6,216 research outputs found
Innovation and failure in mechatronics design education
Innovative engineering design always has associated with it the risk of failure, and it is the role of the design engineer to mitigate the possibilities of failure in the final system. Education should however provide a safe space for students to both innovate and to learn about and from failures. However, pressures on course designers and students can result in their adopting a conservative, and risk averse, approach to problem solving. The paper therefore considers the nature of both innovation and failure, and looks at how these might be effectively combined within mechatronics design education
Kecenderungan kerjaya sebagai usahawan di kalangan pelajar bumiputera di Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Kuantan, Pahang
Usahawan memainkan peranan penting dalam pembangunan ekonomi sesebuah
negara. Walau bagaimanapun, jika dilihat senario sekarang, masih ramai Bumiputera
yang kurang berminat untuk menceburi bidang keusahawanan. Justeru itu, kajian ini
bertujuan untuk menyelidik tentang tahap kecenderungan keijaya sebagai usahawan di
kaiangan pelajar Bumiputera tahun akhir Diploma Akauntansi Politeknik Sultan Haji
Ahmad Shah, Kuantan (POLISAS). Secara khususnya, kajian ini akan menyelidik sejauh
mana cita-cita pelajar Bumiputera untuk menjadi seorang usahawan dipengaruhi oleh
ciri-ciri peribadi pelajar, faktor keluarga, faktor pengajian, pengalaman keija dan faktor
persekitaran. Responden kajian terdiri daripada pelajar Bumiputera POLISAS iaitu
seramai 51 orang. Data dikumpul menggunakan soal selidik dan dianalisis dengan
menggunakan prosedur Ujian T, Crosstabs dan Korelasi Pearson melalui perisian SPSS
(Statistical Package For Social Sciences). Dapatan kajian menunjukkan hanya faktor
persekitaran (iaitu faktor pihak yang paling mempengaruhi pelajar untuk berniaga) yang
dapat menarik minat pelajar untuk melibatkan diri dalam perniagaan. Faktor-faktor lain
didapati kurang memberikan sumbangan dalam menarik minat pelajar untuk cenderung
kepada bidang keusahawanan. Oleh itu, beberapa cadangan telah dibuat bagi menangani
masalah ini agar kaum Bumiputera tidak jauh ketinggalan berbanding kaum lain dan
seterusnya memenuhi hasrat kerajaan dalam merealisasikan matlamat Dasar Ekonomi
Baru (DEB) yang masih belum dicapai sepenuhnya hingga ke hari ini
Environmental test chamber for the support of learning and teaching in intelligent control
The paper describes the utility of a low cost, 1 m2 by 2 m forced ventilation, micro-climate test chamber, for the support of research and teaching in mechatronics. Initially developed for the evaluation of a new ventilation rate controller, the fully instrumented chamber now provides numerous learning opportunities and individual projects for both undergraduate and postgraduate research students
A longitudinal study at an English Medium Instruction university in Turkey: the interplay between English language improvement and academic success
This article reports a quantitative empirical study that investigated whether English language proficiency increases over time when studying academic content through English Medium Instruction (EMI). It was also investigated whether an increase in proficiency predicts EMI academic achievement. Student English language test score data and Grade Point Average (GPA) data were collected from a public university in Turkey. Two academic subjects were compared: Business Administration (a Social Science subject, n = 81) and Mechatronics Engineering (a Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences subject, n = 84). Results showed that in both subjects, English language proficiency statistically significantly improved over a four-year period of studying through English. Furthermore, this improvement predicted EMI academic achievement; meaning that the more proficient students became in English, the higher they achieved in their EMI academic studies. This provides evidence for policymakers, EMI practitioners, and language professionals around the world that English does improve when studying academic content through English, and that this improvement has a positive effect on content learning outcomes. Implications of these findings, and suggestions for further research are discussed
Microstructure analysis of tungsten carbide hardfacing on carbon steel blade
Tungsten carbide (WC) hardfacing coating is commonly used to enhance carbon steel blade performance which works in acidic and abrasive condition during production process. This paper deals with tungsten carbide (WC) hardfacing microstructure analysis on a carbon steel blade. Mixing of ilmenite ore with sulphuric acid is performed by the carbon steel blade as part of a production process. Tungsten carbide hardfacing is deposited on the carbon steel blade to enhance its wear resistance. The carbide distribution along with elemental composition analysis of the hardfaced carbon steel blade specimens is examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) respectively. Microstructure analysis revealed that different sizes of carbides with non-uniform distribution are found around the coating region. The carbide region is contains high percentage of tungsten (W) meanwhile, non-carbide region rich in tungsten (W) and iron (Fe)
Integrating multidisciplinary engineering knowledge
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Teaching in Higher Education on 13 June 2012, available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2012.694105.In order to design two distinct engineering qualification levels for an existing University of Technology programme, empirical evidence based on the current diploma is necessary to illuminate the nature of and the relationship between the contextual and conceptual elements underpinning a multidisciplinary engineering curriculum. The increasing focus on contextual application could result in decreasing opportunities to develop the conceptual disciplinary grasp required for a dynamic, emerging region at the forefront of technological innovation. Using the theoretical tools of Bernstein and Maton to analyse final year student practice, the research addresses the question of how multidisciplinary knowledge is integrated by students, and what this reveals about the nature of such knowledge. The paper presents a conceptualisation of multidisciplinary knowledge integration practices as a dynamic process along two axes simultaneously, shifting between different forms and levels of conceptual and contextual knowledge
Framework to Enhance Teaching and Learning in System Analysis and Unified Modelling Language
Cowling, MA ORCiD: 0000-0003-1444-1563; Munoz Carpio, JC ORCiD: 0000-0003-0251-5510Systems Analysis modelling is considered foundational for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) students, with introductory and advanced units included in nearly all ICT and computer science degrees. Yet despite this, novice systems analysts (learners) find modelling and systems thinking quite difficult to learn and master. This makes the process of teaching the fundamentals frustrating and time intensive. This paper will discuss the foundational problems that learners face when learning Systems Analysis modelling. Through a systematic literature review, a framework will be proposed based on the key problems that novice learners experience. In this proposed framework, a sequence of activities has been developed to facilitate understanding of the requirements, solutions and incremental modelling. An example is provided illustrating how the framework could be used to incorporate visualization and gaming elements into a Systems Analysis classroom; therefore, improving motivation and learning. Through this work, a greater understanding of the approach to teaching modelling within the computer science classroom will be provided, as well as a framework to guide future teaching activities
Real-World Industry Collaboration within a Mechatronics Class
This paper describes the implementation and assessment of an innovative senior/graduate level mechatronics (robotics) module that integrated structured and unstructured learning experiences, in collaboration with an industry partner. With real-world constraints and expectations, students designed and delivered a product as the final project. In fall 2007, the corporate partner provided state-of-the-art, programmable robotic kits with a user-friendly programming environment. The assigned project was to design a biomedical robot to work in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU) to perform tasks such as transporting supplies or delivering paperwork. Students with diverse skills and majors were grouped in ten teams, two to three students each. Student learning activities included designing a robot from a box of FisherTechnik materials, without the aid of instruction manuals; writing program code using the PCS environment; and integrating hardware and software. After four weeks of building, training, and testing, each team’s robot was unique. In the final competition, each robot was assigned to a particular room in the ICU to perform a specific task. Overall, the results indicated that the students gained hands-on experience with the state-of-art technology and effectively applied the conceptual course content to a real application
The LAB@FUTURE Project - Moving Towards the Future of E-Learning
This paper presents Lab@Future, an advanced e-learning platform that uses novel Information and Communication Technologies to support and expand laboratory teaching practices. For this purpose, Lab@Future uses real and computer-generated objects that are interfaced using mechatronic systems, augmented reality, mobile technologies and 3D multi user environments. The main aim is to develop and demonstrate technological support for practical experiments in the following focused subjects namely: Fluid Dynamics - Science subject in Germany, Geometry - Mathematics subject in Austria, History and Environmental Awareness – Arts and Humanities subjects in Greece and Slovenia. In order to pedagogically enhance the design and functional aspects of this e-learning technology, we are investigating the dialogical operationalisation of learning theories so as to leverage our understanding of teaching and learning practices in the targeted context of deployment
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