Implementation and Impact of a First-Year Project-Based Learning Course
- Conference
- Location
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New Orleans, Louisiana
- Publication Date
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June 26, 2016
- Start Date
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June 26, 2016
- End Date
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June 29, 2016
- ISBN
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978-0-692-68565-5
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
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First-Year Programs Division Technical Session 7: Experiential Learning
- Tagged Division
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First-Year Programs
- Page Count
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10
- DOI
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10.18260/p.25566
- Permanent URL
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https://strategy.asee.org/25566
- Download Count
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510
Paper Authors
Liang Li Wu University of California - Irvine
Liang Li Wu is the Director of Academic Innovation, Programs at the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine. She is responsible for implementing, overseeing and assessing the first-year engineering program and international programs to enhance and support the engineering education at the School of Engineering.
She received her Ph.D. degree in Material Science and Engineering from the University of California, Irvine with primary research focuses on the design, development and integration of microfluidic systems for biomedical applications.
Robert M. Cassidy University of California - Irvine
J Michael McCarthy University of California - Irvine
J. Michael McCarthy is the Director of UCI’s Performance Engineering Program, having completed a eight year term as the Henry Samueli Professor and Director of the Center for Engineering Science in Design at the University of California, Irvine, which supports the design and execution of team engineering projects across the School of Engineering.
His contributions in teaching were recognized by a 2010 UCI Teaching Excellence in Undergraduate Engineering Award and the Henry Samueli School of Engineering’s 2009 Faribor Maseeh Teaching Award. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and has received the 2008 ASME Outstanding Service Award and the 2009 ASME Machine Design Award. In 2011, he received the ASME Mechanisms and Robotics Award for his research contributions, and in 2013 he received Robert E. Abbott Lifetime Service Award from the Design Engineering Division of ASME International.
John C. LaRue University of California - Irvine
Gregory N. Washington University of California - Irvine
Gregory Washington is Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Stacey Nicolas Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California Irvine. Professor Washington has been involved in multidomain research for the last 20 years. He is the first African-American Dean of Engineering at any of the University of California, Campuses. His core area of interest lies in the area of dynamic systems: modeling and control. During this time he has been involved in the following applications: the design and control of mechanically actuated antennas, advanced control of machine tools, the design and control of Hybrid Electric Vehicles, and structural position and vibration control with smart materials. He has written more than 150 technical publications in journals, edited volumes, and conference proceedings and is internationally known for his research on ultra-lightweight structurally active antenna systems and other structures that involve the use of “smart materials”. Professor Washington has served on several advisory boards to include the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and the National Science Foundation Engineering Advisory Board. He currently serves on the Pubic Policy Committee of the ASEE Engineering Deans Council. Professor Washington received his BS, MS and PhD degrees from NC State.
Abstract
This evidence based practice describes the implementation of a two-quarter first-year engineering course, Introduction to Engineering, which provides an experiential learning experience to first year students focused on the engineering design process. Students complete two team based design projects, one per quarter, while using acquired skills in CAD, basic machining, and microprocessor programming to design, fabricate and test quadcopters. In addition, the course provides students with the information regarding different engineering disciplines so that they can make a more informed decision as to whether engineering is the right major. Student satisfaction was assessed at the end of each quarter. The impact of the course is evaluated through annual surveys to examine student motivation including student interests in engineering and the importance of teamwork.
Wu, L. L., & Cassidy, R. M., & McCarthy, J. M., & LaRue, J. C., & Washington, G. N. (2016, June), Implementation and Impact of a First-Year Project-Based Learning Course Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.25566
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