Mechanical Engineering at UT Dallas’ Post

In Mechanical Design Fundamentals Studio 1 at UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT, we focus on learning and feedback over grades through formative sprints. While formative assessments potentially can predict final performance, a challenge remains: why do some students not submit their tasks? The past semesters reveal reasons like overconfidence, lack of marks, or external factors like work commitments, temporary illness and mental wellbeing. To address this, I developed a tool to help us intervene early, guiding students to UTS resources and offering support without overstepping personal boundaries. Supporting student wellbeing is crucial to their success. Read more in my latest LX at UTS blog post. https://lnkd.in/dpGMRRMh #EngineeringEducation #StudentWellbeing #FeedbackOverGrades #FormativeAssessment #HigherEd

When we talk about the connection between the classroom and the real world, this is what we mean. Every single student in the University of Indianapolis - R.B. Annis School of Engineering has the opportunity to work on a real world project sponsored by an industy partner. Our DesignSpine curriculum is actually one of a kind in the entire country. No wonder our engineering graduates are in such high demand with a placement rate at 96%! Check our this story about why this immersive education makes our students competitive. https://lnkd.in/g5neYwUA. #highereducationleadership #engineering #stemeducation #experientiallearning #UIndyWow #Greyhounds

It was an honor and a lot of fun to be invited back to UCSB to judge the Department of Engineering Grad Slam. Back in June I had the opportunity to serve as a judge for both the UCSB College of Engineering Multidisciplinary Competition (https://lnkd.in/g4NAbXbw) and Capstone Projects (https://lnkd.in/gG6szFCP), and apparently they aren’t sick of me. As Capstone judges, we dove deep in order to evaluate the engineering merit and presentations of seniors’ year-long group projects. These projects are no joke, posing sophisticated engineering and project management challenges that require coordination of large teams with students from multiple different departments. A great example is the Formula SAE Electric project(https://lnkd.in/g7hPSNcE). For the Grad Slam, grad students delivered lightning talks on their research, aiming to be both accessible engaging to a broader audience. It was convenient that I’ve had pitching on the mind recently, and lots of fresh feedback from some very smart people. Their feedback (“never have something on a slide you aren’t going to talk about”) echoed in my ears as I feverishly scribbled notes trying to keep up. It’s fantastic to see UCSB’s commitment to blending rigorous engineering with strong communication skills. I also had the chance to meet some of the talented people in the department these days, like department chair Jeff Moehlis and Tyler Susko. Interestingly, enrollment in the department has decreased from 100 students a year to 85 since I graduated, but the value of the education has only increased. Mechanical Engineering truly makes the world go round, and it’s a field that’s hard to outsource. As software jobs move to cheaper locations over the next decade putting downward pressure on those famously high comp packages, we may see more people gravitate back to fields like mechanical engineering. If your kids are considering it, definitely check out UCSB. While the two competitions were very different, each reminded me how much we learn throughout life’s journey and how much we can help develop people who are where we were not long ago. Hopefully by sharing our feedback and lessons learned we can make each successive generation smarter, faster, than the previous one, and thereby accelerate humanity’s progress. I still haven’t learned to get a picture of myself (ideally standing with some important person), so here’s the one I took of students working in the MEMS lab on my walk in from the parking lot 😂.

🚀 "Empowering Engineering Education: Beyond Syllabus Boundaries" __________________________________! "Sometimes, it's not about negativity—it's about guiding the youth in the right direction. Many colleges operate on business models that seem to prioritize profit over true educational growth. As engineering students, we need a curriculum that fosters creativity and critical thinking, not one that simply focuses on checking off syllabus topics. Restricting learning to rigid topics can limit creative thinking and, at times, lead to social anxiety among students. Education should inspire, not confine. Let’s advocate for a curriculum that encourages innovation and real-world problem-solving skills. #EducationReform #Engineering #StudentVoice #FutureReady" #active thinking

Faculty members in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at U-M are extending their work beyond the walls of G.G. Brown through Coursera Massive Open Online Courses. “I think MOOCs created by faculty members of premier universities make our impacts go beyond the university,” said Chinedum Okwudire, professor of mechanical engineering. Learn more about MOOCs and mechanical engineering at U-M here: https://bit.ly/4gJxoGb #umichengin #umich #education #mechanicalengineering

Thanks for the excellent article on engineering at UIndy!

The semester officially ended last week, but I’m still reflecting with gratitude on the incredibly rewarding and equally demanding experience of serving as the 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 for 𝘔𝘌3260 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘋𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴 & 𝘝𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at The Ohio State University... One central theme that emerged from this experience was the 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸. The insights I amassed from these anonymous surveys provided me the opportunity to engage students during moments when I felt their attention might waver. Early in the semester, I had asked students about their interests and ambitions; and their responses — ranging from early influences like playing with legos and tinkering with automobiles, to a desire to contribute to sustainable energy and robotics — helped me incorporate informed examples or questions that could recapture the attention of my diverse audience. Another important realization for me was that most students preferred not to respond even when they knew the answer to a question I posed — challenging my naïve assumption that a silent classroom implied I needed to fix something in my teaching. I also refined my approach mid-semester based on 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 — converging on a hybrid approach that used the blackboard for theory, digital tools for practice problems, and recorded videos for software tutorials. I am strongly considering a #FlippedClassroom the next time I teach! 🙌 More than anything, I hope I was able to convey the beauty of a subject I have long loved, while nurturing a space where students felt empowered to ask any question, secure when seeking help, and were left with a sense of appreciation for the subject. Here's a 🥔📸 photo taken on the last day of class (𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦). It has been an absolute privilege to teach these students, and I look forward to seeing all the incredible things they will accomplish!

Multiple Chance Testing as a Gateway to Standards-Based Grading  Autar Kaw May 5, 2024 Traditional grading may not reflect student learning, which is a common concern. Imagine a large enrollment class that assesses learning via three midterm tests and a final exam, each weighing 25% of the semester grade. If a student scores 46%, 90%, 90%, and 90% on the four assessments, they will have a grade of C at the end of the semester. What are the alternatives? Some speak of using standards-based grading (SBG). So, what is SBG? What is SBG?  Standards-based grading (SBG) is an alternative method of assessing students. It emphasizes evaluating their mastery of specific learning objectives or standards rather than using points or percentages for assignments and exams. In SBG, students receive feedback on their progress toward each standard and are given multiple opportunities to demonstrate their proficiency. The goal of SBG is to foster a growth mindset where students view learning as a process of improvement rather than a competition for grades. I considered using SBG in my Numerical Methods class, a required junior-level course in Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Florida. The class typically enrolls 60-120 students per semester. I started watching YouTube videos, reading blogs, and analyzing journal papers on SBG. As I reviewed the many ways instructors use SBG, the idea of implementing it into my courses seemed overwhelming. Some had 30-50 standards in a course, and keeping track of each standard for every student would be overwhelming for students as well as the instructor.  Read the full article at my blog: https://lnkd.in/g9Esh_aX References: Autar Kaw and Renee Clark, Effects of Standards-Based Testing via Multiple-Chance Testing on Cognitive and Affective Outcomes in an Engineering Course, International Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 303–321, 2024, https://lnkd.in/egCv4wud. #standardsBasedGrading National Science Foundation (NSF) USF Mechanical Engineering University of South Florida USF College of Engineering USF Research & Innovation

Calling all Engineers: Inspire the Next Generation! The Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Alexandra Knight CEng FIMechE FWES are proud to present a FREE training session dedicated to helping engineers captivate young minds and ignite their passion for engineering! In this engaging video, you'll gain valuable insights on: * Delivering Inspiring Messages: Master the art of crafting captivating talks for children of all ages. ✨ * Refining Your Engineering Pitch: Learn how to effectively communicate the wonders of engineering in a clear and concise way. ⚙️ * The National Curriculum Connection: Hear directly from primary school teachers on how to tailor your message to align with core curriculum objectives. * Leaving a Positive Impact: Discover how your outreach efforts can spark a lifelong love for STEM subjects in young people. This session is perfect for engineers of all experience levels who are passionate about inspiring the next generation of innovators! Click below to watch the video and get started! ➡️ Do you have experience with engineering outreach? Share your tips and stories in the comments below! #EngineeringOutreach #STEMEducation #InspiringYoungMinds #IMechE #ProcessIndustries #TheFutureIsHere

Are you aiming at providing 'hands on' learning activities? Would you like your students to get motivated and optimally involved in their own learning? I spent 14 years in Higher Ed, as a consultant on all aspects of teaching, to university professors. I also spent another 14 years teaching basic engineering mechanics at a university of technology. I know that, despite a lot of lip service being paid to 'hands on' learning, this ideal is seldom achieved. My new book, just published, now available from online booksellers, contains practical insight into how to achieve this, specifically for those teaching engineering mechanics (particularly new instructors) but also generally, for anyone teaching any subject, whether or not they think that 'hands on' learning is applicable in their field. #highereducation