Interactive multimedia technology and engineering education: A case study

A project is underway at the Pennsylvania State University to develop the Steel Design Educational Module (SteelDEM), an interactive multimedia computer application for teaching/learning of design and development of steel structures. The module will cover different structural steel members, their behavior, limit states, and design. The effects of different variables on the physical behavior and strength of members will be studied through use of graphics, animations, text and video of different situations as well as discussions of design specifications, formulas, and plots. SteelDEM will contain a number of sections. Within each section, the module will contain a variety of materials including exercises of different difficulty levels to ensure a better understanding of the subject matter