估和个别学生访谈被用来分析和比较学生的学习成果与传统的方法。 学生心理模型表征的变化正在通过一种面向语言的方法进行分析，用于开放问题的文本和图形表示。 实验前和实验后被用来比较和跟踪学生的心理表征的变化。这些措施也被用来比较对照组和治疗组。 学生的感知和动机的特点正在使用一个多尺度的问卷调查工具，以前设计和验证的项目人员进行评估。

This project focuses on combining solid mechanics experimentation and material visualization to enhance undergraduate solid mechanics education and assist students to develop appropriate mental models of abstract engineering concepts to enhance learning. This effort employs multiple length scale material characterization and visualization for solid mechanics education, web-based education modules, and experiential learning. A broad impact of this research is a contribution to the education of future professional engineers in fundamental solid mechanics and increase in the critical number of individuals who are capable of translating STEM advances into engineering innovations.This research project is pilot testing the effectiveness of mechanics education by establishing the relation of material structure and solid mechanics, which can assistant students to understand complex and abstract concepts in engineering. To understand whether the proposed approach can improve student learning and retention of course materials covered, Primary Trait Analysis, Student Assessment of Learning Gains Surveys, and individual student interviews are being used to analyze and compare students' learning outcomes with conventional methods. Changes in Student Mental Model Representation are being analyzed through a language-oriented methodology for text and graphical representations of open problems. Pre- and post-experiments are being used to compare and track changes in students' mental representation. The measures are also being used to compare control and treatment groups. Students' perceptual and motivational characteristics are being assessed using a multi-scale questionnaire instrument previously designed and validated by project personnel.