Multimedia Courseware for Teaching Engineering Concepts

Larry G. Richards, Engineering

1995 TTI Fellow

Project website:

The teaching goal of Mr. Richards' ENGR160 Introduction to Computers and Engineering class is to acquaint up to four hundred and fifty first-year students with the computer environment at the University of Virginia; to teach them basic programming skills; and to introduce them to the world of engineering, through presentation of key concepts and methods. Some of these students arrive at the University never having used a computer, while some arrive as reasonably proficient programmers. To address the diverse needs of these students for background material and to deal with the sheer numbers of new students, Mr. Richards is developing a set of multimedia tools that will supplement the traditional lecture format. These tools include computer-based testing to assess students' mastery of the material; on-line tutorials to provide background information when needed; problem-solving software specific to the field; and graphics and graphical simulations to demonstrate new concepts and techniques. Lab scripts are also being created for all segments of the course, including those in Silverscreen, a geometric modeling program. One goal of this project is that students be allowed to proceed at their own rate, and for that reason much of the course material will be covered in self-paced learning modules. Relying on computers to assess the student needs, furnish background material, and provide visual models of key concepts and techniques, the instructor will be able to devote lecture time to reviewing problematic areas or examining certain concepts in much greater depth than is normally possible in this type of class. Mr. Richards hopes that ultimately these electronic course materials will free the instructor for more personal interaction and enhance the learning experience for the individual student.Mr. Richards is convinced that his true value as an instructor is as a guide or tutor in the workshop or lab environment, where he has the opportunity to address the specific needs of individual students or small groups of students. He believes that students whose learning experience is tailored to their needs tend to learn better, faster and more thoroughly.