Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item The design process in an eighth grade science class(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2019) Joslyn, Pamela Jo; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Greg FrancisEngineering provides a framework in which students can test their own developing scientific knowledge and apply it to practical problems. There are many parallels to the application of science principles and engineering practices. Both rely on developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, using mathematical and computational thinking, engaging in arguments from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating and communicating information. While some students become engaged in the design process, scientific principles can be excluded from the engineering aspects. One unit of study was compared - a nontreatment group using no mathematics and computational thinking to facilitate the design process and a treatment group relying upon mathematics and computational thinking to the design process. The treatment unit required students to collect data and define scientific principles within the design process. Students were given pre-, mid-, and post-tests for the unit of study, an interest survey, and interviews were conducted. Both groups of students indicated the importance of using data in the design process. When students were required to use mathematics and computational thinking in the design process, the results suggested that students exhibited a slight improvement in test scores on the multiple choice and short answer responses. In the students' final reflections, many students expressed a greater appreciation for engineering.Item Implementation and assessment of eingineering design(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2019) Hopkins, Charles Jeffrey; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Greg FrancisAs we move more towards 21st century education, there are more courses offered in schools and school districts that demand skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. With engineering design-based classes, districts and programs are developing standards and practices, leaving the teachers of these classes to develop many of their own ideas and materials to implement an effective class for their students and their schools until a more unified standard is released. This project was completed with the intent of delivering an effective engineering and design class as a trial run for the American School of Kinshasa. Throughout the treatment students were given surveys to measure confidence and then given pre and posttests to see if students were learning the content outlined in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program Design Guide. The treatment was over the first semester of the course. Through the data collection the students gave comments pertaining to the effectiveness of the course and listed the skills they improved by being part of the class. Overall the treatment was effective in having students identify skills they learned and improved, as well as build their confidence when taking on project-based learning tasks. As for their understanding of the content is became apparent that the material needed to be taught at a slower pace allowing formative feedback before summative assessments could accurately assess student understanding.Item Development of an economic, mobile, dual oxygen and pH sensor(Montana State University - Bozeman, Graduate School, 2016) Hall, Jacqueline Paige; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Peggy Taylor.Optical pH and oxygen sensors have various advantages over Clark amperometric oxygen electrodes, including portability and utility in aqueous environments unsuitable for the Clark electrode. The goal of this study was to affordably develop a dual pH and oxygen-sensing probe that could be used in a variety of settings. This study resulted in the development of the oxygen-sensing component of such a device. This component consisted of Platinum (II)-meso-tetra (2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin (PtTFPP) suspended in a polystyrene-based matrix. A 405 nm LED excited the PtTFPP phosphorescence and a Hamamatsu Digital Color Sensor S11012-01CR recorded the resultant emission intensities of the porphyrin. A code was written for an Arduino Uno ® microcontroller, to control the LED and color sensor, while recording the appropriate data. The oxygen-sensing component showed expected oxygen sensitivity during oxygen depletion studies.