Research

Projects

Engineering Education Research

Behavioral Approaches to Building Cognitive Foundations for Effective Thought and Action.
Cognitive Process Development in Design
Assessing the Time Use Skills of JMU Freshman and Seniors (Project started in 2008)
Stress Effects on JMU College Students (Project started in 2008)
Profiles of Student Values, Individual Motivation, and Decision Making (Project started in 2008)
Cognitive Process Development through Tool Use
Curriculum Research into Sustainability
Curriculum Research into Cognitive Processes in Engineering Design
Eastern Methodologies for Thinking
National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER: Characterizing, Understanding, and Integrating Complex Problem Solving in Engineering Education (Project started on February 2009)
National Science Foundation (NSF) BRIGE: Understanding Engineering Students through the Lens of Identity Theory – Implications for Recruitment and Retention of Underrepresented Students (Project started on August 2008)
National Science Foundation (NSF) CCLI: Design and Implementation of an Innovative Problem-based Learning Model and Assessment Tools in Undergraduate Engineering Education (Project started on January 2009)
National Science Foundation (NSF) CCLI: Design and Manufacture of Plastic Cell Components. (Project started in August 2006)

Understanding and Assessing Complex Flow Systems

Publications

Pappas, E. and J. Pappas. “A Behavioral Approach to Building Cognitive Foundations for Effective Thought and Action.”(Submitted to The Journal of General Education)

Sustainable Engineering Design at James MadisonUniversity.” Frontiers in Education (FIE) 2008 National Conference, Saratoga Springs, New York, October 2008

Pappas, Eric and Ronald Kander. “Sustainable Societies: The Sustainable Engineering Design Program at James Madison University. Proceedings of the 2008 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) National Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 2008.

Pappas, E. (2009) “Cognitive Processes Instruction in an Undergraduate Engineering Design Course Sequence.” Proceedings of the 2009 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference.

& Pierrakos O., R. Kander, E. Pappas, R. Prins, “An Innovative Engineering Curriculum at James Madison University: Transcending Disciplinary Boundaries through Innovative Problem-based Learning Practices.” ASME 2008 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, Boston, Mass., November 2008.

Prins, R., R. Kander, T. Moore, E. Pappas, O. Pierrakos, “Special Session – Engineering for a Sustainable World: How do We Incorporate Sustainability in Undergraduate Engineering Education?” The 38th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference, Saratoga Springs, New York. October 2008.

Prins R., O. Pierrakos, E. Pappas, R. Kander, “Work in Progress – A Freshman Engineering Course Designed to Convey the Essence of the Engineering Program at James Madison University.” The 38th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference, Saratoga Springs, New York, October 2008.

Pappas, Eric and Ronald G. Kander. Sustainable Societies: The Sustainable Engineering Design Program at James Madison University ASEE National Conference, Pittsburgh, June 21-25, 2008.

Pappas, Eric and Ronald G. Kander. Sustainable Engineering Design, Frontiers in Education National Conference, Saratoga Springs, October 22-25, 2008.

Pappas, Eric and Jesse Pappas. A Behavioral Approach to Building Cognitive Foundations for
Effective Thought and Action (submitted to The Journal of Higher Education)

Pappas, Eric. Teaching Thinking and Problem Solving in the University Curriculum: A Rationale. Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Southeastern Section Meeting, Auburn University, April 2004.

Pappas, Jesse and Eric Pappas. Creative Thinking, Creative Problem-Solving, and Inventive Design in the Engineering Curriculum: A Review. Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition.

Pappas, Eric. Creative Problem Solving in Engineering Design. Proceedings of the 2002 Southeastern Section American Society for Engineering Education.

Presentations:

Pappas, Eric, R. Kander, O. Pierrakos, and R. Prins. “Liberal Education in Engineering: Social Contexts Instruction in the Sustainable Societies Engineering Program at James Madison University.” American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) National Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania., June 2008.

Grants:

Principal Investigator: National Science Foundation (IEECI: Innovations in Engineering Education, Curriculum, and Infrastructure). Integrating Developmental Instruction in Sustainability Contexts into an Undergraduate Engineering Design Curriculum. Submitted March, 2009. Exploratory Proposal: $150,000. Co-PIs: Olga Pierrakos, Rob Prins, Bradley Striebig, Steven Harper. Accepted July 2009.

Co-PI: CCLI: Design and Implementation of an Innovative Problem-based Learning Model and Assessment Tools in Undergraduate Engineering Education. Principal Investigator: Olga Pierrakos. Exploratory Proposal: $150,000. In progress.