Interactive computer-based exercises for engineering statics and mechanics of materials

Summary form only given. The ability to solve new problems is one of the most important skills to be learned in engineering courses. Successfully solving a wide range of engineering problems requires systematic thought processes and a physically-based, intuitive appreciation for principles which allows for them to be flexibly applied. While lectures are an opportunity for the instructor to explain the subject and to discuss and demonstrate problem solving, students become proficient at problem solving only through practice. Unfortunately, nearly all student attempts at solving problems occur away from the eye of instructors. In addition, in the normal course of events, students receive feedback in the form of graded homework several days after handing in their assignment, often too late to have much impact. Students can easily develop bad problem solving habits which may never be broken. An additional weakness observed even in students who do well by standard measures is an over-reliance on manipulating equations rather than on physical and geometric reasoning. Here, the author describes how the above observations have motivated the development of highly interactive computer-based exercises.