Complex designed to spark learning A new active learning complex in Iowa State's department of electrical and computer engineering doesn't look anything like a classroom and that's what makes it effective. Bright lights in a sterile room with straight back chairs and flip-up desktops are replaced with a comfortable environment in a room flush with vibrant colors. The goal of the active learning complex is to enhance learning by fostering communications and teamwork, said Doug Jacobson, faculty coordinator of the complex and associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. The complex includes several interaction areas where students can work on problems, and office space for 28 teaching assistants. These interaction areas include white boards, where students can draw diagrams and work out problems and then save their work to computer.
Bright awnings cover the office and interaction areas.
It brings everything and everyone together and helps build friendships and bonds that will be valuable in the learning process. Aircraft safety testing moves from an art to an innovative technology Scientists at Iowa State University's Center for Nondestructive Evaluation and the Airworthiness Assurance Center of Excellence are bringing aircraft safety testing to a new level with the instrumented tapper. Designed by David Hsu and a team of researchers at CNDE, the tapper replaces the traditional method of tapping a coin on honeycomb and composite aircraft parts to inspect for damage. The instrumented tapper is inexpensive, requires little training to operate and provides a reliable method of inspection that isn't hindered by aircraft hangar noise. Attached to a notebook computer, the tapper's accelerometer translates the stiffness of a part's surface into digital information in a Microsoft Excel file.