NEW DIRECTIONS FOR MECHANISM KINEMATICS AND DYNAMICS.

Not to incorporate new developments into engineering education is to leave graduates ill-prepared to take their place in the profession. Computers can free students to explore open-ended design projects, provided that basic concepts in mechanical engineering are understood. Synthesis and analysis software and instructional programs with 'dynamic blackboards' provide new approaches to teaching. Three areas of computer use can help bring the classical kinematics curriculum up to date: open-ended design projects; computer-aided instruction; and software packages for synthesis and analysis. The authors will discuss these three areas as they have been explored over the past four years at the University of Minnesota.