The effect of learning problem-solving methods on learning to program in the BASIC language

This study was designed to compare learning problem-solving methods versus non problem-solving activity (word-processing) on subsequent learning to program in the BASIC language. It also examined a method to provide students with increased knowledge and skills to enable them to learn how to program;A pretest-posttest control group design was used in this experiment with random assignment of subjects to one of three groups. Experiment groups one (deduction group) and two (induction group) first received the pretest and learning problem-solving methods; then group one received deduction instruction while group two received induction instruction, both followed by learning BASIC language programming instruction, taking midterm test one and two, and then the post-test. The control group first received the pretest and wordprocessing instruction, followed by learning BASIC language programming instruction and taking midterm test one and two, and then the post-test;The results indicated that when female students first study problem-solving methods (induction and deduction) they experience a significant increase in BASIC language programming achievement. Likewise, male students who first learn problem solving (induction) experience a significant increase in BASIC language program achievement;The study also showed that female students who first receive problem-solving instruction in induction subsequently learn BASIC language programming significantly better than female students who first receive problem-solving instruction in deduction and subsequently learn BASIC language programming;Further evidence supports that female students in group one and two on BASIC language programming in design and understanding performed significantly better than female students in the control group. In addition, male students who first learn problem solving (induction) perform significantly better than males who first receive non-problem solving instruction prior to learning BASIC language programming in design and understanding;From this study, the researcher concluded the following: (1) students who first learn problem-solving methods, rather than receiving non problem-solving instruction followed by learning BASIC programming, perform significantly better than their counterparts; and (2) female students who learn problem solving (induction) perform significantly higher than female students who learn problem solving (deduction) followed by learning BASIC language programming. Thus, first learning problem-solving skills enhances the ability to learn a programming language

Wind Tunnel Seven-Hole Pressure Probe Calibration

The project studies and performs the calibration of a miniature seven-hole pressure probe designed to be utilized in the new wind tunnel of the Embry-Riddle Research Park. The seven-hole pressure probe is to measure flow angularity, which has better sensivity than conventional five-hole pressure probe. However, the seven-hole probe requires calibration due to manufacturing tolerance and its small dimensions. The seven-hole pressure probe is attached to a rotary table allowing the probe to change its pitch and yaw angle within the wind tunnel test section. Data is gathered from combinations of pitch and yaw angles between -10 to 10 degrees, with a step of 0.5 degree. Data gathered in initial wind tunnel tests were utilized for zero-angle offset correction for both pith and yaw angle. A time-series samples were recorded to determine how long the flow settles once pitch and yaw angle is altered. Calibration was then done with polynomial curve fit on MATLAB. An application of the wind tunnel test will also be performed to validate the calibration coefficients. A multiple 7-hole sensor rake also will be proposed which can be used to efficiently scan a large-scale wind tunnel test section, such as the new low-speed wind tunnel at the research park

Hole/Crack Identification in Circular Piezoelectric Plates

AbstractThe piezoelectric material generates an electric field when it is deformed by an external force. On account of this electro-mechanical coupling, piezoelectric material plays an important role in the development of sensors as well as actuators. The governing equations of electro-mechanical characteristics are expressed by extended Stroh formalism. The boundary element method is applied to solve the finite domain problem in which the Green function derived according to boundary conditions is embedded. The essential nonlinear identification problem is solved by using the multiple loading modes and stepwise optimization to search for the global minimum solution. This paper successfully identifies the hole/crack size, location, and orientation in finite circular piezoelectric plates by using the strain/electric field data, stress/electric displacement data, or displacement/electric charge data from static loadings. The numerical results that confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method for hole/crack identification in circular piezoelectric plates are presented in details

Gas Sensing Ionic Liquids on Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Recent advances in “designer solvents” have facilitated the development of ultrasensitive gas sensing ionic liquids (SILs) based on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) that can real‐time detect and discriminate volatile molecules. The amalgamation of tailored‐made SILs and label‐free QCM resulted in a new class of qualitative and semi‐quantitative gas sensing device, which represents a model system of electronic nose. Because a myriad of human‐made or naturally occurring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are of great interest in many areas, several functional SILs have been designed to detect gaseous aldehyde, ketone, amine and azide molecules chemoselectively in our laboratory. The versatility of this platform lies in the selective capture of volatile compounds by thin‐coated reactive SILs on QCM at room temperature. Notably, the detection limit of the prototype system can be as low as single‐digit parts‐per‐billion. This chapter briefly introduces some conventional gas sensing approaches and collates recent research results in the integration of SILs and QCM and finally gives an account of the state‐of‐the‐art gas sensing technology