Living With The Lab
- 1. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science Living with the Lab Freshman Integrated Engineering Curriculum David Hall, Hisham Hegab, Jim Nelson For full paper see 2008 Frontiers in Education Proceedings Session S3G
- 2. Living with the Lab ¨C integrates engineering, mathematics, chemistry and physics in a systems-level, project-based curriculum. Projects incorporate design, fabrication, and troubleshooting to help students develop open-ended problem solving abilities and self-reliance.
- 3. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science fall winter spring Credits Course Course Credits Course Credits MATH 242 3 MATH 241 3 MATH 240 3 ENGR 120 2 ENGR 121 2 ENGR 122 2 PHYS 201 3 CHEM 100 2 CHEM 101 2 Classroom allows us to easily switch between lecture, lab and shop activities
- 4. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science Living with the Lab ? Each student owns their own ¡°lab¡± consisting of ¨C a laptop ¨C tools (multimeter, dial caliper, wire strippers, ¡) $80 ¨C software (Mathcad, SolidWorks, MS Office) ¨C a robot kit (Boe-Bot) to provide a personal ¡°lab¡± $100 ? Student-owned labs provide a way to boost hands-on learning beyond what is possible using traditional laboratories
- 5. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science Seven ¡°Threads¡± Define the Freshman Experience 1. SYSTEMS ¨C one major project per quarter 2. ELECTROMECHANICAL ¨C breadboarding, sensors, control 3. FABRICATION AND ACQUISITION ¨C shop activities; locate, specify and purchase components 4. SOFTWARE ¨C Excel, Mathcad, SolidWorks, Programming 5. FUNDAMENTALS - electricity and DC circuits - conservation of mass - conservation of energy - statics - basic chemistry and electrochemistry - engineering economics - least squares fitting to calibrate sensors 6. COMMUNICATION ¨C formatting problem solutions, oral presentations, writing assignments 7. BROADENING ACTIVITES - global and societal issues - professional society meetings and student functions - teamwork and creative problem solving techniques
- 6. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science ENGR 120 Project: Fabrication and Testing of Centrifugal Pump teams of 2 students, turning into groups of 4 for pump performance testing
- 7. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science Approximate cost per pump = $5 Two students can fabricate the pump in about 2 hours
- 8. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science ENGR 121 Project ¨C The Fishtank ? Closed loop control of temperature and salinity in a small tank ? Teams of 2 initially later turning into teams of 4
- 9. To see YouTube videos of ENGR 120, 121 and 122 classes in action, go to www.livignwiththe lab.com and click on ¡°photos and video¡±
- 10. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science No Textbook ¨C Course Materials are on Web
- 11. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science Course sections are coordinated with common assignments and exams Currently Teaching 433 students: ? 10 sections of ENGR 120 ? 2 sections of ENGR 121 ? 2 sections of ENGR 122
- 12. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science Student Notes Instructor Notes Several hundred pages of notes define the courses.
- 13. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science Student Homework Instructor Solutions
- 14. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science ? Strong analytical skills. ? Practical ingenuity, creativity; innovator. ? Good communication skills. ? Business, management skills. ? High ethical standards, professionalism. ? Dynamic/agile/resilient/flexible. ? Lifelong learner. ? Able to put problems in their socio- technical and operational context. ? Adaptive leader. AIM: Implement a project-intensive experience that develops the knowledge, skills, confidence and attitudes that lead to innovation.
- 15. Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science Acknowledgments ? NSF CCLI Grant No. 0618288 ? Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science