This article presents a game-based learning model implemented in a smart learning environment. The goal is to determine students' interest, willingness to participate, and impressions about game-based learning, which takes place in interaction with the smart classroom. The educational game was designed and implemented by harnessing advanced web, mobile, Internet of Things (IoTs) technologies, and augmented

Learning to write computer programs and engaging students in introductory programming subjects are difficult tasks. This study presents the results obtained when using flipped classroom and peer instruction methodologies in an introductory course of programming. Before the lecture, out-of-class study and on-line homework questionnaires were applied, and peer instruction was used in the classroom to

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between motivation and meaningful learning for university students through m-learning. The implementation of m-learning in the learning process followed the ARCS model and was evaluated using the Instructional Materials Motivation Survey (IMMS). The Google Science Journal mobile application was used by the students in this study to determine

Software applications can be valuable tools to assist in the study of thermal engines and thermodynamics. This study presents a spreadsheet that allows students to model and analyze a commercial turbocharger coupled to an internal combustion engine. The air-fuel cycle of both naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines is computed. The computation method is based on iterative procedures that, in a

Practical engagement, which can be conducted in real, virtual, and simulated modes, is well known to support the cementing of conceptual knowledge in engineering education. This paper proposes integrating the benefits of the different modes in the context of control system learning in a mechatronics engineering course. A low-cost ball-on-beal demonstrator with a Matlab/Simulink software interface is

In this paper, an elementary exercise that can strengthen computational thinking in engineering analysis and design is outlined and discussed. The exercise is a simple finite element assignment designed for the M.Sc. students in Mechanical and Civil Engineering. It comprises a two-member frame with a variety of loading that can be solved manually without using any computer programming. Individual data

Computer-aided design (CAD) simulation environments offer opportunities for students to evaluate, redesign, and visualize engineering design solutions quickly and get feedback. However, the use of CAD simulation tools in precollege settings is relatively rare. This study explores design strategies used by experienced designers in Energy3D, a CAD simulation environment designed for learning settings

This study investigated the effect of two technology-enhanced learning methods (an adaptive educational computer game vs. a PowerPoint presentation with multimedia) on learners with different prior learning attitudes and knowledge regarding skills, conceptual knowledge, and overall knowledge of computational thinking (CT). Data from 70 students aged 11–12 were analysed using factorial multivariate

Dynamics is a core course in all engineering disciplines. Problem-solving using computers may be done using programs specific for a problem or class of problems, or by using versatile and professional multibody dynamics packages such as ADAMS. Although such packages are good motivators, they can hardly enhance the student's knowledge of Dynamics. They are also uneconomical in terms of investment and

In the last decade, single-board computers (SBCs) have been employed more frequently in engineering and computer science (CS) at both technical and educational levels. These devices are of importance to educators and students due to several factors such as the versatility, the low cost, and the possibility to enhance the learning process through technology. However, the implications, possibilities

This study reduces the difficulties experienced by novice computer programmers when establishing a procedure for problem-solving in a computing environment. It also provides guidelines to detail the work process. For this purpose, we developed an “unfolding model of procedures” consisting of the recognition of input and output, decomposition of operation, and expansion of branching based on its condition

Engineering profiles focused on next-generation optical networks are gaining immense importance due to new emerging services and the amount of data expected in future network scenarios. In fact, not only are optical access networks leading to a major revolution in the network industry, but passive optical networks are the most widely deployed access networks worldwide today. This should be a strong

Gamification has gained much popularity in recent years in the field of education. The use of gaming elements, such as points, badges, and leaderboards, is suggested to increase motivation, which, in turn, leads to performance improvement. However, studies suggest that it is not a “one‐size‐fits‐all” approach and needs to be tailored based on the environment and learner's psychology to achieve effective

Serious games (SGs) have emerged to improve the commitment and performance of user players, since they perform an exact mission, integrating with the game mechanics, thus creating a very attractive mission. In software engineering (SE), SGs have been addressed to increase the commitment of developers. Moreover, the use of SGs is of great interest to train and train future professionals to experience

In the current paper, a methodology combining a case study with a computational tool for aerospace engineering students is presented and discussed. The aim of this methodology is to improve the understanding of jet engine's operation through their thermodynamic cycle analysis, particularly focused on the effects of the main boundary conditions for an aircraft engine: altitude and flight velocity (or

This paper outlines an application—dubbed U=RIsolve (read as “you resolve”)—for helping students to learn the Nodal (or Node) Voltage Analysis method (NVM, for short) for electrical circuit analysis. The NVM enables determining the voltage in every Node in the circuit, related to a reference (Ground) Node. In turn, this enables to compute the current in every Branch (and therefore, the voltage across

The complexities of observing flow phenomena in porous media have made it difficult to teach the course, Flow in Porous Media, to undergraduate students majoring in petroleum engineering. In this study, we propose an integrated numerical visualization teaching (INVT) approach that is based on MATLAB Pdetool, graphical user interface, and Visual Basic Programming. The effectiveness of the INVT method

Although the importance of computational thinking (CT) has been widely recognized, we still poorly understand how to effectively teach this skill. The aim of this study is to investigate whether peer code review (PCR) could affect CT, learning engagement, and learning satisfaction in a blended learning environment. To achieve this, we carried out a randomized control trial study involving 84 first‐year

Mathematics is one of the fundamental subjects for engineering students. While learning mathematics, students often find it difficult or lose interest due to the complexity of the subject. Augmented reality (AR) could aid students to learn certain concepts or theories that were difficult to understand in the classroom and also has the capability to enhance the instructional/learning material. In this

It is common in algorithm courses to assess the correctness of algorithms via testing as well as conducting experiments to measure their run‐time performance. However, two severe problems must be addressed: both activities are conducted using different procedures and tools, and algorithm assessment systems do not support well optimization problems due to their unique characteristics. Given the relevant

The social distancing measure imposed worldwide to combat the outbreak of the novel coronavirus has seen rapid adoption of technologies to support online education. Compared to traditional lecture‐based courses, online teaching is particularly more challenging for laboratory courses where hands‐on activities are essential to achieve the learning outcomes. To deal with this issue, the study presented

Nowadays, smartphone applications (apps) are literally used in all life aspects, improving the quality of different services in addition to saving time and effort. However, the majority of currently used apps in different universities around the world are limited in their features and not very popular among students who may suffer to get useful information using traditional guiding methods. However

Ferroresonance is a complex phenomenon and can compromise power system sustainability in transformer cores during the electromagnetic saturation process. Over‐voltage can be induced in the inductive core of transformers in an oscillation imbalance circuit; thus causing short circuits or permanent damage to a transformer. Hence, this paper developed a teaching application that combined a graphical user

Current power systems are undergoing a rapid and complex transformation due to the integration of distributed generation. Load flow analysis is increasingly necessary to evaluate not only the operating point of the existing power system but also the design of future expansions. There are a wide variety of power system analysis packages used for load flow analysis. Of these, PowerFactory, one of the

The University Computer Foundation (UCF) course, which is a compulsory theoretical course for freshmen, especially science and engineering department students, lays the foundation for more advanced courses. However, the UCF course covers a wide variety of concepts, including the computer hardware, which are difficult for freshmen to comprehend. In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has become prevalent

Nowadays, the computer skills acquisition by Chemical Engineering (ChE) students is based on practical uses of specialized software packages in different applications. Process optimization courses use high‐level algebraic programming languages, such as GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System) or AMPL (A Mathematical Programming Language), which are usually reserved for advanced programs in ChE degrees

Programmable logic controller (PLC) is always set as a professional course of automation‐related majors in Chinese universities and colleges. Abundant experiments are required to ensure that the students are sufficiently trained to get qualified practical skills and engineering abilities. The evaluation of abundant PLC experiments is a heavy and time‐consuming task, and it is hard to grade an experiment

Over decades, Mechanical Engineering students often find some difficulties to grasp some contents and/or struggle with some parts of the course. With the increasing development of new technologies, promising innovations can be implemented enhancing learning and improving success rates. In this study, a new learning interactive method is proposed and evaluated using the experience of over 600 students

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has severely crippled our globalized society. Despite the chaos, much of our civilization continued to function, thanks to contemporary information and communication technologies. In education, this situation required instructors and students to abandon the traditional face‐to‐face lectures and move to a fully online learning environment. Such a transition

The purpose of this study was to explore the process of designing a visuohaptic simulation for learning structural analysis following a learner‐centered approach (LCD). Our implementation of an LCD approach followed a three‐part iterative process: (1) requirements analysis and specification, (2) multimedia application design, and (3) prototype inspection. In designing the learning tasks, we employed

In an engineering study, the project/knowledge application module has a great weightage where students get an opportunity for the application of knowledge. Project evaluation consists of the following phases: documentation, presentation, teamwork, and leadership. This study has used the entire duration of the project assessment process for the evaluation of personality changes along with the academic

The present paper describes a numerical technique to compute phase equilibria of ternary liquid systems. First, particle swarm optimization is used to estimate the binary interaction parameters of the NRTL (Non‐Random Two Liquid) and UNIQUAC (Universal Quasi‐Chemical) models. We show how the arc‐length continuation method allows the calculation of the liquid–liquid equilibrium diagram for any ternary

“Engineering Electromagnetics” is the “most familiar stranger” of college students who major in electrical engineering (EE). Through years of physics learning, the students have had a certain understanding of the basic theories of electromagnetic fields. However, during studying the course, especially the numerical modeling chapter, large‐scale mathematical derivations need to be conducted, which significantly

In this study, an innovative tool for enabling contextual teaching based on visual inputs, named Visual Stimuli‐based Teaching Aid (VISTA), was developed. This system establishes the meaning and significance of concepts that are taught in the classroom within different environmental contexts. The idea of contextual teaching has been deliberated for more than a decade now. Nevertheless, using this in

Mobile learning is an emerging educational methodology that requires an updated conceptualization to yield effective pedagogical approaches that may enrich the teaching–learning processes. The present research aimed to better understand and to assess the effectiveness of mobile learning in Science and Engineering Higher Education settings. The experience was carried out over two consecutive academic

The recent growth in the adoption by several organizations of cloud computing services has created the challenge to determine their performance of information model. The ability of cloud computing systems to provide the required services in line with the quality of service and service level agreement constraints is a major problem for cloud service providers and consumers. To that end, it is possible

This paper presents an interactive graphics tool for the structural analysis of one‐dimensional element models, such as trusses, frames, and grillages. The focus is on the creation of a graphical user interface for a previously developed analysis solver. This graphical interface is entirely implemented in the MATLAB environment and features intuitive resources so that modeling and verification of results

Experiences gained from the domain‐specific courses showed that students focus mostly on how to implement solutions and less on what must be considered within the solution. In the case of information systems‐related courses, students focus on system development using specific languages and frameworks while often disregard the required logical checks and constraints. This paper introduces annotated

Engineering design problems are ill‐structured, and as a result, learners find it challenging to engage productively in relevant practices of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation for solving problems in the domain. Teachers find it particularly difficult to effectively support such engagement. Thus, there is a need to understand how teachers orchestrate their classrooms for maximizing opportunities

Visual artifacts used in graphical designs of the mechanisms of groundwater flow problems are very influential in learning and teaching. The merits of the classical methods of problem‐solving using only mathematics become much less superior to those linked with interactive graphics. In this study, an interactive educational LabVIEW program is designed to graphically simulate the constructional and

This paper presents a distributed wind power virtual simulation experiment system for cultivating students' ability to solve complex engineering problems. The experiment system was designed with complex engineering problems of real wind farms, both in a steady state and transient process. On the basis of the system, comprehensive practical contents were developed. According to engineering education

In the last few decades, different teaching methodologies have been proposed to promote more active learning of students. However, it is still essential to understand the practical implications of the theoretical concepts incorporating additional methodologies, for example, problem‐based learning. This methodology could include practises focused on students' programming or on using appropriate software

The capability to analyze structures under static and dynamic loads is an essential skill for structural engineers. Structural analysis therefore is a key component in civil and architectural engineering education, where analytical methods are traditionally complemented by the use of (commercial) software packages. The latter are often closed source, which may obscure the links to the underlying matrix

As a critical function for intelligent tutoring system services, personalised exercise recommendation plays an important role in boosting the study performance of students. However, recent studies on personalised exercise recommendations have only considered the ability of a student during recommendation and have failed to include the essential relationships between knowledge points, which provide

Engineering education refers to developing an understanding of the principles, methods, and ways of thinking that underlie engineering, and preparing students and engineers for productive engineering careers. The purpose of this review is to explore how head‐mounted display‐based virtual reality (HMD VR) can contribute to these goals. Historically, engineering has not been a focus for VR in education

The Covid‐19 pandemic has brought about new challenges to educational institutions around the world, as there has been a sudden interest in distance‐learning solutions in the offering of disciplines, including the science and technology ones. Distance‐learning will have a direct impact on the training of professionals that will develop the bespoke Internet of Things (IoT) solutions that homes, offices

The use of novel didactic approaches in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) academic programs is a relevant topic in current educational research. In this context, Project‐Based learning is shown as a promising didactic tool for improving the motivation of engineering students.

The STEAM model combines the academic disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM), forming a very relevant and increasingly fundamental educational approach within technologically advanced societies. Real‐world concepts and applications are associated in ways that encourage students to apply them whenever possible to their learning processes. In this context, Jupyter

The application of game principles to nongame contexts has proven to be a powerful pedagogical strategy in the educational area to motivate, engage, and improve learners' performance. In this study, gamification is applied to increase the time and the effort that learners spend in carrying out outside‐class activities, as well as to modify a quite common study pattern of working at the last minute

The education field plays a vital role in the growth and progress of society. In recent years, with the evolution of technology, a significant development has been observed in the publication of this field. Henceforth, a scientific review is required to explore computer applications in education using internet communication and technology (ICT) technologies. This paper analyzes the scientometric features

This publication provides an editorial introduction to a special issue of Computer Applications in Engineering Education journal entitled Computational Thinking for STEM and Engineering Education. It provides introductory remarks to the issue and a commentary on the published material, as well as presents the views of the special issue editors in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics

Programming can be an intellectually satisfying skill and is definitely considered useful. However, problem‐solving with a computer involves much more than just learning programming language syntax. The theory and practice are interrelated in fascinating ways. Whether one thinks that the purpose of college or higher education is to prepare students for an occupation or to develop foundational knowledge

Technological changes pose the need to redefine educational models, incorporating programs, and methodologies, so that students acquire the scientific‐technological competencies required in today's society. The objective of the research is aimed at establishing a generic method to develop STEAM projects, which are consistent with current curricula and at experimentally testing its validity by developing

The importance of computational thinking (CT) development has increased during the last decade. There is a need to understand what to teach from computational thinking perspectives, as well as what types of activities and learning content topics to use in the classroom. Current students' generation is looking for engaging, motivating learning activities with immediate results and feedback. The paper

Educational software, especially gaming, have been the target of research in different areas due to their potential benefits in promoting more dynamic, interactive, and motivating learning. The use of educational games for teaching in Engineering and Computing courses, such as Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, and Computer Science, given the familiarity of these students

Over recent years, the Internet has become an important teaching tool in universities. However, existing online course modes still have some obvious disadvantages, such as fewer learning restraints, interactions, and atmosphere. To improve online course quality, this article presents an online flip classroom with teacher‐led adaptive learning. The online classroom environment includes community as

The 2020 pandemic imposed new demands on teaching practices to support student's distance learning process. In this context, automated assessment (AA) is a pivotal resource that offers immediate and automatic feedback on students' programming tasks. Although the literature provides several contributions regarding AA of Programming Exercises (PEs), very few works discuss the automatic generation of

Metal oxide surge arresters (MOSAs) have been widely used as protective devices against switching and lightning overvoltages in power electrical systems. MOSAs have dynamic characteristics in low‐ and high‐current regions. The unique model of MOSA, which is able to evaluate all the possible operating conditions of power systems, would surely be so complicated. Therefore, by the selection of an operating

The laboratories of control theory are often limited to simulations and a few or none experimental tests. As in other technical subjects, practical experiments really help to understand the theory but need much time and the experimental platforms are usually expensive. This paper describes a platform that implements a universal third‐order discrete controller based on field programmable gate array

Training simulators are fundamental for training in areas, such as aviation, medicine, and the military. While new applications emerge in conjunction with the development of human–machine interface (HMI) technologies, only a few applications for manufacturing processes are used in industrial practice. This study provides a literature review on simulation‐based training in manufacturing processes and