MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SZAB CAMPUS

KHAIRPUR MIR’S
3 SEMESTER 2ND YEAR
RD

LAB 16 OPEN EDED LAB

NAME: SARFRAZ AND KHUDA BAKHSH

ROLL NUMBER: K23ES021 AND K-23ES031
SUBJECT : COMPUTER AIDED ENGINEERING DESIGN (CAED)

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 MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SZAB CAMPUS
KHAIRPUR MIR’S
3 SEMESTER 2ND YEAR
RD

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………….

2. TYPES OF FLOWCHARTS……………………………………………..

3. BENEFITS…………………………………………………………………….

4. STEPS INVOLVED…………………………………………………………

5. CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………

1. INTRODUCTION:
Educational flowcharts are essential tools that facilitate the visualization of

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 MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SZAB CAMPUS
KHAIRPUR MIR’S
3 SEMESTER 2ND YEAR
RD

processes, concepts, and workflows in an educational context. Utilizing

Microsoft Visio to create these flowcharts enhances their efficacy due to the
software's robust features and user-friendly interface. Flowcharts serve
multiple educational purposes, including simplifying complex information,
aiding in problem-solving, and promoting critical thinking among students. By
representing sequential steps visually, flowcharts help learners understand
relationships between different components of a topic, making them
particularly useful in subjects such as mathematics, science, and project
management. Microsoft Visio is precisely designed for creating a variety of
diagrams, including flowcharts. It offers a wide range of shapes and
templates that cater to different educational needs. Users can easily drag
and drop shapes onto the canvas, connect them with arrows to indicate the
flow of information, and add descriptive text to clarify each step. This
intuitive process allows educators and students alike to create professional-
looking diagrams rapidly. The software also supports collaboration, enabling
multiple users to work on a flowchart simultaneously. This feature is
particularly beneficial for group projects or classroom activities where
teamwork is essential. Additionally, Visio allows for easy export of completed
flowcharts in various formats, making it simple to share or integrate them
into presentations and reports. In summary, educational flowcharts created in
Microsoft Visio are powerful visual aids that enhance learning by breaking
down complex processes into understandable segments. The combination of
Visio's advanced features with the pedagogical benefits of flowcharts makes
this tool invaluable in educational settings.

2. TYPE OF FLOWCARTS

(i) PROCESS FLOWCHARTS:

A Process Flowchart is one of the
most versatile types, illustrating the steps of a process in a sequential
manner. It typically uses standard symbols such as rectangles for processes,
diamonds for decisions, and ovals for start and end points. This type is
beneficial for documenting workflows in various fields, including
manufacturing, business operations, and software development. It helps
users understand how tasks are completed and can identify inefficiencies or
bottlenecks in the process

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 MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SZAB CAMPUS
KHAIRPUR MIR’S
3 SEMESTER 2ND YEAR
RD

ii) Decision Flowchart

A Decision Flowchart focuses on

the decision-making process within
workflows. It outlines various paths
based on specific conditions or
criteria, helping teams evaluate
different outcomes based on their
choices. This type is valuable in
strategic planning and operational
decision-making.

iii) Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

Data Flow Diagrams focus on how data moves through a system rather
than detailing the steps of a process. They depict data sources, processes,
storage points, and destinations using bubbles (for processes) and arrows

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 MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SZAB CAMPUS
KHAIRPUR MIR’S
3 SEMESTER 2ND YEAR
RD

(for data flow). DFDs are commonly used in software engineering to illustrate
how user inputs are processed and transformed into outputs, providing a
clear picture of data handling within systems

Flowcharts have become increasingly popular in educational settings due to

their ability to visually represent complex information and processes. They
offer numerous benefits that enhance learning and teaching experiences
across various subjects. Here’s a detailed exploration of the advantages of
using flowcharts in education:

a) Simplification of Complex Concepts

Flowcharts break down intricate processes into manageable steps, making it

easier for students to understand complex ideas. By visually mapping out
the relationships between different components, flowcharts help learners
grasp sequences, connections, and decision points more clearly. This
simplification is particularly beneficial in subjects like mathematics, science,
and history, where processes can be convoluted and difficult to follow

b) Enhanced Retention and Recall

Visual aids, such as flowcharts, significantly improve memory retention.

Research indicates that learners often remember information better when it
is presented visually rather than textually. Flowcharts facilitate this by
combining images with text, allowing students to recall details more

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 MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SZAB CAMPUS
KHAIRPUR MIR’S
3 SEMESTER 2ND YEAR
RD

effectively over time. This is especially useful for visual learners who benefit
from graphical representations of information
.

c) Promotion of Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Skills

Flowcharts encourage analytical thinking by allowing students to

systematically evaluate options and outcomes when faced with complex
problems. By breaking down a problem into smaller components, students
can analyze each step's implications and make informed decisions based on
logical reasoning. This structured approach fosters critical thinking skills that
are applicable in both academic and real-life scenarios
.

d) Support for Diverse Learning Styles

Flowcharts cater to various learning styles, including visual, auditory, and

kinesthetic learners. They provide a flexible medium that can be adapted to
meet the needs of different students. For instance, visual learners benefit
from the graphical representation, while auditory learners can enhance their
understanding through discussions about the flowchart's content. This
inclusivity promotes collaboration among students with varied learning
preferences
.

e) Facilitation of Collaborative Learning

Creating flowcharts can be a collaborative activity that encourages

teamwork among students. When working together to develop a flowchart,
students engage in discussions that enhance their understanding of the
material. This collaborative process not only improves comprehension but
also fosters social skills and communication abilities as students share ideas
and perspectives
.

f) Effective Study Tools

Flowcharts serve as excellent study aids by summarizing information in a

visually appealing format. Students can use them to review key concepts
before exams or to clarify their understanding of difficult topics. The visual
nature of flowcharts makes it easier for students to identify important
relationships and sequences, thus improving their overall study efficiency.

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 MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SZAB CAMPUS
KHAIRPUR MIR’S
3 SEMESTER 2ND YEAR
RD

g) Versatility Across Subjects

Flowcharts are versatile tools that can be applied across various subjects and
disciplines. Whether used in mathematics to illustrate problem-solving steps,
in science to depict experimental procedures, or in history to outline
significant events, flowcharts adapt well to different educational contexts.
This versatility makes them valuable resources for educators looking to
enhance their teaching strategies.

h) Encouragement of Active Learning

The process of creating flowcharts requires active engagement from

students as they analyze information and organize it logically. This active
learning approach helps deepen understanding and encourages students to
take ownership of their learning process. By constructing their own
flowcharts, students internalize knowledge more effectively compared to
passive learning methods.
i) Visualization of Cause-and-Effect Relationships
Flowcharts effectively illustrate cause-and-effect relationships within a
subject matter, helping students understand how different elements interact
with one another. This is particularly useful in scientific studies where
understanding these relationships is crucial for grasping concepts like
ecosystems or chemical reactions

3. CREATING FLOWCHARTS IN MS VISIO

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 MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SZAB CAMPUS
KHAIRPUR MIR’S
3 SEMESTER 2ND YEAR
RD

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE.

● Step 1: Microsoft Visio Home Page

Once you open Microsoft Visio, you will be directed to its home page
where you can see different templates for various types of flowcharts
or diagrams. There is also a blank option if you prefer to design your
own but for beginners choosing a pre-designed template would be
best. Let’s say you’re making a Cross-Functional Flowchart, click that
option and select between the suggested styles available then click
“Create.”

● Step 2: Flowchart Details

For this particular flowchart template design, there are designated

areas like the title and functions. Double-click on each area to edit or
insert the data based on the topic you’re making. You can add as
many functions as necessary.

● Step 3: Flowchart Design

The best part of choosing a pre-designed template is it gives you

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MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SZAB CAMPUS
KHAIRPUR MIR’S
3 SEMESTER 2ND YEAR
RD

access to shapes and tools you can use to customize how your
flowchart would look like. Otherwise, you would have to search for
shapes and arrows which would take time for a beginner, however,
it’s not relatively difficult since Microsoft Visio is user-friendly. On the
other hand, choose the desired shape on the left panel and drag it
toward the row of the appropriate function.
● Step 4: Flowchart Layout

Drag another shape from the left panel to a particular lane or row
and then an arrow to connect it to the previous shape. Next, insert
the information needed by double-clicking a shape then type them
in. Repeat these processes until you’ve mapped out your whole
flowchart.