RALPH E

RALPH E. FLORI, JR.

ADDRESS: Department of Basic Engineering
G-4C Basic Engineering
1870 Miner Circle
University of Missouri--Rolla
Rolla, Missouri 65409-0210
Phone: (573) 341-4588
FAX: (573) 341-6593
reflori@umr.edu

BACKGROUND

Dr. Flori is a multidisciplinary engineer, a highly regarded teacher, and a multimedia software developer. Educated as a petroleum engineer, he has worked in the petroleum industry, has performed geological engineering-related work, and has worked in research and development of new materials such as ceramic superconducting filaments and bioresorbable composites. He teaches statics, dynamics, and mechanics of materials, and is working with other faculty to develop multimedia-based educational software with the aim of transforming how these subjects are taught and learned. He has also taught a freshman engineering design course. He has received Outstanding Teaching awards for each of his first six years at UMR.

EDUCATION

BS, Magna Cum Laude, Petroleum Engineering, University of Missouri--Rolla,1979
MS, Petroleum Engineering, University of Missouri--Rolla,1981
PhD, Petroleum Engineering, University of MO--Rolla, 1987

INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Research Engineer, MO-SCI Corporation, (1986-1990)

Dr. Flori's accomplishments included:

Demonstrated feasibility of generating superconducting fibers from molten material instead of from sintering methods. Innovated testing procedures for these fibers. Authored final report on this DOD-SBIR Phase I funded project. MO-SCI was awarded Phase II support based on this work.
Developed new bioresorbable glass compositions for glass fiber/thermoplastic composites to be used in reinforcing bone fractures. Innovated manufacturing and testing methods for these composites. Authored final report on this NIH-SBIR Phase I funded project. MO-SCI was awarded Phase II support based on this work.

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Associate Professor, Univ. of Missouri--Rolla, Dept. of Basic Engineering, 1996 - Present
Assistant Professor, Univ. of Missouri--Rolla, Dept. of Basic Engineering, 1990-1996
Lecturer, University of Missouri--Rolla, Dept. of Petroleum Engineering, 1981-1983
Exxon Teaching Fellow, August 1983 to December 1985

HONORS

A "Best Paper" award from ASEE Mechanics division, ASEE Annual Meeting, June 1994.
UMR Outstanding Teaching awards 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96
UMR Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award, October 1993. (First recipient)
Tau Beta Pi "Outstanding Engineering Professor" Award, from UMR TBP chapter, November 1996.
Invited, keynote speaker at the international conference: Hypermedia in Sheffield'95, England.
UMR Curriculum Task Force 1994 Innovation Award winner.
Honorable Mention, Ben Dasher Award committee, Frontiers in Education, Nov. 1994.
ASEE Centennial Certificate (for serving as chair of ASEE's New Engineering Educators)
Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Epsilon Tau, Exxon Teaching Fellow, Curators Scholar, Louis T. Sicka Scholar, Amoco Foundation Scholar
Eagle Scout, Scoutmaster Award of Merit, Scouters Key Award, Woodbadge Leaders Training.

TEACHING

Courses Taught: (Fall 1990 through Spring 1997)

Engineering Statics (BE 50): 10 times
Engineering Dynamics (BE 150): 23 times
Mechanics of Materials (BE 110): 5 times
Freshman Engineering Design and Computer Applications (EG 10): 1 time
Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Advisor (ME 261): 5 times

INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING PROGRAM, ADVISING AND RECRUITING

Starting in 1996, serve as course director for UMR's Introduction to Engineering Program
Each year I advise 10-30 freshman engineering students.
Freshman Orientation Advisor for incoming students (1991, 1992,1994,1995, 1996, 1997)
Occasionally meet with visiting prospective students and their parents.
Participate in on-campus open houses and in Rolla Night (held at Engineer's Club in St. Louis).
Serve on Campus and Career Development's "Academic Advisory Committee"
Participated in Chautauqua Short Course on Minority Engr. Programs, Los Angeles, April 1993.

BEST DYNAMICS

Dr. Flori's primary area of scholarship has been leading an effort in developing and evaluating BEST (Basic Engineering Software for Teaching) Dynamics. This project, initiated in July 1992, has already attracted both national and international interest.

John Wiley Publishers contracted to sell BEST Dynamics and to bundle it as an option with their Riley & Sturges Engineering Dynamics textbook.
A BEST paper and presentation was awarded a "best paper" award by ASEE's Mechanics Division and was reprinted in their division newsletter.
A paper describing it received "honorable mention" from the Ben Dasher award committee at the Nov. 1994 Frontiers in Education.
An invited keynote speaker for "Hypermedia in Sheffield'95" held in Sheffield, England, July 1995.
The BEST Dynamics project has been mentioned in a number of articles, including seven column inches in the Chronicle of Higher Education, March 10, 1995.

Funding: BEST Dynamics, supported for several years by the UM-Rolla campus, has also attracted off-campus funding.

$4670 Innovation Award (May 1994) from the UMR Curriculum Task Force for a proposal titled "A Learning-Enhancing Interface for BEST Dynamics"
$63,496 (plus an equal amount of UMR matching funds) (May 1995) from the University of Missouri Institute for Instructional Development, for a proposal titled "BEST: A Learning Environment for Engineering Dynamics."
$62,900 (plus an equal amount of UMR matching funds) (May 1996) from the University of Missouri Institute for Instructional Development, for a proposal titled "BEST: A Learning Environment for Engineering Dynamics."
$79,192 from the National Science Foundation (June 1996 through May 1997) for a proposal titled "A Learning Superstructure for BEST Dynamics."

OTHER SCHOLARSHIP

Applied Total Quality Management principles to the classroom.
Written proposals on developing a Technological Literacy class for non-engineers.
Book/Software Reviews

AUTHORSHIP

Hornsey, E. E. and Flori, R. E., "The Impact of the HP 48G Calculator on the Teaching of Statics," Proceedings of the ASEE 1996 Midwest Regional Meeting, Tulsa, OK, April 1996.

Flori, R. E., Koen, M. A. and Oglesby, D. B., "Basic Engineering Software for Teaching (BEST) Dynamics," Journal of Engineering Education, January 1996.

Flori, R. E., "Perspectives on the Development, Use and Evaluation of Educational Technology," accepted for publication in ASEE's Journal of Engineering Education.

Flori, R. E., "A Review of Selected Engineering Mechanics Educational Software Developed in the United States," Proceedings of HyperMedia in Sheffield'95, Sheffield, England, July 3-5, 1995. (This was an invited, keynote address).

Flori, R. E., "From Vaasa to Sheffield: A Progress Report on "BEST" Dynamics," Proceedings of HyperMedia in Sheffield'95, Sheffield, England, July 3-5, 1995.

Flori, R. E., Koen, M. A. and Oglesby, D. B., "Basic Engineering Software for Teaching (BEST) Dynamics," accepted for publication in ASEE's Journal of Engineering Education .

Flori, R. E., "Computer-Aided Instruction in Dynamics: Does it Improve Learning?," Proceedings of the 1994 Frontiers in Education Conference, San Jose, California, Nov 2-6, 1994.

Flori, R. E., Koen, M. A. and Oglesby, D. B., "Classroom Experiences with "BEST" Dynamics," Proceedings of the ASEE 1994 Annual Meeting, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, June 26-29, 1994.

Davis, R. L. and Flori, R. E., "Development of an Engineering Dynamics Class Using ToolBook," Proceedings of HyperMedia in Vaasa'93, Vaasa, Finland, May 23-27, 1993.

Flori, R. E.: Drilling Fluids and Cement Engineering Manual, University of Missouri--Rolla, 1982. This is a comprehensive text which includes theory and practice, and a set of new experiments based on current materials, additives, and testing methods.

PRESENTATIONS

"Learning Enhancements to BEST Dynamics Software," presented at the UMR Innovation and Design in the Curriculum Conference, Rolla, MO, April 10-11, 1995.

"Learning-Enhancing Updates to BEST Dynamics Software," presented at the ASEE Midwest Regional Meeting, Wichita, KS, March 30, 1995.

"Enhancing Student Learning of Mechanics with BEST Dynamics Software," presented at the Sixth Annual Technology Based Engineering Education Consortium (TBEEC) Conference, Gatlinburg, TN, November 19, 1994.

"Computer-Aided Instruction in Engineering Dynamics," presented at the ASEEMidwest Regional Meeting, Lincoln, NE, April 1, 1994.

"Results from the Use of TQM Principles in Undergraduate Engineering Mechanics Classes," 1993 Total Quality Symposium: Continuous Quality Improvement: Making the Transition to Education, Kansas City, MO, July 28-30.

"Joint Freshman Engineering and Counseling Program," with G. Van Matre (I substituted for D. R. Fannin), at the National Academic Advising Association Conference, Atlanta, GA, October 12-14, 1992. The paper was authored by D. R. Fannin, Debra Robinson, and G. Van Matre.

Flori, R. E.: "Applications of Total Quality Management to Engineering Education," paper presented at the ASEE Midwest Section Meeting held at Fayetteville, Arkansas, March 12-14, 1991.

Koen, J. B., Flori, R. E., and Ray, C. S.: "Fabrication and Evaluation of Monofilament Superconducting Fibers," paper presented at the WESTEC '90 Conference sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and ASM International, March 26-29, 1990, Los Angeles, California.

ASEE PARTICIPATION

National:

New Engineering Educators (NEE): Chair (1992-93), Program Chair (1991-92), session moderator at 1991,1992 annual meetings. Compiled informal NEE history.

Mechanics Division: Received a "Best Paper" award from the mechanics division for a paper presented at the 1994 annual meeting. Session moderator at 1993 annual meeting. Secretary (July 1995 to present), responsible for producing Mechanics Division quarterly newsletter.

ERM Division: Reviewed papers for 1994 annual meeting; Served as an evaluator for the Ben Dasher Award at the FIE'94 meeting. Presented a paper at FIE'94. Served as a liaison between ERM and NEE.

Midwest Section:

1991 Sectional: Presented a paper titled "Applications of Total Quality Management to Engineering Education".

1993 Sectional: Served on UMR planning committee; Co-organizer of session on Total Quality Management; Organized a breakfast session for new engineering educators.

1994 Sectional: Presented a paper on the use of "BEST Dynamics" software to teach engineering dynamics.

1995 Sectional: Presented a paper on learning-enhancing features newly added to "BEST Dynamics" software.

1996 Sectional: Presented a paper on the use of the HP 48 in teaching Engineering Statics.

ASEE Awards:

1993: ASEE Centennial Certificate for service as NEE chair.

1994: "Best Paper" award from Mechanics Division for paper presented at 1994 annual mtg.

1994: "Honorable mention" Ben Dasher paper award, Frontiers in Education, Nov. 1994.

OTHER SERVICE

Served as course director of an extension course titled "Authoring with ToolBook," offered primarily to faculty interested in developing instructional software using Asymetrix Corporation's ToolBook. The course was held January 5-7, 1994.
Prepared instructional exercises for the use of the HP 48 calculator in Statics and made these available to the Statics Instructors.
Conduct EIT Review Sessions on Statics and Dynamics. (Each fall and spring since spring 1993).

Community:

Founded Boy Scout Troop 3 and served as Scoutmaster for six years.
Active (1984-1991) in Boy Scout district level activities such as Scoutmaster training. Organized annual Scouter recognition dinner for 8 successive years.
Active in local church.