A Laboratory-based, Problem-solving Pedagogy Prepares Students to Hit the Job Market Running!

John Marshall; William Marshall

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Conference: 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Publication Date: June 10, 2012
Start Date: June 10, 2012
End Date: June 13, 2012
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Improving the Pedagogy of Laboratory Courses
Tagged Division: Division Experimentation & Lab-Oriented Studies
Page Count: 7
Page Numbers: 25.59.1 - 25.59.7
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--20819
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/20819
Download Count: 373

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Paper Authors

biography

John Marshall University of Southern Maine

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John Marshall received his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and is the Departmental Internship Coordinator at the University of Southern Maine. His areas of specialization include power and energy processing, applied process control engineering, automation, fluid power, and facility planning.

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biography

William Marshall Alief Independent School District

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William Marshall is the Director of Instructional Technology and Career and Technical Education for the Alief Independent School District in Texas. He provides supervision of Program Managers in the areas of career and technical education, computer interventions, distance learning, information literacy, technology applications, campus technology specialists, and library information specialists.

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Abstract

A Laboratory Based, Problem Solving Pedagogy Prepares Students To Hit the Job Market Running!Our advancing world of computer integration, process control, industrial automation, andtelecommunications requires effective leadership skills and sophisticated technicalcompetences. These skills and competencies must be real world and cutting edge.Industrial partnering has enabled the development of a state-of-the-art power andautomation curriculum and problem solving learning environment for our students andfor the communities beyond campus.The lab based problem solving environment is organized into clusters. These clusters areequipped with components such as computers, printers, programmable logic controllers,sensors, pneumatic valves and actuators, mechanisms, rotary index tables, hydrauliccylinders, electric motors, and vibratory feeder bowls. Participants are grouped intoteams that solve realistic industrial problems such as parts sorting, quality control, clampand work circuits, material handling, and component assembly.Students find this capstone level lab based course both challenging and rewarding as theyare required to integrate subject matter learned from many courses throughout their entiredegree program. This well developed course integrates competences mastered in othercourses such as computer-assisted design, spreadsheet and database utilization, materialprocessing, computer programming, and ergonomics. Students actually use every lab inthe building (CAD lab, materials lab, welding lab, etc.) but the focal point is the complexyet inviting industrial problem solving lab. This unique project based course continuallychallenges the student to advance, grow, internalize and demonstrate the new knowledgeand techniques they are leaning.The goal of this session will be to provide the participants with insight into the “lab basedproblem solving learning environment” that was created with industrial partnering andrelative few additional dollars. The discussion will also identify how the “need” for thistype of project based curriculum became obvious. Accomplishments and outcomes fromthe student perspective, the University perspective, and the industry perspective will alsobe shared.

Citation
Format

Marshall, J., & Marshall, W. (2012, June), A Laboratory-based, Problem-solving Pedagogy Prepares Students to Hit the Job Market Running! Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--20819

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -                A Laboratory Based, Problem Solving Pedagogy                           Prepares Students To                       Hit the Job Market Running!Our advancing world of computer integration, process control, industrial automation, andtelecommunications requires effective leadership skills and sophisticated technicalcompetences. These skills and competencies must be real world and cutting edge.Industrial partnering has enabled the development of a state-of-the-art power andautomation curriculum and problem solving learning environment for our students andfor the communities beyond campus.The lab based problem solving environment is organized into clusters. These clusters areequipped with components such as computers, printers, programmable logic controllers,sensors, pneumatic valves and actuators, mechanisms, rotary index tables, hydrauliccylinders, electric motors, and vibratory feeder bowls. Participants are grouped intoteams that solve realistic industrial problems such as parts sorting, quality control, clampand work circuits, material handling, and component assembly.Students find this capstone level lab based course both challenging and rewarding as theyare required to integrate subject matter learned from many courses throughout their entiredegree program. This well developed course integrates competences mastered in othercourses such as computer-assisted design, spreadsheet and database utilization, materialprocessing, computer programming, and ergonomics. Students actually use every lab inthe building (CAD lab, materials lab, welding lab, etc.) but the focal point is the complexyet inviting industrial problem solving lab. This unique project based course continuallychallenges the student to advance, grow, internalize and demonstrate the new knowledgeand techniques they are leaning.The goal of this session will be to provide the participants with insight into the “lab basedproblem solving learning environment” that was created with industrial partnering andrelative few additional dollars. The discussion will also identify how the “need” for thistype of project based curriculum became obvious. Accomplishments and outcomes fromthe student perspective, the University perspective, and the industry perspective will alsobe shared.
AU  - John Marshall
AU  - William Marshall
CY  - San Antonio, Texas
DA  - 2012/06/10
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - A Laboratory-based, Problem-solving Pedagogy Prepares Students to Hit the Job Market Running!
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/20819
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--20819
ER  -