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Research Thrusts |
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Engineering Education Innovation
As the world continues to change with globalization and technological advances so must engineering education p...
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Advanced Power System
In the face of an impending energy crisis, the Advanced Power Systems research center is exploring alternative...
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Space Systems
The Space Systems Research group is creating innovative electric propulsion systems to make space travel more ...
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Mechanics of Multi-scale Materials
The Mechanics of Multi-scale Materials research group uncovers the relationships of structures across the full...
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Multi-scale Sensors and Systems
The Multi-scale Sensors and Systems Research Group specializes in the design, fabrication, integration, and te...
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Sustainable Manufacturing and Design
Many of the campus research efforts on sustainability are coordinated by the Sustainable Futures Institute (SF...
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Research Projects
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Hands on Ability: Why it Matters and How to Improve It |
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Project Date:
05/2008-04/2011 |
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Michele Miller
Primary Investigator
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W. Helton, Dept of Education, MTU
Co-Primary Investigator
L. Bohmann, Dept of Electrical Engineering, MTU
Co-Primary Investigator
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Sponsor:
National Science Foundation
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As educators consider curricular changes in response to emerging societal trends, where does hands-on ability fit in? Even though engineering work is becoming ever more sophisticated, practical ability and intuition about physical phenomenon seem to be more important than ever. A few problems are central to this proposal. First, hands-on skills seem to be important for engineers, but we don't have a good understanding of what it is about hands-on skills that is important. Second, students come to engineering programs with a wide variation in hands-on experience and ability. The inability of a typical lab class to accommodate that variability likely has an impact on student motivation, confidence, and interest in engineering. Third, the number of women studying mechanical and electrical engineering is frustratingly low, and hands-on ability may play a role in that.
The overarching goal of this research is to improve student preparation in the hands-on practical aspects of engineering. Related to this goal are the following four objectives: 1) Define hands-on ability and determine its value, 2) Develop a performance model for hands-on ability, 3) Develop a motivation and emotion model, 4) Determine the effectiveness of solitary lab activity as a way to improve hands-on ability.
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