Abstract:

Utilization of instructional simulations has potential to help science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students to better understand the subjects that require profound learning. Very often, STEM students attend lectures that require manipulation of formulas or altering of parameters in order to calculate and predict the outcomes. This traditional learning process generally requires memorization, and sometimes learning without knowing the cause-and-effect. It creates confusion or an environment that weakens the interest in STEM fields for some students. In addition, nuisances such as COVID-19 pandemic have created chaotic situations for all educators, particularly STEM educators, for delivering on line lectures with practical topics. To improve students’ understanding of the subject materials, only few of the STEM courses in engineering curricula require a laboratory course as a co-requisite. The topics in the lecture and laboratory courses are ordinarily supposed to be taught in parallel. However, occasionally lack of coordination between the lecture and laboratory instructors can cause discrepancy. Furthermore, not all STEM courses have an associated laboratory. To improve student learning outcomes, we have used simulation tools in a variety of fundamental engineering courses. The results indicate that the use of simulation tools has profoundly positive influence on student learning.

Since the advancement and availability of computers in the late seventies, computer modeling and simulation has become a vital and widespread tool for deciphering the majority of scientific and engineering problems. Computer simulation has contributed to the recent advancements in a host of disciplines such as biomedicine, microelectronics, manufacturing, cyber security, etc. This talk explores the importance and challenges of the computer simulation and the need for its integration into the STEM curricula. It exhibits how modeling and simulation can improve student learning outcomes. In addition, the presentation emphasizes the embedding of modeling and simulation into the scientific and engineering research projects. Several projects in the Center for Excellence in Engineering Education Research (CEEER) at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) are used to demonstrate the importance and application of computer simulation and its assimilation into the research projects. The talk will cover the restructuring of several engineering courses that will include hands-on training material, and a user-friendly multimedia package to illustrate real-world applications of mathematical concepts. As an example, the advanced mathematics course for engineering students, namely differential equations, has topics that exhibit the application of math in engineering. Lack of examples that visually illustrate the applications, can hinder students learning. We have demonstrated how five instructional blocks to link the basic concepts of linear differential equations, Laplace transforms, and linear algebra with real world applications in different engineering subjects. These topics are chosen via a survey on mathematical foundations for upper division courses among all faculty members at the different departments in engineering.

Keywords:

STEM Education, Simulation tools.