Interactive Computer Simulation and Animation (CSA) to Improve Student Learning of Impulse and Momentum in Rigid-Body Engineering Dynamics

Engineering dynamics is a foundational engineering science course that many undergraduate students struggle with because the course requires students to have a solid conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills. This paper presents an interactive computer simulation and animation (CSA) learning module recently developed to improve student learning of impulse and momentum in rigid-body engineering dynamics. The paper describes the development of the CSA learning module and its important features. A quasi-experimental study involving pre- and post-tests on 134 engineering undergraduates in two groups (comparison vs. intervention) was conducted. The results show that the developed CSA learning module increased the normalized student learning gain by 51.5%.