ASEE Best Poster Award for Engineering Education Research

Dr. Osman Sayginer presented two engineering education research papers at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) 2026 Annual Conference, held June 21 to 24 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

A Cost-Effective Hands-On Learning Kit for Enhancing Engagement and Design Skills

This work investigated the implementation of a low-cost, 3D printed learning kit designed to improve student engagement, CAD proficiency, measurement skills, and understanding of mechanical design concepts. The learning kit provided students with hands-on experience in measurement-based modeling, material assignment, mass property verification, and open-ended design activities. Results demonstrated increased student engagement, positive perceived learning gains, and continued achievement of academic rigor and certification outcomes.

This work received the Best Poster Award from the ASEE Mechanical Engineering Division, recognizing its contribution to engineering education. The award-winning paper was co-authored by Alexander Pillapakkam and Laura Riggio.

AI in Teaching: Evaluating Open-Ended Projects Using an AI Chatbot

This study explored the use of an AI-powered chatbot to support the evaluation of open-ended engineering design projects. The work examined how AI can assist instructors by providing consistent assessment, meaningful feedback, and improved efficiency while maintaining alignment with course learning objectives. The study highlights both the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating AI tools into engineering education.

The presentations reflect ongoing efforts to advance engineering education through hands-on learning, innovative assessment strategies, and the thoughtful integration of emerging AI technologies.

Conference proceedings are currently under preparation and will be shared once they become available.