The Do’s And Don’ts Of Student Project Collaboration Between Colleges: A Hindsight View From Two Community Colleges
- Conference
- Location
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Chicago, Illinois
- Publication Date
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June 18, 2006
- Start Date
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June 18, 2006
- End Date
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June 21, 2006
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Multidisciplinary Engineering
- Page Count
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7
- Page Numbers
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11.1275.1 - 11.1275.7
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--549
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/549
- Download Count
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396
Paper Authors
Nikki Larson Edmonds Community College
Ms. Larson is currently an assistant professor in the engineering technology department of Western Washington University. Before this appointment, she was an instructor in the materials science technology program for Edmonds Community College. There she is developed the coursework and laboratory experiments necessary to make the new program a success. She has 6 years of industry experience implementing lean manufacturing techniques, managing development projects, and leading cross-functional teams to assess technical capability of suppliers and strategic partnerships. She also has several years experience in the composites and ceramics manufacturing arenas. Ms. Larson holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Bradley University.
Eric Davishahl Everett Community College
Eric Davishahl holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington with a specialization in energy and fluid mechanics. Prior to joining the faculty at Everett Community College in 2001, Eric worked for Nu Element Inc, a fuel cell technology research and development company and at Energy International Inc. an energy industry consulting company in Bellevue, WA. He was selected as the George Shuh outstanding faculty member at Everett Community College for the 02-03 academic year.
Jill Davishahl Edmonds Community College
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
The Do’s and Don’ts of Student Project Collaboration Between Colleges: A Hindsight View from Two Community Colleges Abstract
The human powered submarine project began for both schools in October of 2004, with the race deadline of June 26, 2005. Seven Everett Community College students and four Edmonds Community College students decided to take part in the challenge of building a human powered submarine. Together, both groups of students needed to obtain SCUBA training, create and install the safety systems, integrate all of the components, test, and repair the submarine. The team completed a functioning wet submarine in 9 months and competed in the International Submarine Races (ISR). This paper outlines the teaming successes and pitfalls of the project.
The International Submarine Races (ISR) involves human powered submarines that are designed and built by various students, including large universities, community colleges, private companies, and individuals. It provides an opportunity for students to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to a real-world situation such as the design and manufacture of a product as well as how to work in a team.
As the two schools began to collaborate, many unexpected triumphs and frustrations began to come to the surface. Items such as communication, timelines and competing schedules, workload, and distance proved to be the most challenging items, while the ISR competition, organization, teamwork, hands-on learning, and overall experience gave the team reasons to celebrate the project.
The joint effort between Edmonds and Everett Community Colleges provided both schools with valuable lessons about how to collaborate. Open communication is the most important aspect in any teaming situation and it is important for both sides to commit to ensuring it exists.
Introduction
The submarine project undertaken by Edmonds and Everett Community Colleges was full of unanticipated challenges and victories. The project originated from an Everett Community College student’s interest in participating in the International Submarine Races (ISR) held every odd year in Bethesda, MD, at the Carderock Naval Warfare Center’s David Taylor Model Basin. This basin is approximately 3200 feet long and 22 feet deep. The 2005 competition was the ISR’s 8th. The competition involves human powered submarines that are designed and built by various students, including large universities, community colleges, private companies, and individuals. It provides an opportunity for students to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to a real-world situation1.
When the interested Everett Community College student approached his pre-engineering advisor about the competition, the advisor suggested involving the Edmonds Community College Materials Science Technology students to build the composite hull since the Edmonds program is focused in that area. This arrangement hoped to balance out the specialties from each school:
Larson, N., & Davishahl, E., & Davishahl, J. (2006, June), The Do’s And Don’ts Of Student Project Collaboration Between Colleges: A Hindsight View From Two Community Colleges Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--549
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