http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/181 2026-06-14T00:47:43Z http://hdl.handle.net/1/744 Title: Improving the e-activity Design in Problem-based Learning Module in Mechanical Engineering Authors: CHOWDHRY, SANDEEP Abstract: The transition from the teacher-centric learning environment to the problem-based learning (PBL) environment may not be smooth due to students’ expectations of getting direct support from the teacher. However, a teacher also tries to teach students the skills to be an independent learner. The aim of this study is to improve the students learning experience in the PBL environment by improving the e-tivity (online activity) design in a blended online teaching module in Mechanical Engineering (ME). A mixed research method approach helped to analyse the students’ learning experience in the module. The result shows that the present design of the e-tivities does not provide students with opportunities to study effectively in the PBL environment online, and proposed an improved design of the e-tivities. It implies the need to create e-tivities by taking into consideration the students’ learning styles to encourage active participation, to provide rich student-tutor interactions for prompt feedback on the students’ performance and hold workshops to improve the facilitation skills of the academic staff in the PBL environment. Further study suggests evaluating the effectiveness of the designed e-tivities on the students’ academic performance, and the development of the skills needed to study effectively in a PBL environment. 2016-06-07T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1/742 Title: Urban Renewal Strategy for a Commercial Area: Case Study- Agrabad Commercial Area, Chittagong Authors: DAS, ARCHISMAN; CHAWDHURY, URMEE Abstract: Rapid urbanization is a currently a challenging problem for any developing country. To keep pace with the current population growth and ongoing economic development the cities are need to be expanded. But for a developing country, the territorial expansion of any city would be difficult for reducing the load, because of its economic and structural limitations. So for utilizing its limited resources fully, urban renewable strategy is preferable for every developing country. Renewable strategies increase the efficiency of the whole area & bolster economic force. Agrabad Commercial Area, CBD is the main business area in CHITTAGONG. In this study Commercial Business District (CBD) of Chittagong is taken as a case study and paper focuses on finding some suitable strategic proposals for it. 2016-06-07T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1/741 Title: Student’s perception of effectiveness of a technology enhanced problem based learning environment in a Mechanical Engineering module Authors: CHOWDHRY, SANDEEP Abstract: The main aim of this research is to improve the use of education technology inproblem based learning (PBL) environment in a Mechanical Engineering (ME) module. The research study adoptedthe quantitative and qualitative methods. The study sample comprised of 79 students from Edinburgh Napier University (ENU), Scotland. Thedata gathering instrument comprised of two quantitative and one qualitative student’s feedback questionnaires. The results shows that education technology integration into the PBL environment according to the students learning needs,toprovide students with an opportunities to collaborate and build new knowledge in a PBL environment. Finally, the study proposed an improved design of the learning task. It implies the need for the teaching institution to provide academic staff development to support tutors in carrying out PBL and to encourage the use of tools like 3E-Framework that help academic staff to meaningfully incorporate technology into learning and teaching. 2016-06-07T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1/740 Title: Application of Artificial Neural Network to Analyze Hexagonal Plate with Hole Considering Different Geometrical and Loading Parameters Authors: Rusia, Saket; Pathak, K. K. Abstract: In the competitive nature of structural engineering, industry and its heuristic problem-solving needs, among other reasons, have contributed to the development of some advanced decision making tools. A step ahead from soft computing techniques, now artificial intelligence has proved itself as an efficient tool for solving the problem in construction industry over old tedious analytical methods. In this study, Artificial Neural Network is compared with finite element techniques in order to find the stress, strain and deflection in plates with holes. For approaching the complexity of the problem, hexagonal plates with holes and different geometrical and loading parameters have been taken as specimens. Finite element analysis for 81 cases are carried out using the software based on finite element method (FEM), ANSYS Workbench 15.0 software. Using these data of FEM analysis an Artificial Neural Network has been trained. The successfully trained network is further used for analysis of four new cases which are also validated by using FEM based software. It was found that most of the results were quite close to the FEM results. Such a technique can be used to reduce the computation time and labour. 2016-06-07T00:00:00Z