The Engineer as a Professional
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Transcript The Engineer as a Professional
Using PBL to integrate environment
related learning outcomes in
established engineering courses
Dr Colin Fitzpatrick,
Dept of Electronic & Computer
Engineering, University of Limerick,
Ireland
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Presentation Outline
• The Changing Responsibilities
of Engineers
• IEI Accreditation
• Problem Based Learning
• Some Problems
• Grades & Feedback
• Conclusion
2
The Changing Responsibilities of
an Engineer
• The Engineer should consider the
protection of a client’s or
employer’s interests his first
professional obligation and
therefore should avoid every act
contrary to this duty”
– American Institute of Electrical Engineers
1912
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The Changing Responsibilities of
an Engineer
• Promote the principles and practices of sustainable
development and the needs of present and future
generations.
• Strive to ensure that engineering projects for which
they are responsible will have minimal adverse effects
on the environment, on the health and safety of the
public and on social and cultural structures.
• Place responsibility for the welfare, health and safety
of the community at all times before responsibility to
the profession, to sectional interests, or to other
engineers
– Engineers Ireland 2005
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IEI Accreditation Report
2005
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Electronic Engineering
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Electronic Engineering
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Electronic Engineering
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IEI Accreditation Report
2009
• The core "Engineer as a Professional" module
[EE4003] was felt by the Panel to be an
excellent addition to the programme since the
last accreditation panel visit, and its teamwork
development activity in particular was felt to
be a model of good practice that could be
promulgated as such within the sector.
• The Electronics & the Environment module
[ET4407] was also noted as a very positive
addition to the programme, although not
contributing to the Programme Outcomes for
every student on the programme because of
its position as an elective module.
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New BE Electronic Engineering
Semester 6
EE4317
Active Circuits 4
Semester 7
EE4407
ASICs 1
Semester 8
EE4408
ASICs 2
ET4224
Sensors &
Actuators
EE4607
Telecommunications
Systems 1
CE4008
VLSI DSP Systems
EE4816
Signals &
Systems 1
ET4407
Electronics &
Environment
EE4328
Power Electronics
EE4617
Communications
Theory 1
EE4005
Electrical Power
Systems
EE4117
Electromagnetics
EE4218
Control 2
EE4907
Final Year Project 1
EE4908
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Final Year Project
2
Syllabus
• 1. Environmental Forces in the Electronics Industry -Market
Driven -Sustainability Driven - Legislation Driven
• 2. Design for Environment (ECO Design), -Life Cycle Chain
Analysis, -Design for Recycling -Reverse Manufacturing, Reverse Logistics -End of Life Solutions
• 3. Green Materials, -Lead Free Interconnects, -Halogen Free
Materials, -All other materials outlined in WEEE and ROHS, Packaging
• 4. Sustainability, -Energy Efficiency, -Alternative Power
Supply
• 5. Case Studies discussing such issues as Environmental
Challanges in the Semiconductor Industry, Producer
Responsibility in Electronics Industry & Sustainable Trade in
the Electronics Sector of Emerging Economies among other
topics.
• 6. Invited Talks -Seminars By The Local Electronics Industry
On Environmental Challenges In Their Company.
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How PBL is Applied
• The module is divided into weekly problems
posted on the module blog
• The students must solve in groups of three or
four
• Each group has a chair, a scribe and a
timekeeper
• During this session they must
– Name facts
– Clarify what they think the problem is
– Brainstorm ideas based on prior knowledge
– Identify what they do not know (learning
issues)
– Specify an action plan and assign tasks
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How PBL is Applied
• In the second session of the week they share
information and resources, and peer-teach
their proposed solution to the problem
• This period is crucial to make sure that they
what they are working on is relevant
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How PBL is Applied
• In the final session of the week a
representative of each group makes a
presentation to the class on their solution to
the problem
• The students also have an opportunity to ask
questions and discuss
• The lecturer gives an overview of the topic and
feedback on the presentations
• They must write an individual blog entry on
the problem
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Capstone Project
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Capstone Project
• Thin client system based out of the community center and
or library. This is energy and materials efficient and also of
social value.
• Thin clients are less attractive to thieves.
• Thin clients available for home use if required after
training has been completed.
• Don’t just roll out a machine for everyone, make sure that
the hardware is available but that it is used efficiently
• Thick clients also available for home use if need is
justified
• System of accountability and responsibility for hardware
needed
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Capstone Project
• Machines should be free but have a small rental /
subscription to make sure that they are being used. If they
are not being used then they can be handed back.
• Detailed and comprehensive training programs required
based on demographics
• The whole area must be broadband enabled either through
wireless or fixed line
• Long term commitment to the project maintenance
required.
• The social and economic cost of not doing the project
outweighs the economic cost of undertaking it.
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Capstone Project
• An area should be established to allow small businesses
become established which can take advantage of the
excellent IT infrastructure
• Violent and other anti-social websites should be kept
outside a firewall
• Residents should be part of the management and
operational running of the project
• Use the most energy efficient servers available (several
spec’s given)
• Develop a website on local environmental / ecological
issues
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Capstone Project
• Promote the internet as a means of reducing car
dependency
• Must establish a philosophy of repairing all equipment
where possible
• All upgraded equipment must be reused elsewhere
• Develop an on-line local newsletter
• Recycling should be a key part of all operations
• Choice of operating systems should be available. Open
source is cheaper but for training purposes Microsoft
should also be available due to its dominant role in
industry.
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Capstone Project
• All printers should be eco labeled and print double sided
using recycled paper.
• All monitors should have LED backlights
• All new buildings should have the best in environmental
technology to showpiece environmental thinking
• All lighting in the training / drop in centres should be
energy efficient
• Servers should be powered using renewable energy
• Marketing campaign should surround the scheme to create
a positive image of the area in the national media.
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Capstone Project
• The community should be given the opportunity to air their
views on how the scheme should evolve over time.
• The plan must be adaptable.
• The scheme should tie in with Computer Science and
Engineering Departments at local Third Level colleges.
• Training should be more than just ECDL and typing,
should have continuation courses for web development,
databases, programming, computer games development,
CAD etc…
• Targets set for increasing the level of IT skills, increasing
IT related employment and increasing literacy and
numeracy.
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Grades
2007 (PBL w ith Continuous Assessm ent) v
2006 (Term inal Exam )
40
%age of class
35
30
25
20
2007
15
2006
10
5
0
A1 A2 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 D1 D2 F
Grade
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Feedback
• “I believe the PBL approach teaches the
material more thoroughly. I feel this is
because we were required to research the
topics and then create a paper based on this
research. Working in groups was helpful as
this allowed us to confer with each other and
learn more, this also improved our team skills.
I believe there will be a longer retention of the
material due to the PBL approach. Personally I
prefer the PBL approach.”
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Feedback
• “Found it to be much better. I
found I learned far more using this
approach.”
• “This method is a lot easier to
understand as we are putting the
information learned directly into
use so it remains more active for
longer”
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Feedback
• “The module is an interesting one and it
is also taught in a good way. By
sending us off to research required
material ourselves I feel the information
acquired through this process definitely
stays with the student, more so than
studying notes that have been provided
for you to study by lecturers in other
modules”
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Conclusion
• Cover significantly more material
• Students are much more engaged
• Students produce work of a much
higher quality
• It’s more enjoyable for me
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