A. K. Roopa
*,
Anand M. Hunashyal
- School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi, India
Abstract
Mechanics of materials is a foundational and interdisciplinary course for mechanical, civil, and aerospace engineering disciplines. It provides a fundamental understanding of the mechanical properties of various materials and their behavior subjected to different kinds of loading. In Civil engineering, basic concepts learned through this course are the prerequisite for various higher-level courses such as structural analysis and design of various structural elements. Teaching a course on Mechanics of Material is challenging as it involves mathematical formulation and calculations which needs a student to have critical thinking skills and different orientations to understand this subject. Therefore this paper describes contextual learning of the Mechanics of Material by associating the classroom teaching to real-world experiences. A practical assignment is given to students at the end of each course chapter, so that students can visually inspect the structural members and visualize its behavior subjected to various forces, stresses deformation developed in a real-time structure to enhance learning efficiency. The object of this work is to promote experiential learning, critical thinking and to upgrade knowledge regarding innovations in new structural materials through contextual learning. The course delivery and assessment strategies were meticulously executed in the form of assignments to foster experiential learning that leads to the attainment of higher levels in graduate attributes as related to Bloom's taxonomy in the cognitive domain. This pedagogical transition effect was measured in the form student feedback surveys, and course learning outcomes. It was observed that the strategies helped students with better understanding of the subject.
References
- Claire L. A. Dancz, A.M., Melissa M, and Amy E. Landis, "Active Experiential Sustainable Engineering Module for Engineering Education", American Society of Civil Engineers, Feb 2018, ISSN 1052-3928.
- Reshmi Devi T.V, "Implementing Project-based Learning in Civil Engineering- A Case Study", Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, Volume 30, No. 3, January 2017, ISSN 2349-2473, eISSN 2394-1707
- N.R. Banapurmath, P.P. Revankar, R.S. Hosmath, M.B. Gorwar, "Pedagogical Reforms in Delivery of Undergraduate Heat and Mass Transfer Course towards Enhancements in Student Learning", Journal of Engineering Education Transformation, Volume 30, No. 3, January 2017, ISSN 2349-2473, eISSN 2394-1707
- Yao George C., Kuo Keng-Chang, Hsueh Cheng-Luen and Tang Yao, "A New Approach to Teach Mechanics of Material Through Touching Experience ", American Journal of Civil Engineering, 2016,Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 143-148.
- David E.Goldberg, Mark Somerville, "The Making of A Whole New Engineer: Four Unexpected Lessons for Engineering Educators and Education Researchers", Journal of Engineering Education, January 2015, Vol. 104, No. 1, pp. 2-6.
- Steven Randall Chesnut, Hansel Burley, Selfefficacy as a predictor of commitment to the teaching profession: A meta-analysis, Educational Research Review, Volume 15, June 2015, Pages 1-16.
- Katrien Vangrieken, Filip Dochy, Elisabeth Raes, Eva Kyndt, Teacher collaboration: Asystematic review, Educational Research Review, Volume 15, June 2015, Pages 17-40.
- M. TariqBanday ,MusavirAhmed ,Tariq R. Jan, Applications of e-Learning in engineering education: A case study, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 123 (2014), 406-413.
- Murat Sonmez, The Role of Technology Faculties in Engineering Education, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 141 (2014), 35-44.
- Sasithorn Chookaew, Patcharin Panjaburee , Dechawut Wanichsan, Parames Laosinchai, "A Personalized E-Learning Environment to Promote Students' Conceptual Learning on Basic Computer Programming", Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Elsevier Ltd., 2013, 116 (2014) 815-819,
- Fatin Aliah Phang, Khairiyah Mohd Yusof,Taking the "Guess-work" Out of Engineering Education: Establishing the Virtuous Cycle of Research, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 102 (2013) 212-220.
