Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Global Engineering Deans Council

World Engineering Education Forum

GEDC 2016, WEEF 2016: Engineering Education for a Smart Society pp 352–367Cite as

A Virtual Learning System in Environmental Monitoring

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 627))

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of a Learning Enhanced Watershed Assessment System (LEWAS) and its public interface called the Online Watershed Learning System (OWLS). These systems provide access to environmental monitoring case studies that are developed based on high frequency water and weather data from a small urban watershed on the campus of Virginia Tech (VT) and represent applications of the innovation cycle of engineering education research and practice. The development of LEWAS was motivated by a programming learning unit in a first-year engineering class in 2008, and since then it has grown into a unique research and education lab on the VT campus. Several examples of learning activities based on the LEWAS/OWLS are provided and applications of these systems within and outside VT are discussed. Results of a pilot study to track the OWLS’ users are provided and this work is expected to provide guidelines to develop personalized learning systems in environmental monitoring. Interdisciplinary collaboration facilitated by the LEWAS/OWLS work has resulted in a several new NSF awards, and examples are provided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

References

  • A Committee of College and University Examiners, Bloom, B.S., Engelhart, M.D., Furst, E.J., Hill, W.H., Krathwohl, D.R. (eds.): Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: The Classification of Educational Goals: Handbook I - Cognitive Domain. Longmans, Green and Co., New York (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu, D., McDonald, W.M., Brogan, D.S., Maczka, D., Lohani, V.K.: Combined contribution of 12 REU students to the development of the LEWAS Lab. In: 123rd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, New Orleans, LA, USA (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu, D., Purviance, J., Maczka, D., Brogan, D.S., Lohani, V.K.: Work-in-progress: high-frequency environmental monitoring using a Raspberry Pi-based system. In: 122nd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Seattle, WA, USA (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beard, C.M., Wilson, J.P.: Experiential Learning: A Best Practice Handbook for Educators and Trainers. Kogan Page Publishers, London (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, C., Clark, K., Jones, D.: Indicators of engagement. In: Steel, C., Keppell, M., Gerbic, P., Housego, S. (eds.) ASCILITE 2010 Proceedings: Curriculum, Technology and Transformation for an Unknown Future, Sydney, pp. 75–86 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brogan, D.S.: Development and evaluation of the Online Watershed Learning System (OWLS). Ph.D. Dissertation, Engineering Education, Virginia Tech (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brogan, D.S., Basu, D., Lohani, V.K.: Insights gained from tracking users’ movements through a cyberlearning system’s mediation interface. In: International Conference on Remote Engineering and Virtual Instrumentation (REV 2017), New York, NY, USA (2017, accepted)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brogan, D.S., Lohani, V.K. Dymond, R.L.: Work-in-progress: the Platform-Independent Remote Monitoring System (PIRMS) for situating users in the field virtually. In: 121st ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Indianapolis, IN, USA (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brogan, D.S., McDonald, W.M., Lohani, V.K., Dymond, R.L., Bradner, A.J.: Development and classroom implementation of an environmental data creation and sharing tool. Adv. Eng. Educ. (AEE) 5(2), 1–34 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, H.A., McDonald, W.M., Lohani, V.K., Dymond, R.L.: Investigating the response of a small urbanized watershed to acute toxicity events via analysis of high frequency environmental data. Am. J. Undergraduate Res. (AJUR) 12(3), 5–17 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • Delgoshaei, P.: Design and implementation of a real-time environmental monitoring lab with applications in sustainability education. Ph.D. Dissertation, Engineering Education, Virginia Tech (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  • Delgoshaei, P., Lohani, V.K.: Design and application of a real-time water quality monitoring lab in sustainability education. Int. J. Eng. Educ. 30(2), 1–14 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  • Douglas, I., Alemanne, N.D.: Measuring student participation and effort. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Cognition and Exploratory Learning in Digital Age, Algarve, Portugal (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dymond, R.L., Lohani, V.K., Brogan, D.S., Martinez, M.A.: Integration of a real-time water and weather monitoring system into a hydrology course. In: 120th ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Atlanta, GA, USA (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  • Faust, J.L., Paulson, D.R.: Active learning in the college classroom. J. Excellence Coll. Teach. 9(2), 3–24 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredricks, J.A., Blumenfeld, P.C., Paris, A.H.: School engagement: potential of the concept, state of the evidence. Rev. Educ. Res. 74(1), 59–109 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greeno, J.G., Collins, A.M., Resnick, L.B.: Cognition and learning. In: Berliner, D.C., Calfee, R.C. (eds.) Handbook of Educational Psychology, pp. 15–46. Macmillan Library Reference USA, New York (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamieson, L.H., Lohmann, J.R.: Creating a Culture for Scholarly and Systematic Innovation in Engineering Education. American Society for Engineering Education, Washington, D.C. (2009). 37 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johri, A., Olds, B.M., O’Connor, K.: Situative frameworks for engineering learning research. In: Cambridge Handbook of Engineering Education Research, pp. 47–66. Cambridge University Press (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, B.D.: Motivating students to engage in learning: the MUSIC model of academic motivation. Int. J. Teach. Learn. High. Educ. 21(2), 272–285 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolb, A.Y., Kolb, D.A.: Learning styles and learning spaces: enhancing experiential learning in higher education. Acad. Manag. Learn. Educ. 4(2), 193–212 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuh, G.D.: The national survey of student engagement: conceptual and empirical foundations. New Dir. Inst. Res. 141, 5–20 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay, E., Naidu, S., Good, M.: A different kind of difference: theoretical implications of using technology to overcome separation in remote laboratories. Int. J. Eng. Educ. 23(4), 772–779 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, W.M.: Stormwater monitoring: evaluation of uncertainty due to inadequate temporal sampling and applications for engineering education. Ph.D. Dissertation, Civil Engineering, Virginia Tech (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, W.M., Brogan, D.S., Lohani, V.K., Dymond, R.L.: Assessing cognitive development and motivation with the Online Watershed Learning System (OWLS). In: 122nd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Seattle, WA, USA, 14–17 June 2015 (2015a)

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, W.M., Brogan, D.S., Lohani, V.K., Dymond, R.L., Clark, R.L.: Integrating a real-time environmental monitoring lab into university and community college courses. Int. J. Eng. Educ. (IJEE) 31(4), 1139–1157 (2015b)

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, W.M., Brogan, D.S., Lohani, V.K., Joshi, G.H., Shettar, A.S.; Developing a first-year engineering course at a university in India: international engineering education collaboration. In: 123rd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, New Orleans, LA, USA (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, W.M., Dymond, R.L., Lohani, V.K., Brogan, D.S., Basu, D.: Insights and challenges in developing a remote real-time watershed monitoring lab. In: 121st ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Indianapolis, IN, USA (2014a)

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, W.M., Dymond, R.L., Lohani, V.K., Brogan, D.S., Clark Jr., R.L.: Integrating a real-time remote watershed monitoring lab into water sustainability education. In: 121st ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Indianapolis, IN, USA (2014b)

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, W.M., Lohani, V.K., Dymond, R.L., Brogan, D.S.: A continuous, high-frequency environmental monitoring system for watershed education research. J. Eng. Educ. Transform. (JEET) 28(4), 11–22 (2015c)

    Google Scholar 

  • Odera, E., Lamm, A.J., Odera, L.C., Duryea, M., Davis, J.: Understanding how research experiences foster undergraduate research skill development and influence STEM career choice. NACTA J. 59(3), 180–188 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • Prince, M.J., Felder, R.M.: Inductive teaching and learning methods: definitions, comparisons, and research bases. J. Eng. Educ. 95(2), 123–138 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stark, J.S., Lattuca, L.R.: Shaping the College Curriculum: Academic Plans in Action. Allyn and Bacon, Boston (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  • Warren, K. (ed.): The Theory of Experiential Education. A Collection of Articles Addressing the Historical, Philosophical, Social, and Psychological Foundations of Experiential Education, 3rd edn. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., Dubuque (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wigfield, A., Eccles, J.S.: Expectancy-value theory of achievement motivation. Contemp. Educ. Psychol. 25, 68–81 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witmer, B.G., Singer, M.J.: Measuring presence in virtual environments: a presence questionnaire. Presence Teleoperators Virtual Environ. 7, 225–240 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the National Science Foundation through various programs (Grant numbers DLR: 0431779, TUES: 1140467, REU Site awards: 0649070/1062860/1359051 and I-Corps L: 1644465). This work has also been supported by the Department of Engineering Education, the College of Engineering and the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS) at Virginia Tech. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or Virginia Tech.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Daniel S. Brogan, Debarati Basu & Vinod K. Lohani

Authors
  1. Daniel S. Brogan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Debarati Basu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Vinod K. Lohani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel S. Brogan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Villach, Austria

    Michael E. Auer

  2. Korea University of Technology and Education, Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea (Republic of)

    Kwang-Sun Kim

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Brogan, D.S., Basu, D., Lohani, V.K. (2018). A Virtual Learning System in Environmental Monitoring. In: Auer, M., Kim, KS. (eds) Engineering Education for a Smart Society. GEDC WEEF 2016 2016. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 627. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60937-9_27

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60937-9_27

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-60936-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-60937-9

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation