Project Management in an Interdisciplinary Senior Design Team

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Ruby Mawasha ◽  
Kumar Yelamarthi
Keyword(s):  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Interdisciplinary Collaboration ◽  
Opportunity To Learn ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Engineering Systems ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering ◽  
Senior Design ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
Interdisciplinary Projects

Innovation in the changing undergraduate engineering curriculum mandates efficient management of interdisciplinary capstone senior design projects. This effort requires collaboration and management by students and faculty from multiple disciplines, and provides students an opportunity to learn from other engineering systems. In addition, this approach will i) emphasize problem solving and creative thinking; ii) provide first-hand experience in generating a management plan; iii) expose students to multiple engineering and management disciplines, and to work in diverse, multi-cultural teams; and iv) prepare students with a keen understanding of the interdisciplinary environment necessary for success. The senior design project (SDP) presented is based on the interdisciplinary collaboration of electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering students and faculty to design an integrated high altitude balloon system that would reach an altitude of 100,000 feet and return safely to earth. This paper presents the modes by which all the above issues in SDP are addressed, results obtained and improvements planned for the next interdisciplinary projects.

scholarly journals Engineering Management In An Interdisciplinary Senior Design Project

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-156
Author(s):  
Kumar Yelamarthi ◽  
Joseph Slater ◽  
John Wu ◽  
P. Ruby Mawasha
Keyword(s):  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Interdisciplinary Collaboration ◽  
Opportunity To Learn ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Design Project ◽  
Senior Design ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
Students First

AbstractInnovation in the changing undergraduate engineering curriculum mandates efficient management of interdisciplinary capstone senior design projects. This effort requires collaboration and management of students and faculty from multiple disciplines, and provides students an opportunity to learn from other engineering disciplines. In addition, this approach will i) emphasize problem solving and creative thinking skills; ii) provide students first-hand experience in generating a management plan; iii) expose students to multiple engineering disciplines, and work in diverse, multi-cultural teams; and iv) prepare students with an in-depth understanding of the interdisciplinary skills necessary for success. The senior design project (SDP) presented is based on the interdisciplinary collaboration of electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering students and faculty to design an integrated high altitude balloon system that would reach an altitude of 100,000 feet and return safely to earth. This paper presents methods by which all the above issues are addressed, results obtained over the recent years.

Emphasizing Decision Analysis Techniques in the Design Curriculum

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reid Bailey ◽  
Phil Doepker
Keyword(s):  
Utility Theory ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Decision Tool ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Decision Tools ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering ◽  
Senior Design ◽  
Factors Influencing

Abstract Theoretically strong decision approaches such as utility theory are currently being researched for use in engineering design. Countless ad hoc decision tools have preceded this recent work, yet only a handful of these tools are used by industry or taught in universities. Reasons for the emergence of such a small number of acceptable decision tools are not known. In this paper, the opinions of undergraduate engineering students in an industry-sponsored senior design class and their sponsor mentors are studied to identify reasons why some decision tools are more popular than others. Two established decision tools were introduced to the class and used in the projects. A survey was used to gather student and sponsor opinions about the two tools and important aspects of decision tools. Results indicate a variety of factors influencing the students’ preference of one decision tool, including simplicity, clarity of results, the ability to give more emphasis to certain criteria, and ease of communication of results to their sponsors. Other results from the study include information about strategies for integrating decision tools into a design process and the role of projects in promoting reflection and learning by students.

scholarly journals Improving professional skills in a multidisciplinary team of undergraduate engineering students through project-based learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 2102 (1) ◽  
pp. 012001
Author(s):  
K R Ccama-Mamani ◽  
D Chipoco Haro ◽  
M R Gutierrez ◽  
L Palomino-Marcelo ◽  
J C F Rodriguez-Reyes
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Students ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Systems Design ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Air Filtration ◽  
Professional Skills ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering Education ◽  
Interdisciplinary Projects

Abstract Even though undergraduate engineering education often considers laboratory experiments as its practical component, these activities may not contribute to the development of soft (professional) skills. At “Universidad de Ingenieria y Tecnologia”, Perú, a series of courses called interdisciplinary projects has been created to promote the development of professional skills through project-based learning; herein, we report the experience of an interdisciplinary group of students focused on designing an indoor air filtration system to improve air quality and to reduce the spread of coronavirus diseases. Eight undergraduate engineering students were organized into three groups and worked collaboratively to learn about antiviral nanocomposites, user-centered design, and electromechanical systems design; they showed their progress and received feedback from each other through weekly meetings. In addition, they leaned on applications to organize the group work and share the bibliography consulted; finally, we collected feedback from these students on the proposed learning method. The positive impact of our problem-based learning approach on undergraduate engineering students is discussed.

HOW STUDENTS DEFINE THEIR SUCCESS: A RESEARCH STUDY

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Ullrich ◽  
David S. Strong
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Survey Instrument ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Full Study ◽  
Definition Of Success ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Diverse Groups

How undergraduate engineering students define their success and plan for their future differs notably amongst students. With a push for greater diversity and inclusion in engineering schools, it is valuable to also better understand the differences in these areas among different students to allow institutions to better serve the needs of these diverse groups.  The purpose of this research study is to explore students’ definition of success both in the present and projecting forward 5 to 10 years, as well as to understand to what level students reflect on, and plan for, the future. The proposed survey instrument for the pilot stage of this research includes 56 closed-ended questions and 3 open-ended questions. Evidence for the validity of the research instrument is established through a mixed-method pilot study. This paper will discuss the survey instrument, the pilot study, and outline plans for the full study.

Human-Centered and Psychological Concepts in Undergraduate Engineering Project Documentation

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 505-509
Author(s):  
Rod D. Roscoe ◽  
Samuel T. Arnold ◽  
Chelsea K. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Students ◽  
Engineering Project ◽  
Design Processes ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering ◽  
Project Documentation ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Psychological Concepts

The success of engineering and design is facilitated by a working understanding of human thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In this study, we explored how undergraduate engineering students included such human-centered and psychological concepts in their project documentation. Although, we observed a range of concepts related to design processes, teams, cognition, and motivation, these concepts appeared infrequently and superficially. We discuss how this analysis and approach may help to identify topics that could be leveraged for future human-centered engineering instruction.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document