scholarly journals STUDENT DESIGN TEAMS AT UWO: A CASE STUDY

Author(s):  
Ralph Buchal ◽  
Imran Atcha ◽  
Alberto Da Rocha ◽  
Robert Jelenic ◽  
Peter Kriznic

Major student design competitions like Formula SAE, Mini Baja and American Solar Challenge provide a valuable learning experience. These competitions develop skills and experience in many important areas, some of which are not well developed in the formal curriculum. This paper examines several teams at the University of Western Ontario including: Formula SAE, Mini Baja, SAE Aero, and Sunstang solar car. The focus is on common elements including team structure and management, budgets and resources, design processes, use of CAD/CAM/CAE tools, design communication, and prototype testing.

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 62-69
Author(s):  
Yasmany García-Ramírez

The flipped classroom, as an active learning model, has given remarkable results in several areas in the university teaching; however, its execution is still able to improve. This research shows the implementation and improvement of the flipped classroom model in the course of Pavements. It evaluates their influence on the students’ final grades and their learning experience. Three groups of students participated in this study, who enrolled in the course of Pavements in the Civil Engineering. Group A took the course with the traditional model, while Group B took it with a flipped classroom, and Group C experienced it with a reinforced flipped model. Groups did the course the subject in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Results show that even though with the flipped classroom models, the finals grades did not increase compared to the scores of the traditional model; however, it improved their learning experience. The students were more satisfied with the method; they even asked for fewer modifications than they did in the traditional model. This research shows that adding little academic things to the course, it would greatly influence their students' opinion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-348
Author(s):  
Fatma ZAGHAR ◽  
El-Alia Wafaâ ZAGHAR

In this increasingly interconnected epoch, the teaching of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) along with culture that is considered as a fifth skill has become inevitable. Therefore, EFL teachers are impelled to introduce cultural instruction in their classes. They are then advised to combine the teaching of language skills with the foreign culture because it prepares their learners to behave successfully in intercultural encounters, gain solid cultural knowledge, overcome cultural obstacles, and promote their cultural awareness. The main questions addressed in this research focus on the inclusion of the cultural component in language subjects’ syllabuses, and the type of teaching strategies that can ameliorate the status of cultural instruction. This study points out the key importance of implementing intercultural information in EFL contexts founded on a case study undertaken at the University of Oran 2 in Algeria. This paper targeted a group of Master II students by using an array of data collection means including a questionnaire given to the learners, an interview done with the teachers, and classroom observation sessions carried out by the researchers. The major aims of this work were to verify the learners’ perceptions of cultural learning, and outfit students with core foundations of culture. The results demonstrated that the incorporated teaching techniques have enriched the students’ cultural understanding and intensified their linguistic adeptnesses. It is suggested that these teaching initiatives can aid learners be compassionate, understandable, and tolerant human beings.


Author(s):  
Chioma Okandu ◽  
Chizy Akani ◽  
Warebi Brisibe

The paper examines the issues of building maintenance of public buildings from an architectural design-based perspective.It considered the critical role design plays in achieving the optimal functionality of building services throughout the building life span. Design related elements and components which facilitate maintainability are discussed. Institutional buildings at the university in their current state are considered against these dimensions. The research adopts a case study/ review approach. The study focused on multi-story structures existing in the university. Findings of the study reveal poor considerations for maintainability in design processes, resulting in inefficiency of building services on a large scale.


Author(s):  
Julia Smith ◽  
William Carey ◽  
Paul Chapman

In 2016, the University of Manchester (UoM) and the University of Manchester Students’ Union (UMSU) embarked on a more strategic, collaborative working approach to engage students in a broader range of enrichment opportunities. Having worked closely together for a number of years on prescribed activities, such as student induction and co-leading support for Resident Associations, student committees, a more meaningful partnership was perceived to increase transformational impact through engaging students in modes of activity championed recently under the banner of students as partners, researchers and change agents. With the Teaching and Learning Support Office (TLSO), a REACT project was designed to narrow the gap between staff and students through a more collaborative relationship. To that end, our project ‘Manchester in Partnership’ worked on two themes, the first looking at engaging students as researchers to identify engagement patterns with the MyManchester online student portal and the second focusing on creating a series of staff and student discussion seminars about the learning experience. This project has ignited further work engaging students as researchers, student review teams as well as further work around institutional dialogue, the student charter and student representation models. This case study will outline the journey from an isolated REACT project to a broader range of activities highlighting underpinning rationale, implementation, intended impact and benefits already realised.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Anna Wessman ◽  
Xenia Zeiler ◽  
Suzie Thomas ◽  
Pilvi Vainonen

In autumn 2018, eight Museum Studies students from the University of Helsinki had the opportunity to put theory into practice and to gain hands-on experience making a real exhibition. The ‘Museum Content Planning’ course was a collaborative project between the National Museum of Finland and the university in which the students, together with the museum staff, built a pop-up exhibition about the Indian festival Durga Puja in only five weeks. The exhibition showed in the National Museum for two weeks, and the students were involved in most stages of the exhibition’s development. They also blogged about their learning experience. In this case study, we present our reflections on both the benefits and challenges of collaboratively creating an exhibition, which is simultaneously an accredited learning experience for university students.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatma ZAGHAR ◽  
El-Alia Wafaâ ZAGHAR

In this increasingly interconnected epoch, the teaching of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) along with culture that is considered as a fifth skill has become inevitable. Therefore, EFL teachers are impelled to introduce cultural instruction in their classes. They are then advised to combine the teaching of language skills with the foreign culture because it prepares their learners to behave successfully in intercultural encounters, gain solid cultural knowledge, overcome cultural obstacles, and promote their cultural awareness. The main questions addressed in this research focus on the inclusion of the cultural component in language subjects’ syllabuses, and the type of teaching strategies that can ameliorate the status of cultural instruction. This study points out the key importance of implementing intercultural information in EFL contexts founded on a case study undertaken at the University of Oran 2 in Algeria. This paper targeted a group of Master II students by using an array of data collection means including a questionnaire given to the learners, an interview done with the teachers, and classroom observation sessions carried out by the researchers. The major aims of this work were to verify the learners’ perceptions of cultural learning, and outfit students with core foundations of culture. The results demonstrated that the incorporated teaching techniques have enriched the students’ cultural understanding and intensified their linguistic adeptnesses. It is suggested that these teaching initiatives can aid learners be compassionate, understandable, and tolerant human beings.


Author(s):  
Agueda Benito ◽  
Shailey Singhal

The present case study illustrates an example of how universities can develop initiatives that enhance the learning effectiveness of their students and, at the same time, help them become more innovative and generate knowledge that improves research outcomes and contributes to scientific advancement. Research & Innovation in Science and Engineering (RISE) constitutes an initiative implemented by an Indian comprehensive university, through which multidisciplinary teams of students present their project ideas and, if selected, they get the institutional support to develop them: some funds, the university facilities and equipment and, more than anything, the guidance of a dedicated faculty mentor, and the involvement of the industry. The students´ learning experience is totally collaborative, interdisciplinary, applied and experiential, in good alignment with the needs of the present and future labor market. Additionally, the outcomes of the program include research papers, patents and industry partnerships that clearly benefit the institution and all its stakeholders.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan Pohl ◽  
Emily Liatsis ◽  
Jessica Riddell

This case study discusses an experiential learning course comprising a 12-episode podcast series dedicated to transformative learning in higher education. The three-credit course, which was designed by two student leaders (station managers at the university radio station) in collaboration with a faculty collaborator, was informed by the 10 design principles of authentic learning. The central premise of the podcast series hinged on two key questions: What are the ideal conditions where students build their souls as they build their CVs?; What are the conditions for transformative learning whereby students reflect on their learning experience as collaborators with their professors and with one another? The case study offers recommendations to students, faculty, and educational developers who might integrate this model into their own practices. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-77
Author(s):  
Tanya Sharma ◽  
Rini Lukose ◽  
Jessica E. Shiers-Hanley ◽  
Sanja Hinic-Frlog ◽  
Simone Laughton

This case study highlights the work of Students as Partners (SaP) as a balanced approach for implementing and evaluating an online open-access textbook in introductory animal physiology at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Started in 2017 with an eCampus Ontario grant, the project involved undergraduate and graduate students developing and improving an open-access e-textbook to support student learning in a second-year undergraduate introductory animal physiology course. This case study focuses on the 2019–2020 academic term and the work of two undergraduate students working alongside faculty and two librarians. As part of their research, the partners consulted the literature and gathered feedback from students taking the course in which the open e-textbook was used. Student partners added updates and new interactive features to create a more engaging educational resource to support student learning. The partners also reflected on their role in the open educational resource development process.  


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-71
Author(s):  
Claire Lucy Barber

Purpose – Crafting the Community is a volunteering project run by the Textiles Department at the University of Huddersfield to promote and deliver textile craft activities to the wider community. The purpose of this paper is to explore how volunteering can be a powerful tool for enriching peoples’ lives while deepening students’ textile-related competencies through placing their learning in social and communal settings. Design/methodology/approach – Initially the paper will articulate how the project has been developed to bring innovation to the forefront of the curriculum, equipping students with tools for playing a meaningful and constructive role in society. Subsequently the paper will investigate how volunteering can be used to affect real-life changes in homelessness, archival threats and rural transport. Findings – The paper uses a case study approach to realise the vision of Crafting the Community that enables students to put into practice their learning while capturing the imagination of local communities. Social implications – As active players in society, staff, students and external partners create an engaged and interrelated learning experience as an evolving process, mimicking the repetitiveness and structure of the warp and weft of cloth itself. Originality/value – In response to emerging debates concerning the value, relevance and impact of cloth on societies today the project’s aim is to share the course’s own unique philosophy and insight into the importance of a practical and creative engagement with materials and processes in the wider community. This paper would be suitable for academics that who are interested in textile culture and emergent textile volunteering and socially engaged practices in the public realm.


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