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Session 3625

Teaming Freshmen and Juniors

Hugh Jack, John Farris Associate Professor / Associate Professor Padnos School of Engineering Grand Valley State University Grand Rapids, MI email: jackh@gvsu.edu, farrisj@gvsu.edu

1. Introduction

A novel design project involving freshmen and juniors was begun in the fall of 2002. This project involved teaming students in a freshman graphics and design course (EGR 101 [4]) with junior students in a dynamic system modeling and control course (EGR 345). The task for the project was the ASME student design competition for 2003. During the first offering the methodology was somewhat ad-hoc, but still successful [1]. Based upon the lessons learned from that first expe- rience a new cooperative project was run in the fall of 2003.

The design project has been redesigned to include a more formal structure and a more challenging design task. The formal structure was implemented using a contract between the students in EGR 101 and 345, clearly defined deliverables, timelines and peer reviews with specific evaluation cri- teria. The task for the project was to design and build an anti-sway system for a crane. The system required a computer controlled, motor driven cart to move across a beam to transport a payload.

The freshmen were responsible for designing and manufacturing the cart, using solid modelling software, CNC mills and plastic donated by local industries. The juniors were responsible for all other aspects including the electrical circuitry, programming, and theoretical design of the con- troller. The objective for the competition was mutlifold, including minimizing cost, weight and travel time to settle within a tolerance zone.

Each team consisted of three or four junior students and one or two freshmen students. All stu- dents were directed to act as peers, regardless of their background, however the juniors were encouraged to act as mentors. These teams worked to design, build, test and document a working system.

Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2004, American Society for Engineering Education

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Jack, H., & Farris, J. (2004, June), Teaming Freshmen And Juniors Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--13549