Conference Session

Sustainability in Engineering Curricula

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen Hoffmann, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Inez Hua, Purdue University; Ernest Blatchley, Purdue University; Loring Nies, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

recruit and involve people involved in three specific types of courses: 1) introductory classes, including college-wide “First Year Engineering” courses and disciplinary introductory or introductory design courses; 2) engineering fundamentals courses, especially those related to materials, which could address the source, lifecycle, and energy requirements of manufacture, manipulation, recycling and disposal of materials in addition to the current focus on material properties; 3) design courses, including capstone or senior design projects: these are the places where skills learned through the curriculum are integrated and creativity and problem solving are center-stage. Design is, by definition

Conference Session

Sustainability in Engineering Curricula

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mary McCormick, Tufts University; Kristina Lawyer, Michigan Technological University; Meredith Berlin, University of Colorado - Boulder; Chris Swan, Tufts University; Kurt Paterson, Michigan Technological University; Angela Bielefeldt, University of Colorado, Boulder; Jonathan Wiggins, University of Colorado, Boulder

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

-opUndergraduate ResearchEngineering Design Class/Capstone Page 15.543.13Engineering Challenge QuestionPlease answer one of the following questions. Please limit your answer to approximatelyone page.Question A: As an engineering consultant, you were recently put on a team for a new project,and the client is your alma mater (the university you attended). The job involves providingrecommendations on all aspects of new projects and on the potential renovation of existingfacilities.Note that the client (your university) is not exempt from the challenging economic times and islooking for ways to save money upfront and to reduce long term costs. What types of changeswould you like to make to address these challenges? What will

Conference Session

Engaging Students

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nicole Berge, University of South Carolina; Joseph Flora, University of South Carolina

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

core knowledge did not differ between the instructionaltechniques, but students in the inquiry-based course demonstrated significant improvement in“innovative thinking abilities.” These observations were corroborated by Leon-Rovira et al.9; theauthors also found that student creativity was enhanced as a result of integration ofactive/inquiry-based techniques. Problem-based learning approaches have also been employedand resulted in positive student feedback.6 Some curricula are integrating entire courses(predominantly upper level design courses) based on such techniques. Quinn and Albano4 reporton a problem-based learning course (i.e., senior year project) in structural engineering in whichstudent feedback is positive. A problem-based capstone