When we think of college or graduate school, most of us picture large lecture halls with a professor standing at the helm doing just that — lecturing. We might also picture one or two students nodding off. Rajesh Bhaskaran, Swanson Teaching Professor of Engineering Simulation at Cornell University, was familiar with this scene and wanted to shake things up by flipping his classroom format. Taking an unconventional approach, Bhaskaran has students complete lectures outside of class and homework during class.
Instead of using class for lectures, students learn foundational concepts on their own time through interactive online modules and then apply that knowledge in class through collaboration and problem solving.
Bhaskaran says he incorporates simulation into his student-centered teaching methods to bridge the gap between abstract engineering theories and real-world industry applications. By using simulation and visualization, he hopes to spark students’ curiosity and empower them to confidently solve complex, practical problems.
With support from Ansys, part of Synopsys, and the Ansys Academic Program, Bhaskaran integrates finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation into guest lectures for undergraduate and graduate classes as well as his own undergraduate course titled, Hands-on Engineering Simulations and Design. He also integrates the software into two new free eCornell courses, Fluid Dynamics Simulations Using Ansys and Finite Element Analysis.
With his flipped-classroom approach, Bhaskaran aims to increase student excitement and intrinsic motivation, encouraging active engagement that connects classroom concepts with authentic engineering challenges.
Rajesh Bhaskaran, Swanson Teaching Professor of Engineering Simulation at Cornell University
Lock in Student Attention
Driven by active learning, Bhaskaran’s flipped-classroom model reimagines the role of the professor from teaching to mentoring. Students learn foundational concepts before class through short, interactive online modules that include carefully structured videos — typically no longer than 10 minutes — to hold students’ attention.
The videos include questions to check student understanding, encouraging critical thinking and engagement. Also, the lectures are transcribed. Students can easily search through transcripts to find concepts they need to revisit — unlike traditional classroom lectures that rely on student notation, which can’t be searched and may be incomplete.
During class, students apply what they’ve learned at home, working through engineering challenges while Bhaskaran and his teaching assistants circulate the classroom, answering questions and providing guidance.
So far, feedback has been favorable. One student shared the following message with Bhaskaran:
“I want to thank you for teaching this course. Having gone through four years of project team structural analysis and two internships flying blind in Ansys [software], this course was not only fun, but extremely useful for me. I can’t wait to approach my internship this summer with some more confidence to apply my structural FEA skills.”
In Bhaskaran’s flipped-classroom format, students complete lectures outside of class through online learning modules then use class time for homework and hands-on application.
Simulate Real-Life Engineering Challenges
Simulation is a core component of Bhaskaran’s teaching. He believes that through practical application, students build confidence in their simulation skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the material through visualization.
In one instance, students studying heat transfer were able to view a fully visualized 3D model in Ansys software, transforming an abstract mathematical exercise into something tangible.
“Simulation is a disruptive technology,” says Bhaskaran. “It is, of course, in industry, which is why Ansys is licensed by so many companies, but it's also a disruptive technology in education and online learning, too.”
Simulation also unlocks more possibilities for design exploration, he says.
Ansys Mechanical structural finite element analysis software offers thermal analysis, materials modeling, and structural optimization.
Ansys Fluent fluid simulation software offers computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses which help predict fluid flow and heat transfer.
“I think one thing engineering really struggles with is there’s a lot of heavy theory and then there’s design,” he says. “And the two are kind of very disconnected. But because simulation sits between computer-aided design (CAD) and the application, it’s natural that once you learn how to do the basic simulations, you can extend it to analyzing designs and exploring the design space.”
Bhaskaran’s students most frequently use Ansys Mechanical structural finite element analysis software and Ansys Fluent fluid simulation software to solve engineering problems similar to those encountered in industry.
For example, students may use mechanical design software to perform structural analyses of wind turbine blades and Fluent to simulate airflow and aerodynamics. Additional projects introduce students to topics involving heat transfer, pressure vessels, and aerodynamics through hands-on applications, such as bike frame design.
Bhaskaran’s students use Ansys simulation to perform structural and fluid analyses in real-world engineering applications, such as bike frame design.
Equip Students with Industry-Ready Skills
Bhaskaran supports simulation education for aspiring engineers because “industry is looking to do more and more with simulation,” he says, adding that industry leaders on the advisory committee for his program — the Swanson Engineering Simulation Program —already encourage simulation integration earlier in the curriculum.
Many Cornell students are introduced to simulation as sophomores, while others begin even earlier through project teams, most notably Formula SAE Cornell Racing, Baja Racing at Cornell, the Cornell Rocketry Team, and Cornell Electric Vehicles.
Industry leaders on the advisory committee for Cornell University’s Swanson Engineering Simulation Program encourage early simulation integration in the curriculum.
The 2024 Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute Talent Study found a 75% increase in the demand for simulation and related skills based on job posting data from the previous five years.
But it’s more than just introducing students to the software. Bhaskaran emphasizes the importance of learning how to build, evaluate, and interpret simulations correctly, so students graduate with a deeper understanding of engineering fundamentals and greater confidence using industry-standard tools.
His goal is to teach students how to apply the tools in real-life engineering workflows, which, he says, involve defining a problem, developing a mathematical model, selecting a solution strategy, implementing the model in Ansys software, and verifying and validating results.
“It's being able to use the tools effectively,” he says. “Ansys [software] is not a tool where just knowing which buttons to press is what resonates with students.”
As the earlier student testimonial revealed, many students are no longer “flying blind” using the software thanks to Bhaskaran. Students gain practical experience, stronger problem-solving skills, and an understanding of how simulation is used to overcome engineering challenges in industry.
Get Your Students Excited About Engineering Today
With intrinsic motivation, active learning, and a flipped-classroom model, Bhaskaran gets students excited about engineering and simulation.
By integrating Ansys simulation and visualization tools, he aims to make engineering coursework more engaging and practical while bridging the gap between theory and application, ultimately preparing students for industry.
Ansys is dedicated to supporting the affordability and accessibility of simulation tools in academia to equip tomorrow’s engineers.
To learn more about Ansys’ support for students, educators, and researchers, visit the Ansys Academic site.
Bhaskaran uses simulation to connect theory to application.
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