Active engagement pedagogy for an introductory solid mechanics course

Abstract

Advances in information technology (IT) are enabling universities to effectively integrate computers into the curriculum. An initiative to comprehensively transform the pedagogical format of 2.001-Mechanics and Materials I, a sophomore-level Mechanical Engineering course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has been undertaken. The new teaching paradigm, in contrast with the traditional lecture format, incorporates components of faculty-facilitated learning, hands-on experiments, group discussion, web-enabled exploration, and peer learning. A major element of this educational reform is a collection of Web-based learning modules. The new teaching format is enabled by a mobile, wireless computing initiative that provides all students with laptop computers and a new classroom, built to meet the requirements of the new paradigm. Students were first taught using the new teaching methodology in fall 2001. This paper will discuss the components of the new pedagogy and future steps in developing the course.