Research and Development

The LEAP Group applies engineering design and systems principles to solving challenges in learning and develops technology, experiences, and content to better address the educational needs of MIT’s Mechanical department, nation, and world. Research and development is broadly categorized into three areas (i) mixed reality, multi-sensory, and interactive digital experiences, (ii) innovative pedagogy, and (iii) online learning experiences and tools. Ultimately, we are applying learning engineering to the learning of engineering!

Publications and Reports

Higgason, E., Enns, G., Wight, J., Welsh, E., Hart, A.J., Liu, J., Physically Contextualized Machining Instructions through Augmented Reality. 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings.  [pdf]

Ovitigala, N., Comeau, B., Welsh, E., Fang, N., and Liu, J. Low-Cost Haptics and Visualization to Learn the Atomic Force Microscope Force-Distance Curve. 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings. [pdf]

Ngo, M., Welsh, E., Studer, K., Comeau, B., Fang, N., and Liu, J., Opening Up the Black Box: an Augmented Reality Look into the Scanning Electron Microscope. 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings. [pdf]

Killada, L., Bonvillian, W., Liu, J., Westerman, G., Rayyan, S., Nelson, S. (2022) Benchmarking Advanced Manufacturing Education: Perspectives from Community Colleges and Employers. MIT Open Learning. [site] [pdf]

Welsh, E., Li, D., Hart, A. J., & Liu, J. (2021, July). Scaling Hands-On Learning Principles in Manufacturing through Augmented Reality Disassembly and Inspection of a Consumer Product. 2021 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings. [site] [pdf]

*ASEE ’21 Professional Interest Council II Best Paper Award and ASEE ’21 Manufacturing Division Best Paper Award

Hart, A. J., Wendell, D., Liu, J., Lewandowski, J., Funes-Lora, M., & Shih, A. J. (2021). Teaching Manufacturing Processes Using a Flipped Classroom Model. Procedia Manufacturing, 53, 773-781. [site] [pdf]

Westerman, G., Bonvillian, W., Clochard-Bossuet, A., Killada, L. A., Liu, J., Nelson, S., MassBridge: Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Education Program – Benchmarking Study Phase One Report. MIT Open Learning. (2021) [site] [pdf]

Liu, J., Shvonski, A.J., MacDonagh, A., French, J., Kessler, A., Using the ICAP Framework to Map Student Opportunities for Engagement in Massively Open Online Courses. EARLI Sig 6 – 7 Meeting. (2020). [site] [pdf]

Liu, B., Zhang, A., Liu, J., Han, Z., & Xie, T. (2018). Design and evaluation of a novel rotatable one-element snake bone for NOTES. Journal of Medical Devices, 12(2). [site] [pdf]

Zhang, A., Liu, B., Liu, J., & Xie, T. (2017, April). Design of a Rotatable One-Element Snake Bone for NOTES. In Frontiers in Biomedical Devices (Vol. 40672, p. V001T08A014). American Society of Mechanical Engineers. [site] [pdf]

Liu, J., Hogan, N.C., & Hunter, I.W. “Ampoule and nozzle development for needle-free injections.” 2017 39th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC). IEEE, 2017. [site] [pdf]

Liu, J., Hogan, N.C., & Hunter, I.W. (2012, August). Intradermal needle-free powdered drug injection by a helium-powered device. In 2012 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (pp. 2068-2071). IEEE. [site] [pdf]

Liu, J., Chen, Y., Taylor, C. R., Scherer, A., & Kartalov, E. P. (2009). Elastomeric microfluidic diode and rectifier work with Newtonian fluids. Journal of applied physics, 106(11), 114311. [site] [pdf]

Recent Talks and Workshops

Augmented Reality Manufacturing Education

Talk at National Machining and Tooling Association (NMTA) Manufacturing Career Summit, May 2021.

Lessons on Remote Instruction in the Age of COVID

Talk at the University of Ibadan, College of Medicine, April 2021.

Scaling Engineering Education and Training

Talk at PTC Edu Tech Webinars, March 2021.

Manufacturing Workforce Training at Scale

Talk at MIT Center for Additive and Digital Advanced Production Technologies members meeting, January 2021.

Manufacturing Workers

Panel talk at J-WEL Connections, October, 2020.

Perspectives from around MIT: Digital Learning

Panel talk at J-WEL Higher Education Workshop, July 2020.

Explain Everything Digital Whiteboarding and Tablet Style Video Creation

TLL Workshop, July 2020.

Tips from Teachers on Moving Laboratory Experiences Online

Webinar at J-WEL, May 2020.

Grants

2.005.1x Thermal-Fluids

Prof. Pierre Lermusiaux, Dr. John Liu, Dr. Rachel Mok. MITx Modules Grant. Awarded June 2021.

Development of the CrowdLearn Tool v3

Prof. Rohit Karnik, Dr. John Liu, Dr. Karene Chu, Dr. Jen French, Meghan Perdue, and Dr. Jessica Sandland. MITx Express Explorations Grant. Awarded June 2021.

Augmented Reality Instruction for Hands-on Manufacturing Skills

Dr. John Liu and Prof. John Hart. J-WEL Workforce Learning Innovation Research Grant. Awarded June 2020.

Learning Nanotechnology through Multi-modal Experiences

Prof. Nick Fang and Dr. John Liu. Alumni Class Funds. Awarded May 2020.

2.25x Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Prof. Gareth McKinley, Dr. John Liu, Dr. Bavand Keshavarz. MITx Modules Grant. Awarded May 2020.

Augmented Reality Instruction for Hands-on Manufacturing Skills

Dr. John Liu, Prof. John Hart. d’Arbeloff Fund for Excellence in Education. Awarded December 2019.

Development of the ‘CrowdLearn’ Tool

Prof. Rohit Karnik, Dr. John Liu, Dr. Karene Chu, Dr. Jen French, Meghan Perdue, and Dr. Jessica Sandland. MITx Express Explorations Grant. Awarded December 2019

Augmented Reality Instruction for Manufacturing Analysis

Dr. John Liu and Prof. John Hart. J-WEL Grant in Higher Education Innovation. Awarded December 2019

3D Visual Media in 2.008r/x

Prof. John Hart and Dr. John Liu. MITx Express Explorations Grant. Awarded May 2019.

2.008x Fundamentals of Manufacturing Processes

Prof. John Hart and Dr. John Liu. MITx Modules Grant. Awarded May 2019.