Investigation of the Benefits of Using a Case Study Method to Teach Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals Courses to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

Case studies are routinely utilized in college business programs to engage students in real world applications and help them better appreciate the importance and relevance of fundamental principles. However, in engineering courses, case studies have not been fully utilized. The hypothesis of this project is that case studies will engage the interest of students, improve their performance in these courses, and ultimately improve their retention. Here, we report the development of a case study activity for Mechanics of Materials, a core engineering course in the Mechanical Engineering undergraduate curriculum, to help engage and interest students, especially deaf and hard of hearing (HoH) students. Using a universal design approach, the activity focused on the Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse in 1981 and requires students to perform related design calculations and discuss the impact of the events that led up to the accident. Initial assessment of a recent implementation showed the activity stimulated discussions, reinforced engineering fundamentals, helped connect students to the context of engineering concepts, helped relate course content to real world applications, and helped students better understand the implications of engineering decisions.