2004 ASME Curriculum Innovation Award

2006 ASEE DELOS Best Paper Award

October Featured User, Mathcad Advisor Newsletter

PUBLICATIONS

Incorporating a Research Problem in a Numerical Methods Course for Mechanical Engineers: This paper is an example of incorporating a research problem in a course in Numerical Methods for Mechanical Engineers. The research problem relates to the fulcrum assembly procedure of bascule bridges where a trunnion cooled in a dry-ice/alcohol mixture for shrink fitting got stuck halfway in the hub. To find the solution to the problem involved numerical solutions of mathematical procedures including nonlinear equations, simultaneous linear equations, interpolation, regression, integration, and ordinary differential equations. Using this problem-centered approach is highly appreciated by students as found via a student satisfaction survey.   What they liked most was the 1) application of course material to real-life engineering problem and 2) using different solution approaches to the same problem and comparing the quality of the solutions. Type of publication: Proceedings of the ASEE Conference, Honolulu, HI, June 25-28, 2007. View presentation [PPT PDF]; View paper [PDF].

Assessing Teaching Methods for a Course in Numerical Methods:  Effectiveness of four instructional delivery modalities – 1) Traditional lecture, 2) Web-enhanced lecture, 3) Web-based self-study, and 4) Combined web-based self-study & classroom discussion, was investigated for a single instructional unit (Nonlinear Equations) over separate administrations of an undergraduate course in Numerical Methods. Two assessment instruments – 1) student performance on a multiple-choice examination, and 2) a student satisfaction survey were used to gather relevant data to compare the delivery modalities. Statistical analysis of the assessment data indicates that the second modality where web-based modules for instruction were used in conjunction with a face-to-face lecture delivery mode resulted in higher levels of student performance and satisfaction.  Type of publication: International Journal of Engineering education (in print for 2007); Presented at the ASEE Conference, Chicago, IL, June 18-21, 2006. View presentation [PPT PDF]  

Assessment of a Web-Enhanced Course in Numerical Methods: Effectiveness of web-based modules developed for a course in Numerical Methods was measured via three mixed assessment instruments – student satisfaction survey, student performance in a multiple-choice examination based on Bloom’s taxonomy, and summative rating of the modules based on content, learning, usability and technology. The web-based modules are holistic and are customized based on a student’s engineering major and choice of computational system. Statistical analysis of the assessment data indicates that web-based modules for instruction improved both student satisfaction and performance. Type of publication: International Journal of Engineering Education, pp. 712-722, Vol. 21 (4), 2005 [ABSTRACT]. 

Techniques Employed by Highly Effective Engineering Educators: Techniques include being organized, understand the importance of first day, use teaching tools effectively, being compassionate, give rapid feedback, ask questions, and having high expectations. Type of publication:  ASCE Journal of Professional Issues and Engineering Education, pp. 175-177, Vol. 131 (3), 2005. View presentation [PDF]

Novel Web-Based Modules for a Course in Numerical Methods: Web based resources are being developed, assessed and disseminated for a typical undergraduate course in Numerical Methods. These resources are holistic, that is, they include pre-requisite information, real-life applications, presentations and textbook notes, simulations, and self-assessment. The student interest and learning are maximized by providing customization of content based on a student’s engineering major and computational system of choice. The effectiveness of the resources was measured via two mixed assessment instruments – student satisfaction survey and student performance. Statistical analysis of the assessment data indicates that web-based modules for instruction improved both student satisfaction and performance.  Type of publication: 2004 ASME Curriculum Innovation Award Winner, Preprint, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, Anaheim, CA, Nov 13-19, 2004.  View presentation [PPT] [PDF]; View Preprint [PDF]

Holistic but Customized Resources for a Course in Numerical Methods:  Prototype web based resources have been developed for an undergraduate course in Numerical Methods.  The web modules are holistic, that is they include pre-requisite information, real-life applications, presentations and notes, simulations, and self-assessment.  The student interest and learning are maximized by providing customization of content based on a student’s engineering major and computational system of choice. Type of publication: Computer Applications for Engineering Education, pp. 203-210, Vol. 11, 2004.  Read paper. 

On Comparing Computational Systems - Maple, MathCAD, MATHEMATICA & MATLAB:  For developing web-based resources for an undergraduate course in Numerical Methods, four computational systems (Maple®, MathCAD®, MATHEMATICA®, and MATLAB®) were used to illustrate algorithms, convergence, and pitfalls of different numerical methods.  In this paper, we discuss the advantages and drawbacks of each mathematical package based on this experience.  Also as an example, from the four computational systems, we show the source code and output for one of the simulations. Type of publication: ASEE Computers in Education Journal, pp. 12-24, Vol. XIV(1), 2004. 

Web-Based Resources for a Course in Numerical Methods:  Funded by the NSF CCLI-EMD program, web based resources .... Prototype resources are available for topics in nonlinear equations and interpolation. The innovative feature of the web modules is that they are holistic as well as customizable. [PDF], [DOC], [HTML]).  Type of publication: Proceedings of the FIE 2003 conference in Boulder, CO, November 5-8, 2003.

Holistic Numerical Methods -  A Customized Approach: Web based resources have been developed that are holistic but also customized for an undergraduate course in Numerical Methods (... more [PDF], [DOC], [HTML], [PPT]). Type of publication: Presented at the ASEE 2003 conference in Nashville, TN, June 22-25, 2003.

Seven Traits of Highly Effective Engineering Educators: Traits include being organized, understand the importance of first day, use teaching tools effectively, being compassionate, give rapid feedback, ask questions, and having high expectations (... more [PPT]).  Type of publication: Proceedings of the ASEE 2003 conference in Nashville, TN, June 22-25, 2003.

Using Bloom's Taxonomy to Develop Exam Questions: To check your mastery at expected levels in the course – Computational Methods (Numerical Methods), I am following a widely used approach to item-writing and test construction.  This approach is called Bloom’s taxonomy (.. more).  Type of publication: Web Article

Introduction to Matrix Algebra: This book is written primarily for students who are at freshman level or do not take a full 3-credit hour course in Linear/Matrix Algebra, or are wanting a contemporary and applied approach to Matrix Algebra (download book [PDF]). Type of publication: E-Book on Web.

Holistic Numerical Methods -  A Prototype:  Prototype web based resources have been developed at the University of South Florida for an undergraduate course in Numerical Methods (...more [PDF], [DOC], [HTML]).

Type of publication: Presented at 2002 NSF ECEG conference in Washington DC, September 30 - October 1, 2002