TEACHING STRUCTURES TO NON-ENGINEERS

– BEING AN ENGINEER
How do you modify your teaching techniques for non-engineers?
How do you ensure that you achieve the learning outcomes in this scenario?

Dr. Mukesh Kumar

B.E., M.Sc., Ph.D.
 General Attributes of a Revered
Engineering Teacher

◇ Inspires
◇ Positive Vibe ◇ Clarity of Goals and Objectives ◇ Technically Sound
◇ Passion and Enthusiasm ◇ Understanding of the Audience ◇ Relate Science to Practice
for Transfer of Knowledge ◇ Stimulates Thinking and Open to ◇ Ability to Simplify Complex
◇ Patience and Adaptability Questions Ideas
◇ Pleasant Personality
◇ Strong Rapport with Students
◇ Engaging Personality and
Teaching Style
 Reasons for Teaching Structures to
Non-Engineers

Develop Technical
Communication Skills

Create Synergy and

Facilitate Decision Making
Coherence for Enhanced
on Site or During Design
Efficiency

Reduce Number of
Iterations in the Design
Process
Challenges of Teaching Structures
to Non-Engineers

Lack of Motivation to Hesitancy to Apply

Study Structures Mathematics

Limited Knowledge of
Cultural Difference
Structural Engineering
 Strategies and Adaptation for
Teaching to Non-Engineers

General Preparation Technical Preparation

 General Preparation

◇ Complete Awareness of the Course and Program Objectives

◇ Devise Strategy to Motivate and Inspire the Students

◇ Know the Academic Background of the Students

◇ Research on Psyche and Culture of the Department/Program

 Technical Preparation
◇ Adopt a Suitable Pace for the Course

◇ Gradual Use of Technical Terminologies/Concepts in the Class

◇ Repeated and Simplified Explanation

◇ Prepare Relevant Examples to Suit the Students

◇ Preparation to Make Complex Concepts Easy to Comprehend

◇ Assignments and Projects Should Provide Hands-On Experience

 Design Construct and Test Project
TASK
Design a Given Structure to be Subjected to Prescribed Loads
– Construct the Structure – and Test in Front of the Class

OBJECTIVES
◇ Develop Confidence in Engineering Concepts/Theories
◇ Understand the Entire Design Process
◇ Develop Understanding of Rigid Connections
◇ Develop Understanding of Critical Regions
Design Construct and Test Project
Design Construct and Test Project
 Projects/Assignments
◇ Construct Structural Elements of Various Dimensions and Investigate
the Influence of Loads on Stiffness and Strength
￭ Understand the Difference between Strength and Stiffness
￭ Understand the Relationship between Dimensions of Members and
Strength and Stiffness
◇ Shake Table Testing of Single Degree Freedom (SDF) Systems under
Sinusoidal Excitation
￭ Develop Understanding of SDF Systems
￭ Understand Resonance and Fundamental Period
￭ Understand and Design Against Buckling
Thank You!