Research

Overall Research Goal

My research focus is primarily within modeling and simulation within educational contexts. I aim to understand how students develop skills such as programming knowledge, computational thinking, and data science skills during the undergraduate years. To reach out with any questions, feel free to contact me at joseph.lyon@nd.edu. 

Research Awards

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2019-2022)

Certificate of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Research Award (2019)

Winner of Engineering 2169 Competition: How will we communicate? (2019)

Charles C. Chappelle Fellowship (2017-2018)

Journal Articles

Magana, A. J., Arigye, J., Udosen, A., Lyon, J. A., Joshi, P., Pienaar, E. (2024) Scaffolded team-based computational modeling and simulation projects for promoting representational competence and regulatory skills. International Journal of STEM Education, 11(34). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-024-00494-3 

Arigye, J., Lyon, J. A., Magana, A. J., Pienaar, E. (2024). The Reflective Modeling Practitioner: Promoting Self-regulation and Self-confidence in Computational Modeling and Simulation Practices. International Journal of Engineering Education, 40(1). 

Lyon, J. A., Magana, A. J., Streveler, R. A. (2022). Characterizing Computational Thinking in the Context of Model-Planning Activities. Modelling.  http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/modelling3030022

Gutierrez, R. R., Escusa, F., Lyon, J. A., Magana, A. J., Cabrera, J. H., Pehovaz, R., Link, O., Rivillas-Ospina, G., Acuña, G. J., Kuroiwa, J. M., Guzman, M. X., and Latosinski, F. G. (2022). Combining hands-on and virtual experiments for enhancing fluid mechanics teaching: A design-based research study. Computer Applications in Engineering Education, 1– 24. https://doi.org/10.1002/cae.22551

Jaiswal, A., Magana, A. J., Lyon, J. A., Gundlach, E., & Ward, M. D. (2021). Student Experiences within a Data Science Learning Community: A Communities of Practice Perspective. Learning Communities Research and Practice, 9(1), 2.

Jaiswal, A., Lyon, J. A., Zhang, Y., Magana A. J. (2021). Supporting student reflective practices through modeling-based learning. European Journal of Engineering Education. 

Lyon, J. A., & Magana, A. J. (2021). The use of engineering model-building activities to elicit computational thinking: A design-based research study. Journal of Engineering Education, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.20372

Lyon, J. A., & Magana, A. J. (2020). Computational thinking in higher education: A review of the literature. Computer Applications in Engineering Education, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/cae.22295

Lyon, J. A., Fennell, H. W., & Magana, A. J. (2020). Characterizing students’ arguments and explanations of a discipline‐based computational modeling activity. Computer Applications in Engineering Education, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/cae.22256

Lyon, J. A., & Magana, A. J. (2020). A Review of Mathematical Modeling in Engineering Education *. International Journal of Engineering Education, 36(1), 101–116.

Fennell, H. W., Lyon, J. A., Madamanchi, A., & Magana, A. J. (2020). Toward computational apprenticeship: Bringing a constructivist agenda to computational pedagogy. Journal of Engineering Education, February, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.20316

Gao, J., Lyon, J. A., Szeto, D. P., & Chen, J. (2012). In vivo imaging and quantitative analysis of 

zebrafish embryos by digital holographic microscopy. Biomedical optics express, 3(10), 2623-2635.

Book Chapters

Lyon, J. A. (2023). Designing for Capstone Courses. In Teaching and Learning in STEM With Computation, Modeling, and Simulation Practices: A Guide for Practitioners and Researchers. Ed. Alejandra Magana. Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, IN. 

Conference Papers

 *Presenting Author

Lyon, J. A.* (2024). Building on the First-Year Engineering programming experience: Understanding the motivation and self-efficacy of students in a follow-on programming course. Paper presented at 2024 Annual First-Year Engineering Experience Conference (FYEE), Boston, MA. 

Tonner, T.*, Lyon, J. A. (2024). The use of food in the classroom to increase performance of students in an engineering technology course. Paper presented at 2024 ASEE IL-IN Section Conference, Chicago, IL. 

Tonner, T.*, Lyon, J. A. (2024). Analyzing student perceptions of various pedagogical strategies in a first-year engineering technology classroom. Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, OR. 

Lyon, J. A.*, Linnes, J. C. (2023). A systematic review of pedagogical tools, motivations, and participation strategies for high-achieving engineering and STEM students. Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore, MD.

Lyon, J. A.*, Brophy, S. P., Linnes, J. C., Whalen, T., Okos, M. (2023). WIP: Designing disciplinary projects in an honors first-year engineering course to improve retention and participation of first-year students. Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore, MD.

Arigye, J.*, Magana, A. J., Lyon, J. A., Pieneer, E. (2023). Biomedical and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Students Programming Self-Beliefs and Changes Resulting from Computational Pedagogy. Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore, MD.  

Lyon, J. A.*, Jaiswal, A., Magana A. J., Gundlach, E., Ward, M. D. (2021). Student challenges, strategies, and learning within a Data Mine Learning Community. Paper presented at Proceedings of the 50th IEEE-ERM Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE). Lincoln, NE. 

Jaiswal, A.*, Lyon, J. A.¸ Perera, V., Magana, A. J., Gundlach, E., Ward, M. D. (2021). Work-in-Progress: Evaluating Student Experiences in a Residential Learning Community: A Situated Learning Perspective. Paper presented at 2021 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Long Beach, CA. 

Lyon, J. A.*, Jaiswal, A., Magana, A. J. (2020). The use of MATLAB Live as a technology-enabled learning environment for computational modeling activities within a capstone engineering course. Paper presented at 2020 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Montreal, Canada. 

Fennell, H. W.*, Lyon, J. A., Magana, A.J., Rebello, S., Rebello, C., & Piedrahita, Y. (2019). Designing hybrid physics labs: combining simulation and experiment for teaching computational thinking in first-year engineering. In Proceedings of the 49th IEEE-ERM Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE). Cincinnatti, OH.

Lyon, J. A*., Magana A. J., & Okos, M. R. (2019). WIP: Designing modeling-based learning experiences within a capstone engineering course. Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Tampa Bay, Florida.  

Workshops, Presentations, and Invited Talks

Lyon, J. A., Magana, A. J. (2023, April). The interplay between computational thinking and model-based reasoning as promoted by model-eliciting activities. X-DBER Annual Conference (Virtual), University of Nebraska. 

Lyon, J. A., Magana, A. J. (2019, May). The use of engineering model building activities to elicit computational thinking. The Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Spring Reception 2019, West Lafayette, Indiana. 

Lyon, J. A., Magana, A. J.* (2019, October). The use of engineering model building activities to elicit computational thinking. Cyberlearning 2019: Exploring Contradictions in Achieving Equitable Futures, Alexandria, Virginia. 

Magana, A. J., Fennell, H. W., Madamanchi, A., Lyon, J. A. (2019, April). Scaffolding the modeling and simulation process for novice learners. Faculty Development Workshop, West Lafayette, Indiana.