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Session 1566

Assessing and Improving a Senior Design Project Course for Undergraduates in Mechanical Engineering Based on New ABET Guidelines

P. B. Ravikumar University of Wisconsin, Platteville, WI

Abstract

The Senior Design Project Course in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin- Platteville offers a format of instruction and student participation that is centered around industry sponsored projects. The course is designed to serve as a transition from education to the practice of engineering to the graduating engineering student. The course is designed at the same time to meet the educational objectives consistent with the new ABET guidelines which offer flexibility of setting, assessing, and improving the goals of the course in particular and the curriculum at large. This paper addresses the developments in format, content, instruction, and student participation and their relation to the assessment plans, evaluation, and improvements in the Senior Design Project course. Design Process, Time Management, and Engineering Ethics are discussed as examples of the variety of topics covered in the course. Samples of assessment plans, evaluation, and subsequent improvements are also discussed.

Introduction

The Senior Design Project course in Mechanical Engineering (ME 4930) at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville offers a format of instruction and student participation that is centered around industry sponsored projects. This capstone design course is offered each fall and spring with an average enrollment per semester of about thirty-five students. Project sponsors’ funding is encouraged but is not mandatory. Students work on projects typically in groups of four or five. The course is designed to serve as a transition from education to the practice of engineering to the graduating engineering student. The course is designed at the same time to meet the educational objectives consistent with the new ABET guidelines which offer flexibility of setting, assessing, and improving the goals of the course in particular and the curriculum at large.

Course of Study

As is often the case in most courses, the course of study for the Senior Design Project course is handed out to the students at the first meeting of the class. The typical course of study is a detailed document of about ten pages that addresses the course objectives, content, format of instruction and student participation, tasks and documentation required of the students, and method of evaluation. Particular aspects somewhat unique to the course addressed in particular include references to the subjective nature of the course that has to be evaluated objectively, design team formation

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2001, American Society for Engineering Education

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Ravikumar, P. (2001, June), Assessing And Improving A Senior Design Project Course For Undergraduates In Mechanical Engineering Based On New Abet Guidelines Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--8919