Spatial Visualization Ability and Impact of Drafting Models: A Quasi Experimental Study

A quasi experimental study was done to determine significant positive effects among three different types of visual models and to identify whether any individual type or combination contributed towards a positive increase of spatial visualization ability for students in engineering technology courses. In particular, the study compared the use of different visual models - a 3D printed solid object, a 3D computer generated drawing and a 2D drawing

Web-Based Virtual Learning for Digital Manufacturing Fundamentals for Automotive Workforce Training

Automotive manufacturers are experiencing difficulties in hiring highly qualified workers with ability to adopt new technologies fast. This kind of ongoing need for training is slowing innovation. This problem is related to the difficulty in obtaining consistent training resources and services especially with lack of training for advanced manufacturing practices for specialised industry sectors. More and more occupations require degrees higher than secondary education because of the global need for so called ‘knowledge workers’. An example of an interactive learning programme, developed with the support of narrated presentation technology, podcasts and online access has been shown in this paper. Sixty nine online modules have been developed during the course of a project funded by Department of Labor for automotive sector. These online modules have been developed for lifelong learners to be used and accessed at any time (asynchronously from a website). Curriculum modules, developed for the Introduction to Digital Manufacturing are a part of a certificate programme which expands the pool of skilled workers, enhance the abilities of incumbent workers, and strengthen the entire advanced manufacturing sector

Introducing Writing Assignments in Engineering Technology Courses to Enhance Technical Writing Skills and Critical Thinking

This study was prompted by the university wide initiative to improve students\u27 technical writing skills across-the-curriculum by introducing low stakes writing assignments as early as in their freshman year. Effective written communication skills are important for engineering education, with critical thinking being one of the most important aspects of the learning process at the college level. However, the efforts in required core curriculum English and communication courses are not always further integrated into engineering curriculum. Introducing a technical paper writing assignment in lower division engineering courses had the purpose of helping students to be better prepared for major writing assignments in their upper division courses as well as for their capstone project. For this study a writing assignment was introduced in an Electrical Circuits course, for electrical engineering technology students at Old Dominion University in fall 2015. At the end of the semester a survey was distributed to the students to evaluate their opinion on the effectiveness of introducing a writing assignment early in their college education. The research also evaluates the students\u27 opinion on how such assignment can help them better understand the concepts studied in class, improve their studying methodology and enhance their critical thinking

Application of Visual Cues on 3D Dynamic Visualizations for Engineering Technology Students and Effects on Spatial Visualization Ability: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Several theorists believe that different types of visual cues influence cognition and behavior through learned associations; however, research provides inconsistent results. Considering this, a quasi-experimental study was done to determine if there are significant positive effects of visual cues (color blue) and to identify if a positive increase in spatial visualization ability for students in engineering technology courses is observed. According to the results of this study it is suggested that the use of the specific visual cue (color blue) provides no statistically significant higher scores versus the treatment that did not utilize any visual cues

Use of Virtual Reality Head-Mounted Displays for Engineering Technology Students and Implications on Spatial Visualization

Results from a number of studies indicate that the use of head-mounted displays can influence spatial visualization ability; however, research provides inconsistent results. Considering this, a quasi-experimental study was conducted to identify the existence of statistically significant effects on rotational view drawing ability due to the impacts of the displays. In particular, the study compared the use of three different types of displays; head-mounted, pc dynamic and 3D printed and whether a significant difference exists towards rotational view drawing ability, among engineering technology students. According to the results of this study it is suggested that the impact of the display type provides no statistically significant differences

Integrating PLCs with Robot Motion Control in Engineering Capstone Courses

Robotic motion control methods and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are critical in engineering automation and process control applications. In most manufacturing and automation processes, robots are used for moving parts and are controlled by industrial PLCs. Proper integration of external I/O devices, sensors and actuating motors with PLC input and output cards is very important to run the process smoothly without any faults and/or safety concerns. Most traditional electrical and computer engineering (ECE) programs offer high level of motion theory and controls but little hands-on exposure to PLCs which are the main industrial controllers. This paper provides a framework for a hands-on project to integrate PLCs in robot arm motion control, troubleshooting, and testing the real sensors and motors with PLC experiments which complements the virtual calculations and theory. This PLC with Robot Arm Motion control integration concept idea was introduced and tested in a 600-level graduate capstone project class. By the end of the semester long class, the students used their PLC hardware and software skills to wire a robot arm sensing elements and actuating motors to pick and place objects from one location to a bin. The assessment demonstrated that the course learning objectives were met

Impacts of Music on Sectional View Drawing Ability for Engineering Technology Students as Measured Through Technical Drawings

Results from a number of studies indicate that the use of different types of music can influence cognition and behavior; however, research provides inconsistent results. Considering this, a quasi-experimental study was conducted to identify the existence of statistically significant effects on sectional view drawing ability due to the impacts of music. In particular, the study compared the use of three different types of music; classical, rock, heavy metal and whether a significant difference exists towards sectional view drawing ability, among engineering technology students. According to the results of this study it is suggested that the impact of music provides no statistically significant differences

Development of a Smart Grid Course in an Electrical Engineering Technology Program

Electric power systems courses have been traditionally offered by electrical engineering technology programs for a long time, with the main objective to introduce students to the fundamental concepts in the field of electric power systems and electrical to mechanical energy conversion. A typical electric power systems course covers a variety of topics, such as general aspects of electric power system design, electric generators, components of transmission and distribution systems, power flow analysis, system operation, and performance measures. In the last decades, electric power systems have significantly modernized alongside with requirement of improvement in system efficiency, reliability, cybersecurity, and environmental sustainability. The current modernized grid is called “Smart Grid,” which integrates advanced sensing technologies, control methods using machine learning approaches, and integrated communications into current electric power systems. Consequently, offered electric power systems courses are required to update in electrical engineering technology as well, to meet the industry needs of a workforce prepared to integrate smart grid technologies, such as advanced sensing, control, monitoring, communication, renewable energy, storage, computing, cybersecurity, etc. However, such updates of the course content are not always easy to implement due to the complexity of smart grid technologies and the limited number of instructors having knowledge of those technologies. In addition, smart grid courses should include a hands-on component aligned with the theoretical upgrades introduced in the course in the form of term projects. Such projects can be on a variety of topics, such as smart home/building, smart meter, smart distribution system, microgrid, communication infrastructure, Distributed energy resources (DERs) (e.g., rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV), wind), electric vehicle (EV), customer engagement, energy generation forecasting, load forecasting, and others. This paper will discuss the details of introducing a new course on smart grids in an electrical engineering technology program, including detailed examples of project selection

Flipped Classroom as Blended Learning in a Fluid Mechanics Course in Engineering Technology

Flipped classroom has gained attention in recent years as a teaching method in which the time allocated for introducing new concepts and the time used for practicing them are inverted, in order to provide more time for problem based learning and class interaction under direct supervision of the instructor. The implementation of this teaching method is comprised of two main components, the pre-class activities, which consist of individual student work and are largely based on pre-recorded videos, and in-class activities, which are group activities supervised by the instructor. This paper discusses the implementation of the flipped classroom method in a Fluid Mechanics course in an Engineering Technology program at a midsize university. The study presented was conducted over four consecutive semesters, the data representing four different groups of students. In the study presented, an important percentage of the students took the course in an online setting, either synchronous or asynchronous mode, which created an atypical situation compared to other implementations of flipped classroom method presented in the literature. It was found that the length or the format of the pre-recorded videos were not critical factors in determining the students to review them before the class. The unconventional setting of the class, including both in class and online students, required originality in handling the in-class activities. The best approach was to delegate students to lead the group discussions associated with solving the problems, while the instructor acted as an observer when the discussions were constructive and as a guide when the solution was getting out of rail or when the students were struggling. A survey was distributed to the students at the end of the course as a post-class activity, concluding the implementation considered in the study. The results of the survey showed that the students were satisfied with the teaching method and found it important in their learning process

Teaching Introduction to Welding in Undergraduate and Graduate Engineering Technology Programs

Recent trends in the industry have led to an increased need for engineers with welding training. Not many universities in the U.S.A. offer welding courses at undergraduate level. Engineers that do not receive education about this complex process, sometimes they make a very costly and dangerous mistake. More profound understanding of the welding process that expands beyond the basic comprehension of technology use is needed for the advanced manufacturing sector. Welding related courses, as it involves the complex interplay of the four states of matter (solid, liquid, gas and plasma) as governed by the laws of physics, need topics such as material science, phase diagrams, phase transformation, heat treatment, and possible failure modes of welds and working with special alloys and material that are difficult to weld. This paper will present two such courses at two different universities, both offered in mechanical engineering technology programs. These courses cover various welding processes, heat flow, residual stress, design, problems, codes, standards, and most importantly metallography