This project is for a team of students (groups of two or three are ideal) to design and construct a model of a single-span bridge, using plastic drinking straws as the building material. All steps of the design, construction, testing and critiquing stages should be recorded by students in a journal. Students may like to include labelled diagrams,…

Although literature about problem based learning (PBL) is not scarce, there is little research on experiences about learning methodologies that combine PBL and the use of simulation tools. This lack of studies is even more notable in the case of engineering courses. The motivation for this study is to show how such a combination of PBL and…

This report is the Chemical and Engineering News' annual compilation of data on research and development. Sections include overview, federal government, industrial, and university data. Tables and graphs are used to present most of the information. (YP)

Two tables provide corrected data on the top schools in the number, percent, and group membership of minority baccalaureate degrees awarded (1998) in engineering; and the top schools in the total number, percent, and gender of minority master's degrees awarded for all disciplines combined (1996-97). (DB)

Described are the use of spreadsheet programs in chemical engineering calculations using Lotus 1-2-3 macros. Discusses the macro commands, subroutine operations, and solution of partial differential equation. Provides examples of the subroutine programs and spreadsheet solution. (YP)

The results of the eleventh annual enrollment survey of persons in engineering and engineering technology are presented here in part. Data are presented within eight tables and pertain to enrollment of all students and enrollment of women and four minority groups. (Author/SA)

Defines sandwich courses as those with practical periods sandwiched between academic periods. Describes a study that indicates that students need preparation for the practical periods to give them the best chance of obtaining a good learning experience. (JOW)

The top 100 institutions in total federal obligations for fiscal 1986 are listed showing research and development obligations as well as total federal obligations. (MLW)

Data are presented from a survey of engineering colleges throughout the U.S. The data are categorized according to geographical regions. Information is presented on campus costs, engineering department costs, faculty salaries, student enrollment, curricular costs, and facilities and equipment. (BB)

Describes an engineering design course that is taught at the postsecondary level but can be adapted for secondary education. It presents the steps in the design process and illustrates, using a matrix, the tradeoffs necessary in design. (JOW)

Presented are results of the Engineer's Council for Professional Development. Samples of 41 institutions and 143 engineering programs for the 1978-79 academic year are discussed. The institutional data are presented on geographic averages and tabulated. No interpretation of the results is included. (SMB)

An examination of methodological referencing patterns for actual physics, engineering, and sociology literature for the year 1983, using a Dunn planned comparison approach, indicates that physics differs from both engineering and sociology, while no difference was found between engineering and sociology. References are given in each sample…

A method of two-stage clustering of literature based on citation frequency is applied to 5,065 articles from 57 journals in environmental and civil engineering. Results of related methods of citation analysis (hierarchical graph, clustering of journals, multidimensional scaling) applied to same set of articles are compared. Ten references are…

Attitudinal measures of training and control group engineering students showed positive and significant gains for the treatment group both in attitude toward the effectiveness of on-line searches and for the number of citations yielded. Cost-effectiveness was greater for on-line searches than for manual searches. (Author/IRT)

Discusses the values presented in various handbooks for the boiling point and heat of vaporization of sulfuric acid, noting discrepencies. Analyzes various approaches to data presentation, discussing the data on sulfuric acid in light of the Trouton constant. Points out the need for a more critical use of tables. (JM)