College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Materials Engineering Department
Advisor
Nicole Johnson-Glauch, College of Engineering, Materials Engineering Department; Joel Galos, College of Engineering, Materials Engineering Department
Funding Source
Jim and Mary Beaver
Acknowledgements
Mustang 60 Crew
Date
10-2025
Abstract/Summary
This SURP proposal is centered on the design and development of a Materials Marbles Game, an educational tool designed to introduce students to materials science and materials selection through tactile interaction and hands-on experimentation. The game will incorporate measurement of key material properties—such as mechanical, thermal, electrical, and mass density—using spherical marbles made from different materials. These measurements will then be used to construct a physical Material Property Chart (Ashby-Cebon plot) on a game board, fostering a hands-on, embodied understanding of how different materials behave. The game will also illustrate the thought process behind materials selection, a critical aspect of engineering design. The Materials Marbles Game is aimed at being adaptable for both classroom use and outreach initiatives, making it an effective tool for high school seniors, first-year engineering students, and public engagement events. This project will also develop corresponding teaching resources (guides and videos) to support instructors so that the game can be implemented in multiple Cal Poly courses and/or in local K-12 schools. To measure the game’s educational efficacy, we will develop methods to evaluate the impact of the game on students’ self-efficacy, interest in engineering, and design thinking. We will also create ways to illicit feedback from students and instructors in future courses that use the game. Both will form the basis for future educational studies.
October 1, 2025.
Included in
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/ceng_surp/161