Design and implementation of multi-campus,modular master classes in biochemical engineering

The Master of Science in engineering technology: biochemical engineering is organised in KU Leuven at four geographically dispersed campuses. To sustain the Master's programmes at all campuses, it is clear that a unique education profile at each campus is crucial. In addition, a rationalisation is required by increased cooperation, increased exchange of lecturers, and increased student mobility. To achieve this, a multicampus education system for the M.Sc. in engineering technology: biochemical engineering was developed by offering modules that are also available for students of other campuses. Such a module is primarily based on the research expertise present at the campus. In the development, special attention has been given to the optimal organisation of the modules, evaluation, required modifications of the current curricula, and the practical consequences for students following the module at another campus. Even in the first year of implementation, around 30% of the students followed a multicampus module, which indicates the potential success of the multicampus concept described here.     

A case study of a college-wide first-year undergraduate engineering course

Introductory engineering courses are either programme specific or expose students to engineering as a broad discipline by including materials from various engineering programmes. A common introductory engineering course that spans different engineering programmes raises challenges, including the high cost of resources as well as the lack of background courses of first-year students. This paper presents the design, implementation and evaluation of a first-year common engineering course that uses low-cost materials to expose students to a structured engineering design process. The course is explicitly designed to satisfy the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology criteria for engineering programmes. Our experience with the course shows that not only students are able to follow a structured design process successfully but we also believe that most of the ABET criteria are being delivered through the course.     

Support for Students with Hidden Disabilities in Universities: A Case Study

More students with disabilities are accessing the tertiary sector with many disabilities not easily observed (or hidden), because there are no physical indicators. These “hidden” disabilities affect a variety of cognitive processes and may be developmental or acquired. To ensure students with hidden disabilities can enrol, engage in and benefit from tertiary education, universities generally provide a range of supports. Typically these supports and any reasonable adjustments are negotiated with students taking into account a number of factors including, where available, any supporting documentation that they might be able to provide. This case study reports efforts within one large Australian university to support higher education students with hidden disabilities on campus. Perceptions on the use of and barriers to support available were collected from seven undergraduate students who self-identified as having hidden disabilities and from eight support staff. Results indicated that students found their informal networks to be their most effective supports, closely followed by clear, caring and flexible lecturers and tutors. There were mixed positive and negative perceptions reported on the universal and disability-specific supports available. Implications and future research directions are discussed.     

The academic writing process in Spanish universities: perceptions of students and faculty / El proceso de escritura académica en la universidad española: percepciones de estudiantes y profesores

Abstract

This paper is intended as an exploration of university faculty and students’ perceptions of a number of dimensions involved in the written composition of academic texts. We analysed the responses to scale 3 in the European Writing Survey (EUWRIT) (in its Spanish version: Encuesta Europea sobre la Escritura Académica, EEEA) by a group of social science and humanities students (n = 1,030) and faculty (n = 230) from nine Spanish universities. We then examined the similarities and differences in their perceptions and established a factorial structure of the different dimensions underlying the writing process. The data indicate that both groups concur in the value assigned to both changing ideas in the course of the composition process (although this process seems to be understood differently by each group) and the revision and feedback processes. The students, however, claim to be involved in more planning and previous reading activities than the teachers perceive them to be. The significance of these results for a process-oriented perspective in academic writing is discussed.     

Required Collaborative Work in Online Courses: A Predictive Modeling Approach

This article describes a predictive model that assesses whether a student will have greater perceived learning in group assignments or in individual work. The model produces correct classifications 87.5% of the time. The research is notable in that it is the first in the education literature to adopt a predictive modeling methodology using data collected via a designed experiment. All subjects experienced both a collaborative and an individual assignment, thus mitigating uncontrolled external factors in the measurement of differences in perceived learning. The exploratory nature of the work prompted the use of Partial Least Squares Regression for estimation. The work serves as an illustration of how predictive modeling might enlighten those in educational and academic settings.     

高压线除冰机器人本体结构设计

针对高压输电线路的覆冰情况,提出了一种线路除冰机器人,该机器人由行走机构、越障机构、除冰工具、传动系统和摄像系统组成。机器人利用固定在前端的除冰砂轮对覆冰切割,而后除冰锤实现180°半圆形往复运动对剩余覆冰进行反复敲打清除;驱动轮采用半圆型结构,适应一定范围的线径,为机器人提供了稳定性。该机器人体积小,除冰效率高,可清除厚度为10~25 mm的覆冰。     

山岳旅游地文化内涵的景观呈现设计手法探讨--以麻城龟峰山寿养文化为例

有效地将文化内涵予以呈现是山岳旅游地转型升级、寻求差异化发展、提升竞争力的关键举措。在分析麻城龟峰山发展现状尤其是文化内涵呈现存在的遮蔽问题的基础上,引入景观设计的相关理念来探讨其寿养文化内涵的呈现。并提出从营造寿养文化氛围、注意形象标识及景观节点设计、强调景区主题与功能分区文化景观主题的一致性、优化景区空间格局四大方面来呈现龟峰山寿养文化的构想。     

基于电工电子实习的工程实践能力培养

电工电子实习是电工电子技术领域的专业基础课程,具有工程实践特色,是培养学生工程实践能力的重要实践环节。基于长期的教学实践,介绍提高学生工程实践能力的教学建设和尝试,实践证明效果良好。     

工程教育背景下过程流体机械课程教学方法的探索与改革

随着本科教育教学改革和工程教育要求的转变,传统的教学方法很难满足现代工程教育的要求,表现出明显的不足。以过程流体机械课程为案例,详细分析传统教学方法存在的不足和缺陷,并基于现代工程教育的要求和课程自身的特点,提出教学方法改革的思路和具体实施方法。