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Improving Student Laboratory Experiences through Integration of Instructions, Worksheets, and Computer Code using LiveScripts
No full textAt Kettering University, senior mechanical engineering students take a course in modeling of dynamic systems with an accompanying lab course. This lab course focuses primarily on modeling and simulation, using MATLAB/Simulink software. In a typical lab exercise, students have a set of instructions, questions to answer about their process and results, and often a “starter file” for their code. With the creation of MATLAB’s LiveScripts, it has become possible to add equations, diagrams, and other items into the script files themselves, allowing for the possibility of creating a single document for the instructions, starter file, and questions which the students would use in their lab exercises. This single-document process was introduced in the 2021-22 academic year, with the goal of improving the student experience in lab, and has been used in five sections of the lab, taught by three different instructors. Instructor observations were collated and students were asked to fill out an anonymous survey in order to determine the degree to which it does or does not improve student experiences in the lab. While there is some instructor time required to convert previously existing lab exercises into this format, the creation of new lab exercises is no more time-consuming than it would have been. The data indicates that the single-document lab format is beneficial, with the primary benefit being reduction of time to complete the lab. Other benefits to students include less likelihood of forgetting a task, lower probability of forgetting to upload a document, and increased value when reviewing labs later
An Optimization Model for Forklift Utilisation and Congestion Control in Cross-Docking Terminals
No full textThis study aims to optimize cross-docking (CD) performance and efficiency in CD assignment problems by maximising forklift utilisation inside the terminal. ‘We present a new Mixed-Integer Nonlinear programming (MINLP)’ model that considers truck-door assignment and forklift utilisation inside the airport. One objective is to enhance the quality of truck-door by minimising the total transshipment costs, including the penalty cost associated with forklift underutilisation, the total forklift travel distance cost, and the total weighted loading unloading and operator cost. Another objective is to control the forklift congestion by minimising the total number of forklifts needed to transfer products between multiple doors inside the terminal. Two algorithms, including the tabu-search and the best-local-point-finder, are proposed to accomplish these objectives. Our computational results show the advantage of the proposed algorithms over the CPLEX commercial solver
Using workplace thriving theory to investigate first-year engineering students\u27 abilities to thrive during the transition to online learning due to COVID-19
No full textBackground
During the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, universities rapidly pivoted to online formats and were often unable to adhere to the best practices of online learning highlighted in prior literature. It is well documented that a variety of barriers impeded “normal” educational practices. Purpose/Hypothesis
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceptions of first-year engineering students enrolled in an introductory engineering design course during the rapid transition to online working environments. We view students\u27 perceptions through the theoretical lens of workplace thriving theory, a framework that allowed us to capture aspects of education required for students to thrive in non-optimum learning settings. Design/Method
This research employed semi-structured interview methods with 13 students enrolled in an introductory engineering design course that relies on project-based team learning. We analyzed interview transcripts using thematic analysis through an abductive approach and made interpretations through workplace thriving theory. Results
Results indicated that students\u27 abilities to thrive are related to four intersecting themes that demonstrate how workplace thriving theory manifests in this unanticipated online setting. These themes demonstrate elements that must be optimized for students to thrive in settings such as this: relationships with others, building and sharing knowledge through interactions, perceptions of experiential learning, and individual behaviors. Conclusion
Our research, viewed through workplace thriving theory, highlights the mechanisms by which students tried to succeed in suboptimal environments. While not all our participants showed evidence of thriving, the factors required for thriving point to opportunities to harness these same factors in in-person instruction environments
