Multimedia learning environments for
virtual experiential engineering
(Nanotechnology)
Frank Fisher1
Hong Man2
Ling Chen2
Vinod Challa1, Gaurav Mago1
1Department
of Mechanical Engineering
2Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ 07030
Stevens - New Jersey Community College Strategic Partnership
September 27, 2005
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
Motivation
• Consider a standard S-curve “adaptation of technology” curve and the use of
computer technology in education
• How will students learn is 10 years? In 20 years? In 50 years?
Impact
• Leveraging multimedia capabilities
for educational design
Time
• Email
• Powerpoint
• Webpages
• Course software
• Course specific applets
• drilling modules
• Course administration - drilling - student learning
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
Use of multimedia
• Case-based learning used in other pre-professional fields
(law, medicine, education)
• multimedia technology now provides the opportunity to
bring the practice of authentic engineering into the
classroom!
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
Introduction
•
Design, develop, and demonstrate a flexible multimedia-based environment based on the
video documentation of authentic engineering practice to be incorporated into the
undergraduate
•
Potential learning environments enabled via multimedia technology:
Virtual Research E xperiences for Und ergraduates in Nanotechnology (VREUN) [this to link
VREUN1]
Couched in the Stevens culture of Technogenesis, each VREUN module will introduce undergraduate
students to concepts of nanotechnology in the context of active research being conducted on camp us. Under
faculty supervision, these learning modules will be developed by, and document the research efforts of,
freshmen and sophomo re engineering students contributing to nanotechnology research in these labs, and
focus on the nanoscale p henomena being investigated, key research questions raised and how they are
being addressed in the lab, and how this understanding is necessary for ultimate realization in the
marketplace.
Virtual Lab Tours [this to link Virt_Lab_tour]
Multimedia technology now brings tours of the faculty research labs to your computer.
Virtual Graduate Research and Dissemination (VG RAD) [this to link VGrad]
Multimedia educational modules based on graduate research being done at Stevens.
Virtual Senior Design Projects (V-Senior-D) [this to link VSeniorD
From initial design to prototype completion and testing, follow the progress of these Senior Design projects
conducted by undergraduates at Stevens.
VREUN
•
Virtual Research Experiences in Nanotechnology
•
New NSF-funded project (September 2005)
•
6 Nanotechnology faculty at Stevens, 1 ECE faculty at Stevens (multimedia), CIESE
Proj ect title: Characterization and Modeling of Nanotube -Reinfo rced Poly mers
Investigator: Frank Fis her, Department of Mechan ical Eng ineering
Proj ect Title: Fabrication of Au N ano- Shells for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering
Investigators: Henry Du, Depa rtment of Chemi cal, Biome dical, and Materials
Engin eering; Svetlana Sukhis hvi li, Department of Chemist ry and Chemi cal Biology
Proj ect Title: Multi-S cale Materials Property Prediction
Investigator: Kishore Pochir aju, Department of Mechanical Enginee ring
Proj ect Title: Piezo electric Nano fibers: Deve lopment and Char acteriz ation
Investigator: Yong Shi, Department of Mechan ical Engin eering
Proj ect Title: PEG-based Hyd roge ls
Investigator: Matthew Libera, Department of Chemical, Biomedical, and Materials
Engin eering
VREUN
Goal: Introduce concepts of nanotechnology and tie into core engineering
fundamentals within the context faculty research couched in the spirit of
Technogenesis
Learning environment interface (version 0.1)

Frame-based environment
Much smaller constant header
Dynamic sequencing
More interesting video!
Text box
video-sensitive text/images/links
related to discussion within clip
Talking head
Module Navigation
(non-linear progression)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
Email a question to Prof. Fisher
Help?
Virtual research experiences

More detailed information (content) than in lab tours

Connect research project with larger picture

Approach of the research projects; uncertainty
Vibration based
Micropower Generation

Focus on u-grad participation

Window into research
Importance,
Background Work
Techniques,
Issues involved.
Comparison of Different
Techniques & choosing
environment
Novel Design, Modeling,
Justification

Tie research to education
Proto-Type fabrication &
Testing, as proof of Concept
Realization of process flow
for MEMS scale fabrication

Possible Issues that could be
encountered, How to deal
Evaluation will be critical:
 Usability, scaffolding, etc
Microfabrication & Testing of
the device.
Packaging & re-testing of the
device.
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
Advantages of a multimedia based
format
•
Video documentation provides the motivation and indexing for students to
learn engineering “content” material
•
Video supplemented with content information (text, audio,etc)
•
Provides students:
1.
Window into practice of engineering
2.
See type of ill-defined problems common in practice of engineering
3.
Framework of how engineering education relatesto real-world engineering (Why
am I learning this?)
4.
Benefits recognized of co-ops, internships, etc (can we package and incorporate
into curriculum)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
End with a story…
•
Brooke, starting at Stevens in Fall, in lab for 2 weeks
•
Explanation of my research…
–
What is a composite?
- What is a polymer?
–
What is modulus? - What is strength?
–
What is a nanometer?
–
Why are carbon nanotubes so promising?
–
What could they be used for? ….
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
Extra slides
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
Work in progress
•
Objectives:
– Design the format/layout for for the learning environment
– Design author interface mechanism (WebCT) for adding material (author mode)
– Develop modules based on two Fisher research projects
– Develop additional multimedia lab tours
•
Interface mechanism:
– Straightforward to upload video, text, audio, etc and edit module
– Dynamic website so that both module and TOC updated
– CD vs. online distribution; browser compatibility; OS (Windows vs Mac)
– Database design, communication protocols, and content organization
•
Research Project documentation
– Audio/video collection of sufficient quality
– Multimedia editing (video, audio)
– Organization
– Clarity of information and level-appropriateness
Multimedia interface - front page

Work-in-progress

Placeholders for now; better content later
Author mode login
Front page introduction/navigation
Continue to labs
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
Environment main page

Main page for grouping of modules: “virtual lab tours”, VREUN, etc
Virtual lab tours currently available:
ME
CBME
-Nanomechanics/materials (Fisher)
- Lab 1 (Prof)
-Lab 2 (Prof)
- Lab 2 (Prof)
ECE
-Multimedia Lab (Man)
-Lab 2 (Prof)
Select lab from
above menu
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
Multimedia learning environments for
virtual experiential engineering and
incorporation into the undergraduate
curriculum
Frank Fisher, ME
Hong Man, ECE
RIEE meeting
May 27, 2005
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology
Introduction
• design, develop, and demonstrate a flexible multimediabased learning environment
• facilitate the deployment of modules based on the video
documentation of engineering practice to be incorporated
into the undergraduate curriculum
• Virtual Co-op, Virtual Internship, Virtual REU
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology