Conference Session

Methods & Techniques in Graduate Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Walter Schilling

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

of graduate studies impacting practicing professionals, project management issues,and job search issues.1. IntroductionIt can be said that, from many aspects, the best time for an engineering student to obtaintheir Ph.D. is after a period of working in industry. By the time one completes five toseven years of higher education, students can be “burned out” and otherwise not ready forthe rigor of a Doctoral Degree. By breaking at this point and working in industry for afew years, students can obtain a better understanding of the practice of engineering thancan be obtained from the classroom and co-operative (co-op) or internship experience.Furthermore, they can better understand exactly what area of engineering they wish topursue in their

Conference Session

Engineering Student Involvement in K12 Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jill Andrews, University of Michigan; Lorelle Meadows, University of Michigan; Joy Oguntebi, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

mathematics principles to real-world (engineering) applications, helping secondarystudents understand the importance of a college education, and providing hands-on science andengineering activities.Both Fellows and volunteer undergraduate student tutorsi assist secondary students withhomework, improving study skills, and standardized tests and examinations preparation. Summerscience experiences and academic year activities for teachers offer opportunities to work onengineering research projects with university faculty. Parents are gaining “College Knowledge”through a model Professional Learning Communities / Critical Friends Group format. The modelis designed to be exportable nationwide.This paper focuses on the involvement of university graduate and

Conference Session

Unique Student Opportunities in BME

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Linsenmeier, Northwestern University; Jean Alley, Vanderbilt University; Penny Hirsch, Northwestern University; Stacy Klein-Gardner; Julie Greenberg, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Mark Bourgeois, Northwestern University

Tagged Divisions

Biomedical

will also impact education inthese fields. Further, some of the materials have been disseminated for middle school and highschool students. This paper discusses how a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)program engaged undergraduates in this work, benefiting both the students and the VaNTH ERCand argues that similar programs, or even aspects of this program, would be very helpful to Page 13.128.2students considering faculty careers in engineering or graduate school in engineering education.1.2 Rationale for an REU program in bioengineering education research Almost any research experience is valuable as a component of an

Conference Session

Technical Capacity Bldg for Developing Countries & Service Learning / International Division Poster Session

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Fazil Najafi, University of Florida; James Carlsen, University of Florida; Meghan Ritter, University of Florida; Nick Safai, Salt Lake City College

Tagged Divisions

International

received from Princeton University his Ph.D. in Engineering (Multidisciplinary), also MS in Aerospace, MS in Mechanical, MSE in Civil Engineering, and an MSE in Reservoir Engineering/Water Resources (all from Princeton University), as well as a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State. Prior to joining the academics, Nick worked in industry, where he served as Director of the Reservoir Engineering at Chevron Oil Corporation in California. He has taught both at the graduate and undergraduate levels in engineering science. He has performed research projects for the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Oil Industry. He has

Conference Session

International Division Poster Session

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Claudio Brito, Council of Researches in Education and Sciences; Melany Ciampi, Organization of Researches in Environment, Health and Safety

Tagged Divisions

International

, FIE’2006, FIE’2007, FIE’2008 and FIE’2009. Page 13.1230.2© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 The Formation of Contemporary Engineer Claudio da Rocha Brito COPEC – Council of Researches in Education and Sciences Melany M. Ciampi OPASS –Organization of Researches in Environment, Health and SafetyAbstractEngineers are among the main agents of promotion of development in the world and theformation of a new kind of engineer is the priority to face the future economical and politicalmarket. Nations are

Conference Session

Sustainability and Engineering Courses

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Curtis Larimer, University of Pittsburgh; Michaelangelo Tabone, University of Pittsburgh; Matthew Mehalik, University of Pittsburgh; Kim Needy, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

EngineeringAbstractThe University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering (Pitt) recently launched a newInternational Research Experience for Students Program (IRES) sponsored by the NationalScience Foundation in sustainable engineering research. The Pitt IRES program presents aninnovative international research experience in sustainable design for a select group ofundergraduate engineering students who have high potential to pursue graduate education.Interns in the IRES program participate in a 12-week summer internship where they join amultidiscipline research team focused on a complex sustainability problem. Each team is co-ledby faculty from the Pitt and the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Campinas, São Paolo,Brazil. The first year included eight

Conference Session

Sustainability in AEC and AEC Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jason Kirby, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Hilal Ozcan, Prairie View A&M University; Fouad Fouad, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Tagged Divisions

Architectural

-establishedconsiderations such as ethics, economics, aesthetics, and structural integrity. Architecture andcivil engineering departments should take the lead and responsibility for promoting sustainabledevelopment, and the topic should be treated as a major consideration similar to protection of thepublic health and safety in design. Ultimately, the objective should be to graduate a new breedof design professionals (engineers and architects) who are knowledgeable of sustainable designand can integrate its concepts in real-world design projects.Diversity in Architectural Design and its Relation to SustainabilityIn recent years, the discipline of architecture has been impacted and reshaped most dramaticallyby two critical understandings: 1) the awareness of

Conference Session

Capstone Design III

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mohamed El-Sayed, Kettering University; Steven Beyerlein, University of Idaho

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

AC 2008-2629: DESIGN AND INTEGRATION OF A CAPSTONE COURSE TOACHIEVE PROGRAM OUTCOMESMohamed El-Sayed, Kettering University Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Hybrid Vehicles Integration Laboratory. He has been teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level for over 30 years. He teaches Machine Design, Automotive Design, Machine Design Capstone, Automotive Design Capstone, Design Optimization, Advanced Mechanics of Materials, linear and Nonlinear Finite Element analysis, and Design for manufacturability. He has been a PI and Co-PI on several research grants and a consultant to several engineering corporations. He has over seventy research papers in addition to several

Conference Session

Curriculum Development and Applications

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hussein Abaza, Southern Polytechnic State University; Javier Irizarry, SPSU; Zuhair Itr, Southern Polytechnic State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Design Graphics

; “I learned a lot inthis class”, “I loved this course”, “ I like the on your own speed”, “ This is the best class I haveever had so far”, “ you learn skills that lasts with you”. The positive impact from implementingthese teaching modules encouraged other faculty to offer similar course instructions in otherclasses.Reference: 1- BENNETT, Ray, 2003; “Teaching AutoCAD to sing”, Architectural Record; Jun2003, Vol. 191 Issue 6, p59, 1/2p, 1c. 2- Chester, Ivan, 2007; “Teaching for CAD expertise” International Journal of Technology & Design Education, 23(13). 3- Robertson, Brett F. 2007: “Creativity and the Use of CAD Tools: Lessons for Engineering Design Education From Industry. Journal of Mechanical Design, Jul2007

Conference Session

Beyond Individual Ethics: Engineering in Context

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dean Nieusma, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Liberal Education

AC 2008-1891: INTEGRATING TECHNICAL, SOCIAL, AND AESTHETICANALYSIS IN THE PRODUCT DESIGN STUDIO: A CASE STUDY AND MODELFOR A NEW LIBERAL EDUCATION FOR ENGINEERSDean Nieusma, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Dean Nieusma’s research and teaching focus on interdisciplinary design collaboration and the expertise that enables it. With a BS in mechanical engineering and another in general studies and a PhD in interdisciplinary social sciences, Dean has worked as a member of design teams in contexts as diverse as the U.S. and European automotive industries; Sri Lanka’s renewable energy sector; and STS, engineering, and design curriculum planning. He teaches across Rensselaer’s Product Design and

Conference Session

STEM Pipeline: Pre-College to Post-Baccalaureate

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Julie Trenor, University of Houston; Olga Pierrakos, James Madison University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

cases, post-doctoralfellows also served as mentors for participants. Given the National Science Foundation’s goalsfor the REU initiative, the UH REU site was designed to provide participants with a positivelaboratory experience as well as significant professional development and social components.Weekly professional development sessions included a panel discussion with current engineeringgraduate students and professors on the topics of applying to graduate school and academic andindustry career opportunities, as well as several weeks of written and oral technicalcommunications instruction and practice. Participants were housed in on-campus furnishedapartments, and social activities designed to foster camaraderie among participants

Conference Session

Capstone Design III

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Greg Kremer, Ohio University-Athens; David Burnette, Ohio University

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

DESIGN COURSES FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SKILLSIntroductionIn addition to completing a challenging technical curriculum, engineering graduates mustdemonstrate teamwork, communication, and other professional skills including professional andethical responsibility, life-long learning, and understanding the impact of engineering solutionsin a global and societal context. Unless these outcomes are integrated into students' conceptionsof being a "successful engineer" (getting a job and advancing their career), they will be under-valued and under-developed. This project demonstrates the use of industry-modeled 360°performance reviews in a team-based capstone project to link professional skills with an

Conference Session

Materials Education Perspectives

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rajiv Asthana, University of Wisconsin-Stout

Tagged Divisions

Materials

-level background in physics, chemistry, andmath through elementary calculus. The book was also to serve as a resource for those pursuingadvanced graduate studies and research but possessing limited background knowledge inmaterials processing. It was, however, not meant to substitute a good undergraduate textbook,but rather serve as an essential accompaniment to it for in-depth and integrated treatment ofselected materials processing topics. The book was not designed to develop the content in anevolutionary fashion that is normally needed to establish the foundation of an undergraduatecourse. It also did not include collections of solved examples and exercise problems; this was notsomething done on purpose or by designix but because the authors

Conference Session

Assessment

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Daniel Wittenborn, Purdue University; Michael Richey, The Boeing Company; Craig Miller, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

AC 2008-2814: ASSESSMENT OF A BLENDED PRODUCT LIFECYCLEMANAGEMENT COURSE UTILIZING ONLINE AND FACE-TO-FACEDELIVERY MECHANISMSDaniel Wittenborn, Purdue University Daniel Wittenborn is doctoral student in the College of Technology at Purdue University. He received a B.S. in Industrial Technology from Southeast Missouri State University and an M.S. in Computer Graphics Technology from Purdue University. While at Purdue, he has received the Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award and Schroff Award. He was also named a recipient of the Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship in 2007. Currently, his research interests include engineering education related to computer-aided design, manufacturing, and

Conference Session

Successful K-12 Programs for Girls & Minorities

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bruce Gehrig, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Deborah Sharer, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Stephen Kuyath, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Anthony Brizendine, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

established clubs that are focused onseveral activities during the academic year. These activities are designed to illustrate the STEM fields andthe interdependence of multiple professions, while offering opportunities for students to participate inindividual and team events. Specifically, academic year activities for NCJETS high school clubs involve: 1. Applied mechanical engineering principles through the design, analysis, simulation, construction, fabrication and testing of trebuchets, culminating in a competition on the university campus. 2. A career exploration contest which promotes student research of career / educational opportunities in STEM fields by addressing a specified open-ended problem with a specified

Conference Session

Focus on Emerging Topics Around the World

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Arunkumar Pennathur, University of Texas-El Paso; Louis Everett, University of Texas-El Paso; Tzu-Liang Tseng; Noe Vargas Hernandez; Samuel Riccillo, University of Texas at El Paso

Tagged Divisions

Industrial Engineering

solutions based on the best available academic corecompetencies. Industry partners can also hire engineering graduates with the knowledge thatthese students are able to solve real world problems using globally developed solution strategiesand tools. Industries can be viewed by members of the society-at-large at helping bringtechnological tools and solutions that help solve societal problems. This can spur furtherindustrial growth. Students stand to benefit immensely from this structure as well in severalways. They are exposed to real world problems, and will not view concept and theory as beinguseless for practice. Additionally, students benefit from the collective wisdom of state-of-the-artteaching material developed, shared and refined in a

Conference Session

Teams and Teamwork in Design I

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Keith Sheppard, Stevens Institute of Technology; Peter Dominick, Stevens Institute of Technology; Edward Blicharz, Stevens Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

students specify developmental goals regarding teamwork and study practices) ‚ Track longitudinal development of students teams skills throughout design experiences ‚ Look at impact of peer feedback on student behavior and performanceReferences1. “Engineering Education: Designing an Adaptive System”, Board on Engineering Education, National Research Council, (1995) (ISBN 0309052785).2. “The Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering in the New Century”, National Academy of Engineering, (2004) (ISBN 0309091624).3. Besterfield-Scare, M., Shuman, L., Wolfe, H., Clark, R. and Yildirim, P., “Development of a Work Sampling Methodology for Behavioral Observations: Application to Teamwork”, J. Engineering Education, Vol. 96, No

Conference Session

Engineering Professional Development for K12 Teachers

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jodi Cullum, Utah State University; Christine Hailey, Utah State University; Daniel Householder, Utah State University; Chris Merrill, Illinois State University; James Dorward, Utah State University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

AC 2008-1018: FORMATIVE EVALUATION OF A PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS INFUSINGENGINEERING DESIGN INTO THE CLASSROOMJodi Cullum, Utah State University Jodi Cullum is a doctoral student in the Experimental and Applied Psychology program at Utah State University. Her interests lie in outcomes research in health psychology and program evaluation more broadly. Jodi has been involved in numerous small-scale research studies in Canada and the United States as well as large-scale national projects. She has been involved in STEM evaluation for the National Center for Engineering and Technology Education since May 2007.Christine Hailey, Utah State University

Conference Session

Student Learning Techniques & Practices in Engineering Technology

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Hoffa, none; Steven Freeman, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

advisory committees, senior design industry advisors and other practicing engineers continue to emphasize the need for young engineers ‘who can communicate’ (p. 432).Many authors13,17,25 have alluded to instructors’ desires to minimize the amount of time spentgrading, which is surely a point few instructors responsible for grading papers would argue. Anexhaustive review of the literature has not yielded evidence that research on the synopsis methodhas been conducted, further demonstrating the need for this study.Research QuestionsThe study was guided by five research questions: 1. Does the style of lab report influence student learning based on comprehensive exam scores? 2. Does the style of lab

Conference Session

Sustainability and Environmental Issues

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Achintya Bezbaruah, North Dakota State University; Wei Lin, North Dakota State University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

engineers and scientists is becoming increasingly importantand popular throughout the world. There is a need to develop courses which introduce students tointerdisciplinary environmental management principles and tools, and expose them to variousreal world problems. To promote interdisciplinary environmental education and research, NorthDakota State University (NDSU) has introduced a graduate program in Environmental andConservation Sciences (ECS) in 2003. As part of this interdisciplinary program, a course inenvironmental management for ECS and civil engineering students was introduced. The coursewas designed as a graduate level course and was made available to civil engineeringundergraduates as a technical elective. The challenge was to address a

Conference Session

Student Recruitment and Retention

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yvonne Ng, College of St. Catherine

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

howthey can increase the number of participants, and eventually the number of graduates. Theybelieve that several factors are responsible for the decline, including • CS has a negative public image (geeky, isolated, mathematical, difficult) 9 • CS is represented as mainly programming, which has a negative image in students’ minds. 4Educators seek ways to pull women into the field because “factors driving women away willeventually drive men away as well.” 4 Modifying the CS curriculum so that it will encouragewomen to engage in more coursework may entice other underrepresented populations—andmaybe even more men. Thus, experimenting with women has broader impacts than just gettingmore women into the field.As a women’s

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Gerlick, Washington State University; Denny Davis, Washington State University; Steven Beyerlein, University of Idaho; Jay McCormack, University of Idaho; Phillip Thompson, Seattle University; Olakunle Harrison, Tuskegee University; Michael Trevisan, Washington State University

specifically at the transformation of engineering educationto address these needs5,6.Engineering capstone design courses play an integral role in this effort. As a culminatingexperience for graduates, students apply their newly acquired knowledge and abilities topractical engineering problems. This experience allows them to make valuable connectionsbetween theory and practice, and serves as an excellent opportunity to develop criticalprofessional skills7,8. The value and significance of this course is highlighted by the inclusion ofCriterion 4, the professional component in ABET’s accreditation requirements, which states that“students must be prepared for engineering practice through the curriculum culminating in amajor design experience based on the

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Design in the Classroom

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dominic Halsmer, Oral Roberts University; Nicholas Halsmer, Oral Roberts University; Robert Johnson, Oral Roberts University; James Wanjiku, Oral Roberts University

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

subject from a uniquely pragmatic “top-down” engineering point of view as opposed to the laboratory “bottom-up” mentality of biochemists. Engineers, by nature, are pragmatic problem solvers. Engineering traditionally employs the fruits of scientific research to address and solve practical problems and create the technology that ultimately serves the needs of mankind… In the pursuit of these goals, engineers are often called upon to combine the findings of a number of diverse scientific disciplines in order to arrive at practical solutions and to achieve specific goals. This is the traditional application of engineering principles. But those same principles are eminently suitable for the study

Conference Session

Engineering in Middle Schools

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Juanita Jo Matkins, College of William and Mary; John A. McLaughlin, McLauglin Associates; Eugene Brown, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Gail Hardinge, College of William and Mary; Nancy West, College of William and Mary; Robert Stiegler, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division; Kirk Jenne, Office of Naval Research

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

principal and the assistant principal wereinterviewed separately. Both administrators commented positively on the impact of the programon both teachers and students. They remarked on impacts on classroom practice, student affectand student knowledge gain. They said: “It [VDP] is a good opportunity to use problem-basedlearning in the classroom. It is an excellent way to get the classroom involved instead of justgiving the students notes. It is very hands-on.” And added: “It not only benefits the studentsacademically, but it is fun as well.” On a personal level: “It is a motivation for students. Theytake ownership in the final product. The teachers also take pride in the program.” And finally,they said: “N-STAR [VDP] definitely brought in

Conference Session

FPD10 - Freshman Engineering Introduction to Design

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Susan Montgomery, University of Michigan; Rodney Johnson, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

. Engage in an ethical decision-making process, given some engineering situation. 6. Identify the ethical, environmental and global and societal impacts of engineering practice. 7. Design technical/professional communications. 8. Deliver well-structured, technically sound oral and written communication. 9. Evaluate and effectively construct arguments, using technical content at the first-year level.The technical component of the course varies by section, with some sections being very specificto a given major, such as the “Mechanics and Materials for the Design of Biomedical Devicesand Orthopedic Implants.” Others, such as ours, are broader in

Conference Session

Design in the ECE Curriculum

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mark Cambron, Western Kentucky University; Walter Collett, Western Kentucky University; Stacy Wilson, Western Kentucky University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

early parts of their undergraduate experience. Often the only studentsengaged in applied research projects are seniors. These students have completed many of theirengineering classes and are prepared to positively impact a project. However, seniors tend tohave a nasty habit of graduating. The combination of younger students lacking skills and neededcoursework and seniors graduating makes successful large scale or multiyear projects morechallenging. The EE program has successfully used a few approaches to implement theseprojects. Four projects that have been successfully completed are discussed below.Project #1 – Curl Detection in Automation ProcessThe first project discussed is an automation design project with local industry. Two seniors

Conference Session

DEED Poster Session

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Karim Muci-Küchler, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; Jonathan Weaver, University of Detroit Mercy; Daniel Dolan, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Tagged Divisions

Design in Engineering Education

followed, a brief assessment of theresults obtained, and suggestions for future improvement are discussed using examples takenfrom projects carried out by students.Description of the Courses ConsideredThe approach to teach concept generation discussed in this paper has been used for several yearsin a sophomore-level product development course, a senior capstone design course sequence, anda graduate-level course in product planning and development. This section provides informationabout those courses as well as a partial list of the products that have been considered in each one.The sophomore-level product development course is offered every semester at South DakotaSchool of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T). It is a one-semester, four-credit

Conference Session

Use of Summer Research Programs in Civil Engineering Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Vinod Lohani, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Tamim Younos, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

watershed-basedapproach integrates various disciplines such as chemical sciences, biological sciences,hydrological sciences, engineering, and ecology. It interfaces with various technologiessuch as field and laboratory instrumentation, geographic information systems andgeospatial analysis, remote sensing, computer engineering and electronics, and datatransfer and storage and management system. The site is expected to expand the potentialpool of future graduate researchers and professionals in watershed sciences andengineering. The interdisciplinary research activities at our site are designed to facilitatelifelong learning experiences, and nourish analytical skills and creativity of futureengineers and scientists in a diverse environment consistent

Conference Session

Environmental Engineering Undergraduate Research

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Reisel, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

the engine.While some of this work was conducted by M.S.-level graduate students, the majority of thework was performed by undergraduate Mechanical Engineering students. Over the years, 13undergraduate students worked on various parts of this project, while 2 graduate students workedon the project. Of those 2 graduate students, one began work on the project as an undergraduatestudent.The use of undergraduates in research is hardly a new concept. Many examples can be found inthe literature regarding research projects using undergraduates.2-4 Studies have been conductedconcerning the impacts of research experiences on undergraduates, with respect to learningenhancements and the potential for attracting students to graduate school.5-7 One

Conference Session

Engineering in High Schools

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nicholas Oswald, Oklahoma State University; Charlie Huddleston, Oklahoma State University; Alan Cheville, Oklahoma State University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

circuits.This format proved to be somewhat problematic in practice. Since the fabrication tasks areconsecutive—i.e. the CAD design needs to be done before the printed circuit board can becreated—many students on a team had too much free time. The instructors initially assumed thatthis free time would be filled assembling the car kit and designing a paint scheme for the car.These tasks were not as time consuming as the actual control board fabrication however.Initially there were three graduate student instructors assigned to the course, one for each of thefabrication steps, but one instructor was not available and management of the course wasproblematic in this first iteration and may affect learning outcomes.Once the teams’ cars were assembled they