Development of educational techniques for computational-experimental analysis

A curriculum wide initiative to enrich course content and increase student engagement in experiential learning through the adoption of new learning modalities is underway in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Miami University, OH. The projects entail the development of online learning modules which interweave experimental and computational analysis. The modules incorporate multimedia content which has been prepared with undergraduate and graduate student participation. The ComEx website has been designed to enable easy uploading/updating of material. The distinctive feature of the ComEx studios is the thematic linking of the content which allows them to be used for multiple classes with a progressive advancement in technical content. This paper presents details of the studio model: motivation, methodology, implementation and assessment. The learning modules can utilized by faculty to introduce new lab derived content, which may be related to their research, into a traditional class only course format. Additional benefits of the modules include the ability to independently review specific topics in preparation of advanced courses or for a research project. Assessment of the efficacy of the modules is being performed by students surveys completed online, and by four external (faculty) reviewers. Continuous improvement of the modules is underway.