Guided CAE software learning modules for the undergraduate mechanical engineering curriculum

Under development are a series of guided learning modules illustrating the use of CAE tools and their relationship to the engineering fundamentals covered within the core undergraduate curriculum. Learning supports embedded within these modules will explicitly reinforce basic engineering fundamentals and highlight how these principles relate to the types of engineering problems that are encountered in practice. Ultimately envisioned is a library of such modules which would enable the seamless incorporation of CAE tools throughout the undergraduate curriculum. These modules leverage two important characteristics of these CAE tools: 1) the visualization capabilities of the CAE software, and 2) the ability to solve more complex problems than those typically covered within a traditional lecture-based format. Such tools will provide additional curricular tools which professors may use to adapt more inductive and active teaching methods within their classes.