eCite Digital Repository
In-class and recorded physical demontrations in enhancing student understanding of structural mechanics courses
Citation
Gilbert, B and Guan, H and Qin, H and Drew, S, In-class and recorded physical demontrations in enhancing student understanding of structural mechanics courses, Proceedings of the 24th Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education, 8-11 December 2013, Gold Coast, Australia, pp. 1-9. (2013) [Refereed Conference Paper]
![]() | PDF Restricted - Request a copy 215Kb |
Copyright Statement
Copyright unknown
Official URL: https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au//australasia...
Abstract
BACKGROUND
One of the main challenges educators face when teaching structural mechanics courses is the
difficulty for students to visualise the relation between the concepts taught and the actual physical
meaning on the behaviour of materials or actual structures. Not visualising the structure’s responses to
loads may not support learning as it can lead to false interpretations of the actual structural behaviour.
If the concepts taught do not appear "real" to students, then mechanics courses are merely exercises
with mathematics and equations with no connection to any practical significance.
Physical models (demonstrations aids) have been developed and extensively used at Griffith
University in the last several years as a tool to convey fundamental structural mechanics concepts.
The approach has been highly valued by all students who unanimously claimed that the
demonstrations greatly helped their overall understanding of the courses. However, when comparing
students’ performance before and after the use of the demonstrations, or when testing students on
concepts taught with and without the use of demonstrations, no clear quantitative evidence was
collected in the past on the actual effectiveness of these teaching tools.
Prior to Semester 1, 2013, the models were only demonstrated during lectures. The authors believe
that students at the back of the lecture theatre may not have been able to clearly see the
demonstrations performed by the lecturer in the front of the class. This may not have had assisted
their understanding. Moreover, while some concepts may be obvious to the students while being
demonstrated, students may need more time to assimilate and review the concepts at their own pace.
From Semester 1, 2013, a video camera was introduced to project the demonstrations on the lecture
theatre screen, therefore reaching the entire audience. From Semester 2, 2013, videos were also
recorded and uploaded on the course sites for students to review the concepts in their own time.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to collect evidence on the effectiveness of (i) using physical
demonstrations in class, (iii) projecting these demonstrations on the lecture theatre screen and (iii)
posting recorded videos of the same on the course website, on students’ overall understanding of
fundamental structural mechanics concepts.
APPROACH
A total of 216 students, from three structural and mechanics courses offered in Semester 2, 2013,
were surveyed on the effectiveness of using physical demonstrations (in-class) and recorded
demonstrations (outside class) on their understanding of fundamental structural mechanics concepts.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Results showed that the use of physical models in-class is an efficient technique to convey
complicated structural mechanics concepts. In large classes, the use of the video camera to project
the demonstrations on the lecture theatre screen was also shown to be effective in reaching the entire
audience. Additionally, the use of videos of the demonstrations placed on the course website was
shown to help students in further mastering and reinforcing the important concepts taught. Results
suggest that the videos are useful for about half of the students, as the in-class demonstrations would
be sufficient for the other half to grasp the concepts taught.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Conference Paper |
---|---|
Keywords: | structural mechanics courses, physical models, in-class demonstrations, visualisation aids, recorded videos |
Research Division: | Language, Communication and Culture |
Research Group: | Communication and media studies |
Research Field: | Communication technology and digital media studies |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in the information and computing sciences |
UTAS Author: | Drew, S (Dr Steve Drew) |
ID Code: | 112049 |
Year Published: | 2013 |
Deposited By: | Curriculum and Academic Development |
Deposited On: | 2016-10-24 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-19 |
Downloads: | 0 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page