Abstract

1
Abstract
Design for the Community Client-Based Projects
for First-Year Engineering Students  

•  Abstract for a PowerPoint presentation made by
  L.E. Carlson and J.F. Sullivan at the1998
  National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators
  Alliance (NCIIA) National Conference,
  Washington, DC, March 13-15, 1998.
• The College of Engineering and Applied Science
  has recently inaugurated the Integrated Teaching
  and Learning (ITL) Laboratory, a 34,500 sq. ft.
  interdisciplinary learning environment intended
  to foster hands-on, team-oriented learning. Its
  curriculum-driven design accommodates a variety
  of learning styles and features two first-year
  design studios, an active-learning arena, a
  computer simulation laboratory, a computer
  network integrating all the experimental
  equipment throughout two large, open laboratory
  plazas, capstone design studios, group work areas
  and student shops.
•  A pedagogical cornerstone of the ITL Program is
  First-Year Engineering Projects, a course
  specifically designed to allow beginning
  engineering students to experience the
  design-build-test cycle that characterizes
  engineering design. Our experience has shown that
  students work harder and learn more when the
  products they produce meet the needs of
  real-world clients. The intent is for students to
  learn first-hand that engineering is about
  building things that benefit society. In addition
  to the benefits of project-based learning,
  interaction with external clients forces students
  to negotiate and articulate customer
  requirements.
• This presentation describes the learning goals
  for this course and provides details of
  client-based projects in three "community design"
  theme areas assistive technology, environmental
  design, and interactive learning exhibits for
  public schools and museums. Preliminary
  assessment results will be presented, including
  the impact of this course on retention of
  students studying engineering.

2
Client-Based Projectsfor First-Year Engineering
Students
Design for the Community

• Integrated Teaching and Learning Program
• College of Engineering Applied Science
• University of Colorado at Boulder

3
ITL Credo

• I hear I forget
• I see I remember
• I do I understand
• Confucius c. 500 B.C.

4
ITL Vision

• To pioneer a multidisciplinary learning
• environment that integrates
• engineering theory with practice
• and promotes creative, team-oriented
• problem-solving skills

5
ITL Concept Diagram
6
Changing Role of Students

• Partners in their education
• Hands-on experiences build confidence
• Passive recipients active learners
• Integrators of knowledge experience

7
The ITL Laboratory... Supporting the
Vision
First we shape our buildings, then our
buildings shape us. Winston Churchill
8
Give Them Tools...

• ...to build what they dream
• An environment and culture for learning
• Integrated hardware
• Software tools

He worked so slowly for the dullness of his
tools that he had not time to sharpen them.
Cormac McCarthy
9
ITL LaboratoryHands-On, Project-Based Learning

• Design studios
• Interdisciplinary laboratory plazas
• Fabrication facilities
• Manufacturing Center
• Electronics Center
• Team work areas
• Active learning center
• Computer simulation laboratory

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ITL LaboratoryHands-On, Project-Based Learning

• Design studios
• Interdisciplinary laboratory plazas
• Fabrication facilities
• Manufacturing Center
• Electronics Center
• Team work areas
• Active learning center
• Computer simulation laboratory

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ITL LaboratoryHands-On, Project-Based Learning

• Design studios
• Interdisciplinary laboratory plazas
• Fabrication facilities
• Manufacturing Center
• Electronics Center
• Team work areas
• Active learning center
• Computer simulation laboratory

12
ITL LaboratoryHands-On, Project-Based Learning

• Design studios
• Interdisciplinary laboratory plazas
• Fabrication facilities
• Manufacturing Center
• Electronics Center
• Team work areas
• Active learning center
• Computer simulation laboratory

13
ITL LaboratoryHands-On, Project-Based Learning

• Design studios
• Interdisciplinary laboratory plazas
• Fabrication facilities
• Manufacturing Center
• Electronics Center
• Team work areas
• Active learning center
• Computer simulation laboratory

14
ITL LaboratoryHands-On, Project-Based Learning

• Design studios
• Interdisciplinary laboratory plazas
• Fabrication facilities
• Manufacturing Center
• Electronics Center
• Team work areas
• Active learning center
• Computer simulation laboratory

15
First-Year Engineering Projects
A hands-on, team-oriented introduction to
engineering via interdisciplinary design-build
projects
16
First-Year Course Objectives

• Introduction to engineering as a career
• Open-ended, hands-on design experiences
• Interdisciplinary teamwork
• Communication skills (oral, written, team,
  client)
• Journaling experience
• Introduction to engineering methodology
• Mentoring by upperclass TAs

17
Design for the Community

• Engineering is about building things that
  benefit society
• Products that serve real-world clients
• Students...
• Work harder
• Learn valuable customer skills
• Experience tremendous satisfaction

18
Community Design Themes

• Green design
• Emphasis on the environment
• Assistive technology
• Using technology to help those with disabilities
• Interactive learning exhibits
• K-12 schools
• Youth museums

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Community Design Themes

• Green design
• Emphasis on the environment
• Assistive technology
• Using technology to help those with disabilities
• Interactive learning exhibits
• K-12 schools
• Youth museums

20
Community Design Themes

• Green design
• Emphasis on the environment
• Assistive technology
• Using technology to help those with disabilities
• Interactive learning exhibits
• K-12 schools
• Youth museums

21
Continuous Improvement Model

• Entry/exit surveys
• Group consensus interviews
• Provides sense of engineering - 100 agreed
• Would recommend this course - 91 agreed
• Iterative learning process was beneficial -
  100
• Student evaluation
• Course average B
• Instructor average A-
• End-of-term post-mortem

22
Retention

• 78 of students who took the course were still
  studying engineering in their third year
• vs.
• 55 College average

23
Design for the Community

• Breaks down barriers and impacts
• College students who are aspiring engineers
• Individuals in the community with needs
• Society at large

24
Integrated Teaching and Learning

• College of Engineering Applied Science
• University of Colorado at Boulder
• Jackie Sullivan, Co-Director
• Larry Carlson, Co-Director
• web site http//itll.colorado.edu
• Thank you.