Innovative Applied Research Projects Using Industry Collaboration

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Foroudastan ◽  
Linda Hardymon
Keyword(s):  
Applied Research ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Engineering Technology ◽  
Middle Tennessee State University ◽  
Industrial Community ◽  
Solar Powered ◽  
The Many ◽  
The University

Partnerships between the Middle Tennessee State University Engineering Technology Department and the local industrial community are well adapted to research and development projects for the students. Resulting interactions between engineering technology programs and industry are advanced in many ways, including long-term partnerships, informal contacts between faculty members and industrial personnel, consulting, and collaboration on training opportunities, discussions, seminars, and teaching programs. Foremost, however, are the many ways students benefit from the related assignments. Through applied research projects, students focus on innovative project developments that provide practical solutions to complex problems. They learn to initiate, design, and implement new initiatives within the university and industrial partnerships and to profit from the opportunities to explore new technologies and practice skills that meet real world challenges. MTSU modified its introductory engineering course to incorporate not only the fundamentals required to the support basic engineering course learning experience, but to include a choice of hands-on design projects. At present, a solar powered vehicle and a moon buggy have been designed, constructed, and entered into national races to test the decisions and capabilities of the projects as a result of this innovative laboratory approach. The laboratory atmosphere centered on these applied research projects features the opportunity to work at the university and/or take advantage of the industrial partner’s equipment and expertise. Partnerships with industry are essential in providing access to the latest equipment and technology. Applied research projects are important for students to gain a much better “sense” of engineering and to progress to higher levels of project interaction that offer design and design problem issues, use of knowledge, physical application, and comprehension of engineering principles.

scholarly journals DESIGNING INTERFACE FOR INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA: LEARNER PERCEPTIONS ON THE DESIGN FEATURES

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-98
Author(s):  
Geetha Udayangani Kulasekara ◽  
Buddhini Gayathri Jayatilleke ◽  
Uma Coomaraswamy
Keyword(s):  
Interface Design ◽  
Interactive Multimedia ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽  
Learner Perceptions ◽  
Inherent Strength ◽  
The University ◽  
User Friendly

Interactive Multimedia (IMM) package has a greater potential of supporting individual differences of learners due to its inherent strength of media attributes. This study was carried out to explore the design features of IMM, which was specially designed to support the open and distant learners, studying Microbiology as a part of the B.Sc. Degree program, of the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), with the purpose of explaining the dynamic abstract concepts in Microbiology. When designing the IMM emphasis was placed on the design features, interface design in particular, in order to help the learners to achieve a meaningful learning experience. The purpose of this research paper is to explore learner perceptions of the design features of the IMM and, in developing a more user friendly, authentic instructional package. As such, quantitative and qualitative research methods were used by means of questionnaires, interviews and observations. Evaluation reveals many supportive and constructive outcomes, and suggests improvements in providing a better support for learners studying science subjects at a distance. In the context of the university using new technologies, especially for delivery, the results of this study would be a great asset.

scholarly journals The Power of the Symposium: Impacts from Students' Perspectives

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Vanek ◽  
Nancy Marra ◽  
Carolyn Hester ◽  
Desirae Ware ◽  
Andrij Holian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
National Institutes Of Health ◽  
Air Toxics ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
School Year ◽  
University Of Montana ◽  
Controlled Evaluation ◽  
The Many ◽  
The University

The Air Toxics under the Big Sky program developed at the University of Montana is a regional outreach and education initiative that offers a yearlong exploration of air quality and its relation to respiratory health. The program was designed to connect university staff and resources with rural schools enabling students to learn and apply science process skills through self-designed research projects conducted within their communities. As part of the program, students develop and conduct independent projects, then share their findings at the conclusion of the school year in some type of interactive capstone experience, the most prominent being a high school symposium held at The University of Montana campus. Student feedback collected through a carefully controlled evaluation program suggest that the annual symposium as the culminating event is a critical component of the Air Toxics Under the Big Sky program, and a valuable learning experience as many of the students go on to post-secondary education. AcknowledgmentsThe authors wish to thank all the students who have participated in the Air Toxics Under the Big Sky Program, with our special gratitude toward the many dedicated teachers who have made its implementation so successful and rewarding. Funding for this project was provided by the Toyota USA Foundation and by a Science Education Partnership Award, Grant Number R25 RR020432, from the National Center for Research Resources, a component of the National Institutes of Health. The contents of this manuscript are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the officials views of our funding sponsors.

scholarly journals UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN SHARE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barrie Jackson ◽  
Dale Dilamarter ◽  
Peter Spasov
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Engineering Technology ◽  
Technology Students ◽  
Team Projects ◽  
Student Teams ◽  
Queen's University ◽  
Team Student ◽  
The University

This paper describes a pilot collaboration between Queen’s University and Sir Sandford Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology in Peterborough Ontario. Since 1994 Queen’s has offered projects where students learn by solving problems for fee paying industrial clients. Known as Technology Engineering and Management (TEAM) student participants form multidisciplinary teams to consult for business clients. In addition to engineering students, commerce and arts students have often participated in the teams. In the Applied Projects program at Fleming College, third year engineering technology student teams solve problems for enterprise sponsors. A pilot group of engineering technology students from Fleming College worked with students in two Queen’s University TEAM projects. In industrial practice, engineers and engineering technologists often collaborate on solving problems. This collaboration rarely occurs in an educational setting. In the 2002-2003 academic year the pilot exercise simulated the professional working relationship between engineers and technologists. This paper gives a description of the experience and the motivation to undertake this unique collaboration. The most important aspect of the presentation is a critical assessment of the University/College collaboration -- what worked, what problems arose, and what improvements are suggested.

Opportunities and Challenges of Emerging Technologies in Higher Education

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
P. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Transmission Model ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
University Of Botswana ◽  
The University

Recent unprecedented advances in digital technologies and their concomitant affordances in education seem to be a great opportunity to adequately address burgeoning demand for high quality higher education (HE) and the changing educational preferences. It is increasingly being recognised that using new technology effectively in HE is essential to prepare students for its increasing demand. E-learning is an integral component of the University of Botswana’s teaching and learning culture, however, teachers who are from a traditional educational system are often ill-prepared to change their role from the all-knowing “sage on the stage” who operated under the “transmission” model, to the “guide on the side” which adopts new technologies effectively for student learning. Therefore, this paper argues that one of the ways to achieve substantial pedagogical innovations is to bring a significant change in the understanding of the processes of the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). This paper explores new directions for conducting scholarly activities at the University of Botswana (UB) to address the needs of today’s students, concluding with a call for a collaborative approach to teaching, research, and publishing to enhance student learning experience in diversified and socially rich collaborative learning contexts.

Opportunities and Challenges of Emerging Technologies in Higher Education

2012 ◽  
pp. 91-104
Author(s):  
P. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
New Technology ◽  
University Of Botswana ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Pedagogical Innovations ◽  
The University

Recent unprecedented advances in digital technologies and their concomitant affordances in education seem to be a great opportunity to adequately address burgeoning demand for high quality higher education (HE) and the changing educational preferences. It is increasingly being recognised that using new technology effectively in HE is essential to prepare students for its increasing demand. E-learning is an integral component of the University of Botswana’s teaching and learning culture, however, teachers who are from a traditional educational system are often ill-prepared to change their role from the all-knowing “sage on the stage” who operated under the “transmission” model, to the “guide on the side” which adopts new technologies effectively for student learning. Therefore, this paper argues that one of the ways to achieve substantial pedagogical innovations is to bring a significant change in the understanding of the processes of the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). This paper explores new directions for conducting scholarly activities at the University of Botswana (UB) to address the needs of today’s students, concluding with a call for a collaborative approach to teaching, research, and publishing to enhance student learning experience in diversified and socially rich collaborative learning contexts.

The Engineering Clinic at Old Dominion University

1989 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-36
Author(s):  
Gary R. Crossman ◽  
Joseph M. Marchello
Keyword(s):  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Applied Research ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Transfer Of Technology ◽  
Old Dominion University ◽  
Flexible Mechanism ◽  
Short Courses ◽  
The University

The mission of the Engineering Clinic at Old Dominion University is to provide a flexible mechanism for the transfer of technology from the university to both small and medium-sized companies in Virginia. The primary mechanisms for this technology transfer are: applied research projects with companies, supported partially with state funds; and state-of-the-art short courses and seminars.

Faculty Internship in Industry

2001 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 367-369
Author(s):  
Saeed Foroudastan ◽  
Ahad Nasab
Keyword(s):  
Faculty Member ◽  
Advisory Council ◽  
State University ◽  
Engineering Technology ◽  
Employment Benefits ◽  
Middle Tennessee State University ◽  
Free Process ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The University

Based on the authors' experience at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), an effective way for members of engineering technology faculties to keep abreast of new developments in their field is to establish a faculty internship programme. The internship programme at MTSU, fully supported by the university's industrial advisory council, is set up to be a very simple and paper-free process. Every semester one faculty member spends the entire semester working as an engineer at a local firm and continues to draw his or her normal salary from the university. The firm, in turn, reimburses the university for the cost of replacing the faculty member with an adjunct. Since the faculty member is employed as a contractor in the host company, he or she retains the employment benefits from the university.

scholarly journals From cook to chef: Facilitating the transition from recipe-driven to open-ended research-based undergraduate chemistry lab activities

2014 ◽  
pp. 26-31
Author(s):  
Anna Bertram ◽  
E. Stephen Davies ◽  
Ross Denton ◽  
M. Jonathan Fray ◽  
Kyle W. Galloway ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Undergraduate Chemistry ◽  
The Third ◽  
Second Year ◽  
The University

This paper describes the development of mini-research projects in the third year practical chemistry course at the University of Nottingham for the MSci(Hons) Chemistry degree. The aim of these developments is to bridge the gap between ‘recipe-style’ experiments in the first and second year courses and research projects undertaken in the fourth year or in industry. There is much evidence that, having been given this opportunity to plan and design their own experiment, students exhibit higher-order cognitive skills, which can lead to a more valuable learning experience.

The Fundraising “DREAM” Come True

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed D. Foroudastan ◽  
Dyani Saxby
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Tennessee State University ◽  
State University ◽  
Engineering Technology ◽  
Short Supply ◽  
Middle Tennessee State University ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Additional Funding ◽  
National Competition

In times of perpetual budget cuts, project fundraising can be a difficult feat for many mechanical engineering technology departments. This is especially true for smaller departments. In fact, it is a problem that has plagued the department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies (ETIS) at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) for many years. Recently, however, the faculty of the ETIS department at MTSU has been able to overcome this difficulty through a series of five carefully prepared and executed steps that MTSU has entitled “DREAM.” The five steps that will be discussed in this paper are as follows: 1. Do well in one prestigious, national competition. 2. Request additional funding after success. 3. Establish relationships with industry. 4. Additional projects. 5. Make the most of the learning experience. This paper was written to document the experiences of the ETIS department at MTSU with the hopes of giving other mechanical engineering technology departments additional insight into fundraising techniques. The beauty of the DREAM plan is that it makes fundraising much easier because industries are usually willing to support successful teams that do well in national competitions. The DREAM plan has greatly enhanced the learning experience of the students at MTSU in several ways. First, it gives them hands-on experience that will benefit them in the real world. Next, it allows them to apply knowledge from classroom lectures and labs to an actual project from the first sketch to the competition. Finally, it gives them valuable contacts with potential future employers. These are opportunities that MTSU’s students might not be able to experience otherwise. With internal funding in such short supply, perhaps other departments could benefit from the DREAM plan as well.

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