Workshop%20in%20Instrumentation,%20Sensors,%20and%20Engineering%20(WISE)

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Workshop in Instrumentation, Sensors, and
Engineering (WISE)

• Magued Iskander, Vikram Kapila, and
• Noel Kriftcher

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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• High schools continue to use outdated equipment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
• Todays students are attracted to gadgets such as
  PlayStations, cellular phones, and ipods

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Todays 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

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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

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Advantages of Sensor-Based Labs Example
Photosynthesis

• Traditional Lab
• Bicarbonate indicator
• Results in 1 day
• Detect approximate change in concentration of
  carbon dioxide
• Students 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

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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

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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

George Westinghouse Living Environment 2005/2006
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WISE

• Funded by New York State Engineers of the Future
  Program

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Workshop for Instrumentation Science and
Engineering (WISE)

• Two weeks
• August 13-24, 2007
• Twenty Teachers
• Residential Institute
• 85 hours of Intensive Training

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Daily Schedule
8 9 AM Breakfast Informal Discussion
9 1030 AM Intro. to Engineering
1045 1245 PM In Class Projects
1245 130 PM Lunch
130 330 PM In Class Projects
345 515 Pedagogical Discussions
515 730 Dinner Break
730-900 Presentations on Current Engineering Issues
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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

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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.

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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

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Teacher Designed Lab Experiments

• Most Popular activity

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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

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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

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Evaluation of the Project

1. Comparison of Beginning End of Program Surveys
2. Assessment of Teacher Projects
3. Assessment of Implementation Efforts

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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

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Conclusions

• Early indications are that WISE was a success

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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