Engineering Education: Technology, Pedagogy, and Research
Ning Fang, Department of Engineering Education, Utah State University
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
9-10 a.m.
Peralta Hall (PRLTA) 130, Polytechnic campus [map]
Abstract
Engineering education – a new emerging discipline – has grown rapidly in recent years, parallel to traditional engineering disciplines such as mechanical, civil, electrical, and computer engineering. This seminar provides a state-of-the-art overview of three critical, mutually-affected issues in contemporary engineering education: educational technology, engineering pedagogy, and engineering education research. Representative examples of the presenter’s recent work on each of the above three issues are described, including 1) applying classroom response systems (nicknamed “clickers”) for real-time, formative assessments in engineering classrooms, and developing a unique set of web-based interactive computer simulation and animation (CSA) learning modules to enhance student learning in a sophomore-year, foundational engineering course; 2) project-based, active and collaborative learning in a senior-year manufacturing engineering course; and 3) mixed-method (quantitative and qualitative) research on the effect of computer simulation and animation on students’ conceptual understanding and problem solving.
Biosketch
Dr. Ning Fang is a Professor in the Department of Engineering Education at Utah State University (USU). He earned his PhD (1994), MS (1991), and BS (1988) in mechanical engineering. Prior to joining USU faculty, he was a manufacturing engineer (2000-01) at Ford Motor Company. He served as a Program Director (2010-11) in the Division of Undergraduate Education at the National Science Foundation.
Dr. Fang has taught a wide range of engineering and education courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels, such as Engineering Dynamics, Design for Assembly & Manufacturability, Machining Theory & Applications, and Finance & Grant Writing. He has been Faculty Advisor or Major Professor for 3 post-doctoral research associates, 7 PhD students, 6 MS students, and more than 30 undergraduate re-search assistants and teaching assistants. His re-search interests focus on technology-enhanced learning, engineering pedagogy, and engineering retention and graduation. Over the past 20 years, he has authored more than 200 papers and presentations. He has been the Principal Investigator of seven projects funded by the National Science Foundation. In addition, he received many awards, recognitions, and honors for his efforts in engineering education, such as an American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Best Paper Award in 2009 and a Fulbright Scholar Award in 2014.
| *Seminar is FREE and available via Adobe Connect; click here for access. |
