Integrating Fundamental STEM Material in a Laboratory Based Dynamic Systems Course - ASME 2004 IMECE

P.Avitabile, J.Hodgkins, T.Van Zandt

A Dynamic Systems course generally involves material from previous undergraduate courses related to Differential Equations, Mathematical Methods for Engineers, Dynamics, etc.  These underlying courses are basic building blocks that are critical to the students understanding of dynamic systems material.  However, students often consider material in earlier courses as irrelevant since immediate practical application is not implemented in the previous courses.  A traditional Dynamic Systems course, with traditional class lecture/homework/test scenario is destined to the same fate as these earlier courses if taught in the same manner. 

A new variation of this course has been implemented which has individual projects which address various analytical approaches using closed-form analytical solutions with MATLAB and SIMULINK computer software to completely address 1st and 2nd order systems.  In addition, a laboratory based component is added to collect measured data for these systems to be used to further develop the analytical representation of these systems.  Students work in groups and collect data to develop these models and prepare detailed reports summarizing their efforts. 

 The project is described along with lab experiments performed.  Student comments regarding the project are presented.  Assessments of the first two semesters of the project clearly indicate that the students enjoyed the hands-on based project and clearly felt that they understood the material in much greater depth as a result of the project.

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In the meantime, e-mail Peter_Avitabile@uml.edu for copy of paper