Interactive learning experience in mechanics of materials: the ’SIMMIT’ project

Abstract

This communication presents a methodology and tools that take advantage of research projects developments in the field of mechanics of materials for education outreach. Such new learning experience should meets the requirements of efficient interactive learning : ease of use, hands-on oriented, interactive exposure to theoretical concepts. It also has to be linked to state-of-the art scientific and industrial design numerical tools. Based on the new generations students audience expectations, an interactive method has been developed to facilitate the exposure of student to theoretical concepts and hands-on experience. Interactive learning notebooks are utilized, combined with high-efficiency scientific libraries wrapped in the widely-utilized Python language. Such methodology thus allows to easily link the theoretical concepts to industrial softwares and numerical tools, through their Python language scripting interfaces.