9455705 Bedard This project pioneers a new way to provide experimental complements to theoretical courses. The goal is to train students to use what they learn to examine all that they see and as a result, to question. The fundamental idea is to create a suite of simple experiments which can be done in the home and assigned like homework problems. Such simple, but elegant experiments are dubbed Hands-On-Homework (HOH) which: * encourages students to use engineering theory to explain everyday phenomena, and to compare their observations to theoretical prediction; * provides open-ended opportunities to explore engineering questions using readily available materials and familiar experiences; * trains students to conduct "reality checks" and naturally apply theoretical analysis to experimental observations; and * provides continuous opportunities for students to empirically explore engineering questions throughout their college careers and develop habits contpibuting to life long learning. This project is tied to curriculum changes planned for the new Integrated Teaching Laboratory. Hands-On Homework is liberally sprinkled throughout the entire curriculum, primarily in the first three years, including introductory mathematics and physics courses. Initial disciplinary courses such as statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and circuits benefit, as well as more advanced courses such as fluid mechanics, heat transfer, control theory, or materials. HOH problems are piloted in two courses while doing an outreach to identify further courses. Evaluation is done by holding consensus groups during the semester and comparing performance of students with and without HOH. Results will be presented at meetings and reviews. Ultimately, a user's guide will be produced containing all the Hands-On-Homeworks as well as the performance evaluations. Because HOH's are low-cost, they can be easily rep- licated and the results of the project widely exported.
