title: The Application of Advanced Product Development Techniques to a 1st Year Engineering Student Boat Design Project

authors: Varghese, Prashob Punnachen

subjects: Project-based learning

abstract: The design and manufacture of a RC model boat is a component of the compulsory paper ENGG180 for first year engineering students at the University of Waikato. ENGG180 is a foundation of engineering paper which includes project-based learning, fundamental principles of engineering design and engineering analysis. The model boats made by undergraduate engineering students are rather primitive in design and use conventional manufacturing methods.
The conventional methods used by students, to make the hulls are a very labour intense and inaccurate. In the present method there is no direct link between the CAD model and the manufactured hull due to the absence of computer-aided machining. However using conventional methods, students get more knowledge on how parts are manufactured.
These conventional methods of fabrication are used because the primary emphasis for their project is experiencing the design process, working effectively in a team and working to constraints (such as time, money and materials). The current emphasis is not fabrication technologies. Students would gain more accurate impressions of design and fabrication if more up-to-date technologies were demonstrated.
The purpose of this research is to teach students about the designs and features of a fast boat, modern manufacturing methodologies and rapid prototyping. The boat was designed in Solidworks, the hull mold was machined using a CNC milling machine directly from the CAD model. The many internal pats were produced with laser cutting machine from the CAD model. Thus the model boat was built accurately to the CAD model. These methods demonstrated have modern CAD and CAM techniques which could be successfully applied to the manufacture of model boat.
It was found that the boat did not perform as expected this was due to problem with battery performance. It is therefore suggested that if further work be undertaken in this area more detailed modelling and simulation (CAE) of the boat system be carried out.

text: The Application of Advanced Product Development Techniques to a 1st Year Engineering Student Boat Design Project The design and manufacture of a RC model boat is a component of the compulsory paper ENGG180 for first year engineering students at the University of Waikato. ENGG180 is a foundation of engineering paper which includes project-based learning, fundamental principles of engineering design and engineering analysis. The model boats made by undergraduate engineering students are rather primitive in design and use conventional manufacturing methods.
The conventional methods used by students, to make the hulls are a very labour intense and inaccurate. In the present method there is no direct link between the CAD model and the manufactured hull due to the absence of computer-aided machining. However using conventional methods, students get more knowledge on how parts are manufactured.
These conventional methods of fabrication are used because the primary emphasis for their project is experiencing the design process, working effectively in a team and working to constraints (such as time, money and materials). The current emphasis is not fabrication technologies. Students would gain more accurate impressions of design and fabrication if more up-to-date technologies were demonstrated.
The purpose of this research is to teach students about the designs and features of a fast boat, modern manufacturing methodologies and rapid prototyping. The boat was designed in Solidworks, the hull mold was machined using a CNC milling machine directly from the CAD model. The many internal pats were produced with laser cutting machine from the CAD model. Thus the model boat was built accurately to the CAD model. These methods demonstrated have modern CAD and CAM techniques which could be successfully applied to the manufacture of model boat.
It was found that the boat did not perform as expected this was due to problem with battery performance. It is therefore suggested that if further work be undertaken in this area more detailed modelling and simulation (CAE) of the boat system be carried out.

year: 2010

title: A comparative study of the effects of a concept mapping enhanced laboratory experience on Turkish high school students’ understanding of acid-base chemistry

authors: Özmen, Haluk

subjects: acids and bases

abstract: The research reported here consists of the introduction of an intervention based on a series of laboratory activities combined with concept mapping. The purpose of this intervention was to enhance student understanding of acid-base chemistry for tenth grade students’ from two classes in a Turkish high school. An additional aim was to enhance student attitude toward chemistry. In the research design, two cohorts of students were compared; those from the intervention group (N = 31) and a second group (N = 28) who were taught in a more traditional manner. Student understanding of acid-base chemistry was evaluated with a pretest/posttest research design using a purpose-designed instrument, the Concept Achievement Test (CAT) consisting of 25 items, 15 multiple choice and ten multiple choice with explanation. Alternative conceptions identified in the pretest were incorporated into the intervention, which thereby sought to move students toward views more in accord with scientific views for the concepts. Statistical tests indicate the instrument is reliable (with an alpha reliability of 0.81) and the analysis of the findings revealed statistically significant differences between the intervention and traditional groups with respect to conceptual understanding. Examination of student explanations and analyses of semi-structured interviews conducted with selected students suggest that the main influence was the laboratory activities. Analysis of the findings in the context of relevant literature that concept mapping in conjunction with laboratory activities is more enjoyable, helps student link concepts, and reduces their alternative conceptions.

text: A comparative study of the effects of a concept mapping enhanced laboratory experience on Turkish high school students’ understanding of acid-base chemistry The research reported here consists of the introduction of an intervention based on a series of laboratory activities combined with concept mapping. The purpose of this intervention was to enhance student understanding of acid-base chemistry for tenth grade students’ from two classes in a Turkish high school. An additional aim was to enhance student attitude toward chemistry. In the research design, two cohorts of students were compared; those from the intervention group (N = 31) and a second group (N = 28) who were taught in a more traditional manner. Student understanding of acid-base chemistry was evaluated with a pretest/posttest research design using a purpose-designed instrument, the Concept Achievement Test (CAT) consisting of 25 items, 15 multiple choice and ten multiple choice with explanation. Alternative conceptions identified in the pretest were incorporated into the intervention, which thereby sought to move students toward views more in accord with scientific views for the concepts. Statistical tests indicate the instrument is reliable (with an alpha reliability of 0.81) and the analysis of the findings revealed statistically significant differences between the intervention and traditional groups with respect to conceptual understanding. Examination of student explanations and analyses of semi-structured interviews conducted with selected students suggest that the main influence was the laboratory activities. Analysis of the findings in the context of relevant literature that concept mapping in conjunction with laboratory activities is more enjoyable, helps student link concepts, and reduces their alternative conceptions.

year: 2009

title: Addiction Phenomenology In Substance Use  And Non-Substance Use Disorders

authors: McLachlan, Andre David

subjects: Addiction

abstract: There is growing research evidence and public concern over the burgeoning of disorders which share common features with substance addictions. In order to investigate the presence and role of addiction features in disorders outside of substance addictions, symptoms of addiction were explored within three addiction groups: alcohol dependence (AD), an established addiction (n = 24); pathological gambling (PG) a disorder with growing empirical support as an addiction (n = 20); and compulsive shopping (CS), a proposed 'novel' addiction(n = 20).
Participants were recruited from either the general population, or from the Auckland Salvation Army Bridge residential alcohol and drug treatment programme; Salvation Army Oasis Gambling Service; Pacific Peoples Addiction Service Incorporated; or Te Kahui Hauora O Ngati Koata Trust. Participants completed a battery of self-report measures comprising a demographics questionnaire; Addictive Disorder Questionnaire (ADQ); anxiety and depression subscales of the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90R); Barratt Impulsivity Scale II-r; and substance specific adaptations of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS).
Three general categories of addiction symptoms: physiological, salience and dyscontrol, were identified as broad aspects of addiction, common across all three groups. Measurable aspects of addiction, including impulsivity, obsessions, anxiety and depression were found to be endorsed similarly across the three addictions, irrespective of the severity of their addiction. Compulsions were found to be higher in the AD group. Higher anxiety was found to be correlated with higher addiction in the behavioural addictions (CS and PG), whereas depression and anxiety were associated with higher addiction severity in the AD group.
The results provide support for broadening addiction diagnostic definitions, to be more encompassing of the psychological and physiological experiences of each symptom; and developing different diagnostic categories for non-substance addictions that reflect the severity of the addiction. Results also provide evidence for developmental phases of addiction, from an early 'hedonistic' impulsive phase, to a compulsive phase, in which increased dyscontrol, mood and anxiety, marks the severity of the addiction.

text: Addiction Phenomenology In Substance Use  And Non-Substance Use Disorders There is growing research evidence and public concern over the burgeoning of disorders which share common features with substance addictions. In order to investigate the presence and role of addiction features in disorders outside of substance addictions, symptoms of addiction were explored within three addiction groups: alcohol dependence (AD), an established addiction (n = 24); pathological gambling (PG) a disorder with growing empirical support as an addiction (n = 20); and compulsive shopping (CS), a proposed 'novel' addiction(n = 20).
Participants were recruited from either the general population, or from the Auckland Salvation Army Bridge residential alcohol and drug treatment programme; Salvation Army Oasis Gambling Service; Pacific Peoples Addiction Service Incorporated; or Te Kahui Hauora O Ngati Koata Trust. Participants completed a battery of self-report measures comprising a demographics questionnaire; Addictive Disorder Questionnaire (ADQ); anxiety and depression subscales of the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90R); Barratt Impulsivity Scale II-r; and substance specific adaptations of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS).
Three general categories of addiction symptoms: physiological, salience and dyscontrol, were identified as broad aspects of addiction, common across all three groups. Measurable aspects of addiction, including impulsivity, obsessions, anxiety and depression were found to be endorsed similarly across the three addictions, irrespective of the severity of their addiction. Compulsions were found to be higher in the AD group. Higher anxiety was found to be correlated with higher addiction in the behavioural addictions (CS and PG), whereas depression and anxiety were associated with higher addiction severity in the AD group.
The results provide support for broadening addiction diagnostic definitions, to be more encompassing of the psychological and physiological experiences of each symptom; and developing different diagnostic categories for non-substance addictions that reflect the severity of the addiction. Results also provide evidence for developmental phases of addiction, from an early 'hedonistic' impulsive phase, to a compulsive phase, in which increased dyscontrol, mood and anxiety, marks the severity of the addiction.

year: 2008