Workshop in Instrumentation, Sensors, and Engineering (WISE)
Magued Iskander, Vikram Kapila, and
Noel Kriftcher
Motivation
Stringent immigration laws after 9/11 have significantly reduced the inflow of foreign-born/trained science, math, and engineering students
Disinterest in STEM disciplines among college bound students Engineering is held in less esteem than other professions The typical engineering curriculum is more rigorous than other majors Negative stereotypes of scientists and engineers held by teenagers Society discourages female students from becoming engineers
High schools continue to use outdated equipment to perform lab experiments
Today’s students are attracted to gadgets such as PlayStations, cellular phones, and ipods
Today’s High School Students
Attracted to new gadgets iPod Video games Cell phones
Lack of interest in Science & Mathematics due to: Uninspiring laboratory
experiments Lack of connection to real life
applications Negative stereo types Other professions held in
higher esteem
Advantages of Using Sensors & Data Acquisition in Science Labs An exciting application that is understood by pre-college students Eliminate tedious tasks, so students can focus on learning the
underlying concepts and testing new hypotheses Data reduction reinforces math skills Data analysis provides opportunity to apply science and math skills Visualization develops students’ cognitive skills and the excitement of
self-discovery Develop inquiry-based learning skills Allows us to monitor student learning and identify areas of weakness Students learn and apply state-of-the-art computerized delivery tools
Advantages of Sensor-Based Labs: Example Photosynthesis Traditional Lab
Bicarbonate indicator
Results in 1 day
Detect approximate change in concentration of carbon dioxide
Student’s attention is lost
Sensor-based Lab
Oxygen & carbon dioxide sensors
Results in 45 mins
Detect exact real time change in concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen
Student are able to change parameters and affect the experiment
Revitalizing Achievement by using Instrumentation in Science Education (RAISE)
Funded by a National Science Foundation (NSF) GK-12 Grant
Partnership between Polytechnic University and four New York City high schools
Led by two engineering and one humanities faculty aided by 13 fellows and 10 NYC high school teachers
Fellows develop creative and engaging experiments using modern sensing and data acquisition technologies for physics labs
Polytechnic University
George Westinghouse
Marta Valle
Paul Robeson Telecommunication Arts and Technology
RAISE Assessment (Year-2) Impact on High School Students
Appreciate modern sensing technology Favor sensor-based technology in labs Better understanding of scientific
concepts
Impact on Fellows Improved communication and technical
skills Polish leadership and management
skills Superior problem-solving abilities Pursue a higher degree (M.Sc.)
Teachers felt that the presence of the RAISE fellows is helpful in enriching their courses
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George WestinghouseLiving Environment
2005/2006
WISE
Funded by New York State Engineers of the Future Program
Workshop for Instrumentation Science and Engineering (WISE) Two weeks
August 13-24, 2007
Twenty Teachers Residential Institute
85 hours of Intensive Training
WISE Participants
13 Men, 7 Women Age: 25-57 Experience: 0-32 years Area of Teaching
Physics: 5 Biology Chemistry: 1 Math: 5 Earth Science: 2 Technology: 5
Polytechnic Team 3 professors 6 Students (1 undergraduate)
Project Objectives for Teachers
Provide them with skills and resources to deploy sensor based labs in their schools
Reinforce their pre-engineering knowledge and skills
Provide them with technology proficiency
Improve their pedagogical skills through collaboration and exchange of ideas between
teachers and engineers
Project Goals for Students
Excite Students about Science & Math Enhanced student achievement in standardized exams Inspire students to pursue science and technology careers Elevate academic achievement of students on standardized math and science tests Build the infrastructure for a sensor-based science curriculum
Residential Institute
To facilitate the development of a supportive network of teachers dedicated tp their students’ pre-engineering studies
To permit social interactions with engineers from the local community
Sensor Kit
Each teacher received Vernier Comprehensive science
sensor kit Physics with Computers Manual Biology with Computers Manual Collection of papers on pedagogy
for technical subjects RAISE lab lesson plans Promotional Items
Sensor Kit Contents Co2 Gas Sensor Colorimeter Conductivity Probe Dual-Range Force Sensor Dissolved Oxygen Sensor Gas Pressure Sensor Hand-Grip Heart Rate Monitor Labpro Interface Low-G Accelerometer Light Sensor Microphone Motion Detector Magnetic Field Sensor Ph Sensor Stainless Steel Temp Probe Photogates Pully Attachments Picket Fence Sampling Chamber Software
8 – 9 AM Breakfast & Informal Discussion
9 – 10:30 AM Intro. to Engineering
10:45 – 12:45 PM In Class Projects
12:45 – 1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 – 3:30 PM In Class Projects
3:45 – 5:15 Pedagogical Discussions
5:15 – 7:30 Dinner Break
7:30-9:00 Presentations on Current Engineering Issues
Daily Schedule
Engineering Tutorials (15 hours)
Introduction to civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering
Basics of engineering design including elementary mechanics and stress analysis.
Measurement fundamentals including electronic measurement of strain, force, pressure, deformation, and tilt.
Introduction to mechatronics Laboratory Visits
In Class ProjectsExample Project: Stability
A force sensor is used to pull a block until the block tips or slides
Critical forces are computed theoretically and compared with the sensor measurements
Which face of the block would require the least amount of force.
In Class ProjectsExample Project: Buoyant Forces
A force sensor is used to measure the buoyant force of an object immersed in a liquid.
Plot the net force vs. volume displaced multiplied by gravity
Slope equal to the density of the liquid
Teacher Designed Lab Experiments Most Popular activity
Discussions of Pedagogy and Technology 15 Hours Case histories of active
learning with sensors were used to discuss the role of technology in education.
Topics Role of games, models, and
multimedia in the classroom Role of visual modeling in
engineering education Role of e-learning in K-12
education Relationship between pedagogy,
ethics, and technology Student attitudes towards
technology and privacy Influence of culture and gender
preferences on technical education Student assessment using
automated technology Balancing security with privacy
Night & Weekend Program
Topics of Nightly Presentations Reconstruction of World Trade
Center Supply chain management for a
global manufacturing concern Women in engineering the process of technological
innovation Rail car diagnostics 4D modeling in construction, Effect of environmental values on
decision making (NEPA) Real-time monitoring of excavation
near an operational subway line Use of recycled plastics in
construction.
Locations of Weekend Visits The Skyscraper Museum The Transit Museum
Evaluation of the Project
1. Comparison of Beginning & End of Program Surveys
2. Assessment of Teacher Projects3. Assessment of Implementation Efforts
Participants’ Assessment of Program Components
Overall Average Grade = 8.8/10
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Participants’ Self Assessment of Improvement due to Participation in WISE
Teachers reported an average improvement of 55% when comparing their self evaluation before and after attending
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School Implementation Efforts
19 out of 20 teachers submitted credible implementation efforts, including Lesson plans Teaching power points New experiments Videos of classroom
activities
Conclusions
Early indications are that WISE was a success
Acknowledgements
Program Participants New York State Engineers of
the Future Grant No: C400687 NSF grant DGE0337668 Richard Organisciak,
Superintended New Rochelle SD
Arnold Goldstein, Assistant Superintendent Bellmore Merrick SD
Eric Suhr, NYS Education Department
Teaching Assistants Brandi Barra Amir Bozerg Haddad Harish Chandra Alp Gokce Mahmoud Mahmoud Ilya Zarankin