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Session 3525

Revision of a Joint BME, ME, and EE/Comp. E Senior Engineering Design Seminar

Paul H. King, PhD, PE, Don Kinser, PhD, PE, Andrew Dozier, PhD, Joel Barnett, PhD

Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN 37235

Abstract

In the fall term of 2003 the design instructors in BME, ME, and the combined EE/Computer Engineering senior design classes at Vanderbilt University collaborated in offering of a common one credit hour design seminar. The intent of the course was to jointly sponsor relevant guest speakers, to demonstrate the commonality of certain design topics, and to assist in the development of multidisciplinary design teams for projects in the four departments. Student grades were based upon attendance (a 5% loss per missed class) and a single end of semester term paper on one of several presented topics.

We reported last year1 on the initial results from that course structure. Students did not join multidisciplinary teams in significant numbers (BME’s 64 students gained only 4 outside majors, in exchange for 2 working on other major teams, for example.) Students resented the use of a sign-in sheet, and often would sign in and leave prior to a lecture. An end of term special student survey was done to elicit advice regarding this year’s offering.

Major changes were instituted this year. Attendance was taken randomly using a sign-out sheet and attendance at some seminars was based upon in-class exercises. The initial class period involved an in-class design team exercise in which each team was comprised of two BMEs, one ME, and one EE or Comp. E student. This exercise was purposely intended to be a “mixer” to facilitate development of acquaintance of students with other majors. An integrated list of potential design projects was generated for all majors (rather than each instructor posting a listing to their class) and each project posted had suggested majors for the team to be formed. Non disciplinary homework exercises were generated for most lecture topics.

The effect of these changes and the ensuing student body feedback will be discussed in this paper.

“Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education”

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King, P., & Barnett, J., & Kinser, D., & Dozier, A. (2005, June), Revision Of A Joint Bme, Me, And Ee/Comp.E Senior Engineering Design Seminar Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--15137