Conference Session

Best Practices in Aerospace Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas Hannigan, Mississippi State University; Keith Koenig, Mississippi State University; Lorenzo Coley, Mississippi State University; Christopher Hamm, Mississippi State University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

. Although those courses were notevaluated during that visit because they were an experimental offering, a curriculum review wasunderway and an implementation plan for updating the curriculum was subject to scrutiny duringthat visit. As the full plan was implemented, a programming course, an introductory course inflight mechanics, and a graphics communication course were eliminated in favor of including allof the original elements of those required courses into this introductory sequence.1 The impetus Page 13.227.2of establishing the introductory sequence was in seeking to increase retention of students bymaking them feel more connected with the

Conference Session

Preparing the Future Workforce in Aerospace

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Narayanan Komerath, Georgia Institute of Technology; Marilyn Smith, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

. Funding priorities are determinedthrough an interactive process, and the PIs of this project work with the financial aid office onweekly basis.Program RequirementsTo make the most effective use of resources with the best impact, we developed a requirementthat awardees meet with their assigned mentors at least twice a semester to discuss their progressand plans. They must also choose and attend two seminars presented by visitors to Georgia Tech,generally on technical content. They have to then write a paper of one to two pages summarizingwhat they learned – a requirement that encourages not only attentive listening, but also follow-updiscussions with the presenters, technical writing skills, and interactions with their mentors. Aparticular format

Conference Session

Preparing a Modern Aerospace Workforce

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Narayanan Komerath, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

development will equip students for both industry and graduate school.Some concepts being explored by my group are shown in Table 3. The first two have beendescribed in papers including undergraduate co-authors7-9. The first (space economy planning)has been developed through several years of participation in NASA-sponsored space businessplanning exercises, interacting with teams from business and advertising schools. The third item,Micro-Renewable Energy Systems, is being developed through a new course under theInternational Plan at our institution. The five students who dared to sign up for this completelynew area, are pursuing five different projects, each in a team of two. Five abstracts to anUndergraduate Research Symposium promise unique

Conference Session

Undergraduate Space Design and Project Courses

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Kuhlman, West Virginia University; Donald Gray, West Virginia University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

are also recounted. Lessons learned by the faculty advisors andsuggestions for other schools planning to participate in this program are summarized. Page 13.1414.2 Introduction Over the past eight years, a hands-on Microgravity Research Team (MRT) two-semester project course sequence has been developed and offered at West VirginiaUniversity (WVU). This course can fulfill a technical elective requirement in either theAerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering curriculum. The primary course goal is toprovide students with a hardware-oriented, open-ended, hands-on research projectexperience. Each fall

Conference Session

Undergraduate Space Design and Project Courses

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Debbie Mullins, Texas Space Grant Consortium; Wallace Fowler, University of Texas at Austin

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

• Prepare to Present Design at Level III ~4 wks after Level II Presentation Showcase • Final Technical Report • Program Evaluation • Present a STEM concept to • Outreach Report $$ Option EPO Activity any audience or community • K-12 Lesson Plan Area I group. • Photo Documentation Option • Present project work in a • Presentation Report

Conference Session

Undergraduate Space Design and Project Courses

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sven Bilen, Pennsylvania State University; Brian Schratz, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

. Page 13.1253.5Based on components found in various flight projects and the research environment, theremaining three programs that develop the capabilities of the SSPL are focused on advancingcapabilities in technology, infrastructure, and education to specifically address the recurringneeds identified by students, faculty, and industry.Technology and Mission Development ProgramThe Technology and Mission Development Program focuses on improving the capabilities of theLab and ensuring new opportunities for its students. As the name implies, this program focuseson developing technology and planning future missions.Technology Development. The technology development side of the program allows for thedevelopment of technology outside of a specific

Conference Session

Preparing a Modern Aerospace Workforce

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James Helbling, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; Lance Traub, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

theory, computation, and experimentation and adiscussion of planned curriculum improvements now made possible with the addition of the newlaboratory.RP Lab OverviewThe Rapid Prototyping Laboratory is a 238 square foot facility that contains two work stationsthat are connected to three 3D printers. The oldest of the three is a Zcorporation Zprinter310plaster printer which was purchased in Fall 2005. The impetus for the purchase of this printerwas to support a freshmen multidisciplinary design course which was being offered for the firsttime that semester. Two Stratasys Dimension SST printers which form parts made of ABSplastic were subsequently purchased during the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 semesters. Theseprinters are used for sophomore through

Conference Session

Undergraduate Space Design and Project Courses

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Kuhlman, West Virginia University; G. Michael Palmer, West Virginia University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

respond to a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) from the courseinstructors, to propose a balloon satellite mission of their choice, developing an experimentinstrument package that meets weight, size, and cost constraints specified in the RFP. Teamsare provided the necessary data acquisition system, access to a shop area for construction oftheir payload, and a separate payload that contains the necessary balloon tracking GPS andham radio hardware. Data acquisition hardware and software and all balloon launchcapabilities are also supplied by the course instructors. Course instructors also provideguidance to the teams to ensure that their planned missions are realistic, safe, and withincurrent FAA regulations. All balloon launches are cleared

Conference Session

Best Practices in Aerospace Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kristi Shryock, Texas A&M University; Helen Reed, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

solelymeet ABET accreditation purposes. Information on assessment methods is important to includebecause it causes you to make sure the performance criteria you listed can in fact be measured.It is good to list a variety of assessment methods in your outcomes. The time of data collection,assessment coordinator, and evaluation of results person needs to be listed as well. A specificperson and time frame should be planned. Having an annual review of data and documentationis part of the continuous improvement process ABET encourages.Through this process, the department was able to streamline and have a better understanding ofour program outcomes. This process resulted in the department going back to the original elevenABET a-k criteria and the five

Conference Session

Best Practices in Aerospace Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Swami Karunamoorthy, Saint Louis University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

ableto provide meaningful feedback. However the prerequisite for this step is the carefuldevelopment of measurable parameters as performance criteria. In order to determine theextent to which a PEO or PLO are being achieved, a bench mark or a rubric should beprescribed as allowable level for meeting a specific criteria. A typical value of 60% orhigher can be used as bench mark.Step – 7: Continuous Quality ImprovementThis step involves the application of results obtained in previous step to effect continuousimprovement of the program through a documented plan. The results should bediscussed among the constituents and needed changes to improve the program should bedeveloped as feedback. Then the program faculty should implement the changes to