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

工程-机械（56）现代工程师必须具有高度的技术复杂性和计算机素养，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。虽然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于教授学生使用软件的基本知识时，它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，然后使用该软件来加强课程概念。这是通过开发在四个机械工程课程中广泛使用的软件的全屏，视听，交互式教程来实现的，从大一课程（工程图形学）开始，并继续在三个高级课程（测量和仪器，机器的运动学和动力学，以及计算机辅助工程）。此外，还正在编制一个“教师多媒体工具开发手册”，以促进各学科教师开发软件教程和互动教学工具。该项目的主要研究者以前开发了交互式计算机教程，游戏和测验的新生工程制图课程，这已被认可，并授予区域和国家卓越的教学课件。在为期三年的补助金的第一年，工程图形材料形成评估，增强，并在得克萨斯州泛美大学（UTPA）实施，并开始开发其他三个项目课程的材料。在第二年，工程制图课程的实施和评估在其他合作机构南得克萨斯州社区学院（麦卡伦，得克萨斯州），北中央技术学院（曼斯菲尔德，俄亥俄州），和内华达大学里诺。UTPA是一个少数民族机构，人口中有85%是西班牙裔。在多个机构实施和评估这些材料，证明它对不同的受众有效。此外，在第二年，为其他三个项目课程编写的材料在UTPA实施和评估。在第三年，前两年开发的材料在其他机构出版和测试，并创建“教师多媒体工具开发库”。这一“指南”是根据调查人员为不同课程和不同受众开发此类工具的经验而创建的，使其他地点和其他学科的教师能够以最小的努力为自己的应用程序创建类似的软件教程和教具。课程材料和“手册”将通过一家主要的学术材料出版社出版和发行。

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.