Vertically Integrated Multi Disciplinary Design Problem Case Study Assessment

The National Science Foundation is sponsoring a vertically integrated multi-disciplinary capstone problem study based on the technology of wind turbines and windmills. The project develops a series of capstone problems and provides background information and an instructor’s solution manual. Students use the background information to solve problems for classes in Introduction to Engineering, Engineering Problem Solving, Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Circuits, and Structural Analysis. The assessment methodology uses a rubric based on Bloom’s Taxonomy to evaluate how multiple experiences with the same problem from various perspectives improve students’ critical thinking. The paper explains the development of the Learning Score rubrics based on Bloom’s Taxonomy and includes data on a semester of evaluation.