NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
PDF on ERIC Download full text
ERIC Number: EJ1184358
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-1431
EISSN: N/A
Mobile Eye Tracking in Engineering Design Education
Hess, Stephan; Lohmeyer, Quentin; Meboldt, Mirko
Design and Technology Education, v23 n2 2018
A central part of basic engineering design education aims for imparting profound knowledge of how machine elements are designed and building an understanding about how they work in detail within a technical product. In this context, a basic challenge lies in teaching to analyse complex systems that are usually characterized by a high number of interacting parts and interfering movements. In our basic engineering design education at ETH Zurich, we recognized that high-performing students in functional analysis are able to gain more insights from analysing machine systems than low-performing students. Indeed, high-performers are not only effectively using previous knowledge, they are also more successful in identifying relevant parts. This observation raises two questions. (Q1) Which previous knowledge is required to single-handedly be able to fully understand how a specific system works? and (Q2) How can we support students in drawing special attention to the relevant parts and the areas revealing their role within the system? In order to answer these questions, we conduct a mobile eye-tracking study, including concurrent reporting. Students are asked to analyse a small, but difficult to understand machine system and to explain how it works. This paper highlights the differences between successful and non-successful functional analysis and discusses them in the context of the two questions presented above. The two main results of this paper are that successful students had a wider knowledge-base of mechanical systems and that analysis strategies like "following the flow line of force" gives a guide rail. Both helped them to identify single sub-functions and to evaluate their importance.
Design and Technology Education Association. 16 Wellesbourne House, Walton Road, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, CV35 9JB, UK. Tel: +44-1789-470007; Fax: +44-1789-841995; e-mail: info@data.org.uk; Web site: http://www.data.org.uk
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Switzerland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A