2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Teaching Basic Concepts in Machine Learning to Engineering Students: A Hands-on Approach

Presented at Materials Division (MATS) Technical Session 1

According to a recent survey conducted by the Corporate Member Council of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), there exists a notable disparity in the skillset of engineering graduates in relation to Artificial Intelligence (AI). To address this, the Africa Centre of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education organized a machine learning (ML) workshop for engineering students from different disciplines. Seventy-three (73) students enrolled for the workshop and the modules covered during this workshop were: Introduction to ML Models, ML Frameworks, Additive Explanations in ML, Performance Metrics, and Introduction to Ensemble Learning Techniques. The hands-on session involved the use of categorical boosting, an ensemble learning technique, to predict the mechanical properties of perovskite materials. The survey results indicate that the learning modules are an effective introduction for novice engineering students in this domain and raise awareness of the importance of this important sub-section of AI.

Authors

Dr. David Olubiyi Obada Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria [biography]

David O. Obada holds a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, specializing in production/industrial engineering. His research interests include fracture mechanics, advanced materials, and condensed matter physics. Before joining the Atlantic Technological University, Ireland, David was a research fellow at the University of Ghana, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, India, and the University of Birmingham, UK. Also, David was a research and teaching fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, and holds a Kaufmann Teaching Certificate from MIT.
Mr. Simeon Akindele Abolade Atlantic Technological University, Ireland [biography]

Simeon Akindele Abolade is a PhD student at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Sligo, Ireland, and a member of the Mathematical Modelling and Intelligent Systems for Health and Environment (MISHE) research group. He holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Physics from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, and MSc in theoretical physics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He is currently on his PhD programme at ATU, Sligo, under the supervision of Dr Akinlolu Akande, Prof. Stefano Sanvito and Dr Fedwa El-Melouhi. His research interests include modeling novel materials for photovoltaics, photocatalytic, and thermoelectric applications using state-of-the-art computational tools based on Density Functional Theory and Machine Learning.
Mr. Shittu Babatunde Akinpelu Atlantic Technological University, Ireland [biography]

Shittu Babatunde Akinpelu is a Ph.D. student at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Ireland. He completed his bachelor's degree in physics at the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, Nigeria. While pursuing his master's degree in condensed matter physics in 2021, Babatunde gained valuable research experience as a research assistant at FUTA. In 2022, Babatunde joined the Modelling and Computation for Health and Society (MOCHAS) cohort at ATU, Ireland for his Ph.D. His current research focuses on material modeling using machine learning and soft computing, with a particular interest in discovering novel materials with unique properties that could be applied in the fields of energy and health.
Ayodeji Nathaniel Oyedeji Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria [biography]

Ayodeji Nathaniel Oyedeji is an advanced manufacturing and materials science researcher. With exceptional performances in both his B.Sc and M.Sc studies in Mechanical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, he is now pursuing a PhD in Industrial Engineering at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Alongside his scholarly pursuits, Ayodeji demonstrates a keen interest in engineering education. He has made significant contributions to his field through a prolific publication record and active participation in academic conferences. Possessing a diverse skill set, including strong communication abilities and analytical proficiency, Ayodeji is also an avid reader and enjoys nature. His trajectory reflects a commitment to continuous growth and making a meaningful impact within engineering and beyond.
Dr. Emmanuel Okafor http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6929-6880 King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia [biography]

Emmanuel Okafor holds a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Groningen, Netherlands, specializing in computer vision, machine learning, and reinforcement learning. His research interests include medical informatics, robotics, animal monitoring, and prediction of biomaterial properties. Before joining the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia, Emmanuel worked as a faculty member at the Department of Computer Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. Furthermore, Emmanuel was a research and teaching fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, and earned a distinction in the course: "An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching" coordinated by the Center for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning (CIRTL), 2022.
Ms. Cynthia Ujuh Odili Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria [biography]

Cynthia U. Odili is a Ph.D. student at the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU). She completed her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria and a master’s degree in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at ABU, Zaria. As a researcher, she is passionate about finding sustainable and climate-smart solutions to global water challenges. She has a keen interest in Engineering Education and she is also a student at the African Centre of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education (ACENPEE), ABU, Nigeria. Her research interests include optimization of process parameters, machine learning, bioremediation, biomaterials, environmental pollution, and water treatment.
Vanessa Faustina Ogenyi
Mr. Sokoga Victor Ategbe http://orcid.org/0009-0002-3198-3313 Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria [biography]

An undergraduate student at the Department of Chemical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Nigeria.
Prof. Adrian Oshioname Eberemu http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-4790-3333 Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria [biography]

Adrian Oshioname EBEREMU is a Professor of Geotechnical/Geoenvironmental Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. He has been an academic for more than 18 years, before which, he spent his earlier years practicing as a geotechnical and civil engineer in the industry in Nigeria. He is a product of the DSC Technical High School, the 90set where a good academic foundation was laid. He had his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO in 1997; MSc and PhD in 2003 and 2008, respectively from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

He has taught and examined students both at the undergraduate and post graduate levels in several Nigerian Universities such as University of Maiduguri, Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola, Kano State University of Technology, University of Agriculture Makurdi, Bayero University Kano, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka and Covenant University Ota, Federal University of Technology Minna, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Olusegun Agagu University of Science Technology Okitipupa and Universiti Technologi Malaysia.

His primary area of expertise are in geo-material site characterization, deep foundation, the beneficial reuse of waste materials in soil improvement, solutions to geo-environmental problems, waste containment barriers and covers, Biogeochemical Processes in Geotechnical Engineering (Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation) and unsaturated soils (collapsible soils) and lately engineering education. He has many published works in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and chapters as well as technical reports to his credit in the various research area.

He is currently the academic and research coordinator with the African Center of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education (ACENPEE), Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; a World Bank funded Development Impact project with the aim of scaling up post graduate education at the MSc/PhD levels through regional specialization and collaboration in the West African Sub-region.

Adrian is a registered Engineer with Council for Regulation of Engineering Practice in Nigeria (COREN), a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, a member of the American Society for Civil Engineers as well as the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMG).
Fatai Olukayode Anafi Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria [biography]

Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria Nigeria. His research interests are in Energy, Thermo-fluids, Engineering Education, Project and Operations Management. He has over 50 refereed publications to his credit, attended National and International Conferences and has 31 years teaching, research and administrative experience. He is the M & E officer of Africa Centre of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education (ACENPEE), a World Bank ACE Impact Project. He is a recipient of RMRDC Nigeria Research Grants, World Bank Science and Technology Education Post-Basic (STEP-B) and Africa Centre of Excellence Research Grants, among others.
Abdulkarim Salawu Ahmed Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
Dr. Akinlolu Akande Atlantic Technological University. Ireland [biography]

Dr. Akinlolu Akande is a computational material scientist and lecturer at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo, Ireland. He is a Principal Investigator in the Mathematical Modelling and Intelligent Systems for Health and Environment (MISHE) and Modelling Computation for Health And Society (MOCHAS) Research Groups at the ATU. He completed his PhD in Physics at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the same institution. During this time, he combined research in computational material sciences with teaching duties in undergraduate laboratories. He then served as an assistant lecturer at the Dundalk Institute of Technology in Dundalk, Ireland, before joining the Institute of Technology Sligo (now ATU Sligo). Akinlolu is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a recognition of his expertise in teaching and learning in higher education.

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