Stempedia main page
What is Stempedia?
The original version of Stempedia is here. This version of Stempedia has been set up by LIam Guermache to assess the suitability of MediaWiki as the sofware platform for the resource. Apart from this page the following Stempedia pages have been converted
Welcome to Stempedia! - an Online Information Resource (OIR) which is being developed as a testbed for ideas about how information for STEM learning may be structured.
This version demonstrates how information may be presented for learning about structural mechanics. It is focused on the structural mechanics component of the SQA subject Higher Engineering Science and on a ‘Statics’ subject for first year university learners. It is intended for use by learners and by teachers.
Either get started with our introductory videos, click through to the specific content you desire, or scroll to read more about Stempedia itself.
An introduction for learners: |
An introduction for teachers: |
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Contents: | |
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| School Learners | University Learners |
Structural Analysis:Structural analysis is used to estimate the forces and displacements of structures. Strength and Stiffness of Materials:The resistance to the actions on the structure are predicted. All About Structural Design:The nature of structural design, the role of structural mechanics. Application Sheets:An application sheet is a worked example that shows how structural mechanics is used in making decisions in structural design. Glossary:Technical dictionary for structural mechanics. |
Introduction to Structural Design:The nature of structural design, the role of structural mechanics. Statics:The branch of structural mechanics focused on forces in equilibrium and objects at rest. Materials:The resistance to the actions on the structure are predicted. Technical Assessment:Relationships between what the structure may have to resist and how the may be resisted are compare so as to make decisions about the likely performance of the structure. Most importantly – will the structure be safe in use? Application Sheets:An application sheet is a worked example that shows how structural mechanics is used in making decisions in structural design. |
About the Resource
Features:
- Hyperlinking: extensive use will be made of hyperlinks. This is demonstrated in the Nodal Analysis key example
- Applications sheets: demonstrations of the use of structural mechanics in supporting engineering decision making. These pages are set out in a form that is quite close to how they would be laid out in practice. Applications have step by step calculations but do not contain in-depth commentary or explanation of theory. They can be used by teachers to introduce a topic and by learners for finding out how topics are used in practice.
- Key examples: worked examples that also give detailed explanations of the processes being used and definitions of the concepts.
- Videos: to complement the written documents (only one presently availale – for Nodal Analysis).
- Explanations: pages explaining the theory/processes behind structural mechanics. Thes link to examples, application sheets or external resources.
- Exercises: Examples for practice that give solutions on a separate file.
- Dictionary: providing concise definitions.
The expectation is that, via the provision of information in different forms and by shortening the information paths by hyperlinking, use of Stempedia will lead to faster and more effective learning.
Using the resource:
- Ideas about how the resource may be used.
Feedback:
The next stage is to seek advice about its potential so as to decide how best to proceed with its development. Please help us by reviewing the website and please contacting us by making a comment from one of the pages or by contacting Iain at: msa@imacleod.com.
Authors:
This version was prepared in July/August 2020 by Iain MacLeod, Amy Lillico and Ann-Cathrin Reissmann. Amy and Ann-Cathrin are students in Civil Engineering at Glasgow University. Their contribution to the project was funded by the Scottish Branch of the Institution of Structural Engineers and by the Institution of Engineers in Scotland.
For a blog post about the project from Amy and Ann-Cathrin see here
For a blog post introduction to the project from Iain see here
Development Issues:
Style More work is needed to develop the style of presentation. The pages and documents in the resource should be reconfigured to a professional standard.
Software platform The WordPress template used for the prototype of the resource isadequate for a demonstration but not suitable for an OIR.
Document format Pdf format was used for convenience. It is likely that html will be the main document format.