Introduction of a “project” component into the sophomore-level “Statics: Basic Mechanics” course

Final Paper pdf 495KB

Engineering programs in the United States are faced with the challenging problem of decreased retention rates at the undergraduate level. The focus on theory is one, among several factors that has been identified as a possible reason for students losing interest in completing their chosen engineering degree. The capstone course attempts to create a balance between theory and practice, and exposes students to the practical side of engineering. However, it is offered during the final year of the undergraduate program and does not influence retention rates in the earlier stages of the program. In this light, this paper describes a novel “project” component that has been incorporated into a sophomore year “Statics: Basic Mechanics” course, which is a core requirement across all disciplines. The goal of this paper is to describe the structure and scope of the project, so that it can be replicated and incorporated into a variety of different freshman and sophomore level engineering courses.

Author(s):

Niranjan Desai    
Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Purdue University Northwest
United States

Nuri Zeytinoglu    
Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Purdue University Northwest
United States