Most definitions of engineering give machines and mechanical objects a central role. Engineers are makers and users of mechanical objects in their environment. Research supports the notion that interactions with engineered artifacts enhance engineering learning. This study introduces a task simulating a real-world engineering application and uses this task to examine how aptitudes, interests, and direct manipulation of mechanical objects influence performance. We hypothesized that engineering students would generate better assembly instructions when they had the box of component parts (BOP) than when they had the engineering drawing only. We also hypothesized that student's mechanical aptitude (MA) and interests in things each would interact with experimental condition's impact on performance. First-year engineering students (N = 383) created assembly instructions in a mixed experimental and correlational design. A random half was assigned to create instructions with a drawing only, whereas the other half created with both a drawing and a box of component parts present. Assembly instructions were evaluated by professional engineers blind to experimental conditions. They rated instructions from the BOP group as superior to those coming from the control group. Students with greater mechanical aptitude received better evaluations, but there was no evidence the experimental variable was moderated either by mechanical aptitude or by thing orientation (TO). This study suggests that mechanical objects can enhance engineering instruction, especially when they are aligned with professional practice.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research-Article
Enhancing Engineering Students' Performance on Design Task: The Box of Parts
Diana Bairaktarova,
Diana Bairaktarova
Mem. ASME
Department of Engineering Education,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University,
635 Prices Fork Road,
Blacksburg, VA 24061
e-mail: dibairak@vt.edu
Department of Engineering Education,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University,
635 Prices Fork Road,
Blacksburg, VA 24061
e-mail: dibairak@vt.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
William Graziano,
William Graziano
Professor
School of Psychological Sciences,
Purdue University,
703 Third Street,
West Lafayette, IN 47907
e-mail: graziano@purdue.edu
School of Psychological Sciences,
Purdue University,
703 Third Street,
West Lafayette, IN 47907
e-mail: graziano@purdue.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Monica Cox
Monica Cox
Professor
Department of Engineering Education,
Ohio State University,
2070 Neil Avenue,
Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: cox.1192@osu.edu
Department of Engineering Education,
Ohio State University,
2070 Neil Avenue,
Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: cox.1192@osu.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Diana Bairaktarova
Mem. ASME
Department of Engineering Education,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University,
635 Prices Fork Road,
Blacksburg, VA 24061
e-mail: dibairak@vt.edu
Department of Engineering Education,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University,
635 Prices Fork Road,
Blacksburg, VA 24061
e-mail: dibairak@vt.edu
William Graziano
Professor
School of Psychological Sciences,
Purdue University,
703 Third Street,
West Lafayette, IN 47907
e-mail: graziano@purdue.edu
School of Psychological Sciences,
Purdue University,
703 Third Street,
West Lafayette, IN 47907
e-mail: graziano@purdue.edu
Monica Cox
Professor
Department of Engineering Education,
Ohio State University,
2070 Neil Avenue,
Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: cox.1192@osu.edu
Department of Engineering Education,
Ohio State University,
2070 Neil Avenue,
Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: cox.1192@osu.edu
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Design Education Committee of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received January 12, 2016; final manuscript received December 29, 2016; published online March 23, 2017. Assoc. Editor: Gul E. Okudan Kremer.
J. Mech. Des. May 2017, 139(5): 052001 (9 pages)
Published Online: March 23, 2017
Article history
Received:
January 12, 2016
Revised:
December 29, 2016
Citation
Bairaktarova, D., Graziano, W., and Cox, M. (March 23, 2017). "Enhancing Engineering Students' Performance on Design Task: The Box of Parts." ASME. J. Mech. Des. May 2017; 139(5): 052001. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4036128
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Related Articles
Favoring Complexity: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Factors That Influence Concept Selection When Designing for Additive Manufacturing
J. Mech. Des (October,2021)
Comparing Ideation Techniques for Beginning Designers
J. Mech. Des (October,2016)
Engaging Children in Engineering Design Through Popular Media
J. Mech. Des (May,2006)
Results of an Industry/University Survey of Machine Systems Design Education
J. Mech. Des (October,1981)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Identification and Analysis of Risk
Managing Risks in Design & Construction Projects
Usage of Revision Control Tools in Capstone Senior Design Courses
Advances in Multidisciplinary Engineering
Engineering Consultancy Services
Marketing of Engineering Consultancy Services: A Global Perspective