EDIM 508 Week 2_The Synthesizing Mind

-->

Recently I got the chance to travel to Michigan as an advisor to students who qualified for the National F1 In Schools Competition. While at the competition, I got to speak with several representatives from a company called Autodesk. Autodesk is one of the leading software companies in the engineering would. We use several Autodesk programs within our engineering courses. One of coolest things I got to see from these conversations, were some new programs and apps I knew nothing about.

The main app that I was impressed with was a free app by Autodesk called ForceEffect. According to Dexigner, Autodesk ForceEffect “allows engineers to quickly and easily simulate design options during the conceptual phase. ForceEffect provides an intuitive environment for drawing, constraining and simulating concepts using free body diagrams by simply tapping objects to select, move, rotate and scale. Real time solving capabilities provide immediate feedback on the performance of a design, enabling users to bring engineering to the point of the problem-whether they're in the field, at the office or in the class room” (2012). This app has a great deal of real life problem solving and reinforcing the topics covered in our engineering classes. Although the app may not give the exactly accurate readings when drawing over pictures, it does however do a very good job.

Having an engaging digital resource like this too follow up a discussion on the statics, structural tegrity, and mechanical advantage will easily allow my students will be able to better understand and synthesize the information presented. Student will be able to use learn the content, create an educated hypothesis of on the structure’s statics, and then physically test it through real life application. Through this app the students are also able to modify and redesign the shape of a structure to digitally test. They then can go through the same process of physically testing. I cannot wait to use this app in my classes.

Autodesk ForceEffect App for iPad - Dexigner. (n.d.). Dexigner. Retrieved May 23, 2012, from http://www.dexigner.com/news/24198

Autodesk ForceEffect Structural Example - YouTube . (n.d.). YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . Retrieved May 23, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_-kS68z78U

Autodesk ForceEffect Mechanical Example - YouTube . (n.d.). YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . Retrieved May 23, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlGUKh9gxt4

Autodesk ForceEffect Motion - YouTube . (n.d.). YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . Retrieved May 23, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyKQetLnxOg