Transcript Slide 1
ROXIE
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A Case Study in Providing Service Learning Opportunities for Students on a Large Scale
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
The Instructional Team
ENGE 1114: Exploration of Engineering Design
Richard Goff Tamara Knott Jenny Lo
Department of Engineering Education
Second course in first-year engineering curriculum
Contains 3 learning modules:
Graphics Communication
Engineering Design
Computer Programming
~ 900 1st-year engineering students
Janis Terpenny Christopher Williams
Pic of Torg classroom
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
The Service Learning Team
Karen Gilbert Andy Morikawa Michele James Deramo
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
ENGE 1114 Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives “Standard” Design Project Service Learning Design Project Understand the engineering design process Demonstrate basic project management Communicate engineering information Participate in a major team design project Improve ability to work in a team Improve negotiating skills Improve interpersonal communication skills Have fun with engineering design Improve relationship between VT campus and the community Participate in VT Engage and Service-Learning + + + + + + + + +
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
What is ROXIE?
Service Learning Design Project Students serve as “Design Consultants” for community partner Work with community partner to identify need Work towards solution using design methods taught in class
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
What is ROXIE?
5 Steps:
1. Partner with community service group 2. Perform volunteer service activity with group 3. Reflect on experience and identify opportunity for improvement 4. Propose design problem (and get it approved) 5. Follow design method to propose solution to problem
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Implementation:
Project Unveiling (aka Sales Pitch)
This semester you will: Get out of the classroom Learn through doing Connect with the community Actively apply principles of design Improve the community Be given the freedom to define your own project Apply your knowledge to open-ended problem Get hands-on experience off-campus LEAVE A LEGACY
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Implementation:
Project Unveiling (aka Sales Pitch)
Your help is needed!
The skills of an engineer are highly valued and needed by the community service groups in our region.
You will be benefiting sharing the resume!
your skills and knowledge while from learning how community service groups function and you will gain invaluable experience working as a team on a real-world problem. Great for You will begin or continue a lifelong commitment service to your community.
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ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Implementation:
Project Selection Advice
The design problem you identify should not only assist with the specific needs of the community service organization, but should also assist you with your internalization of the design process.
Answer in the affirmative for the following questions: Is there an opportunity for improvement?
Are there multiple requirements and/or constraints that must be met for a satisfactory solution to the problem?
Are there multiple alternatives for a successful solution to the problem?
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Implementation:
VT ENGAGE
Linking students with community partners Finding community partners On-line partner selection Level of student interest Making the initial connection
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Project Partners
Camp Alta Mons Floyd County Humane Society Lynchburg Girl Scouts Blacksburg Baptist Church Angels of Assisi Huckleberry Trail Vote About America Beans and Rice, Inc.
Blacksburg Mayor’s Office Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad Blue Ridge Scout Reservation Boy Scouts of Virginia Luther Memorial Church AARP of Blacksburg Girl Scouts of Virginia Student Food Pantry Roanoke YMCA Dayspring Christian Academy Camp Ottari Humane Society of Montgomery County
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Example Projects
VT Rescue Workbench design “Movable Walls project for the Habitat for Humanity Restore” Design of March of Dimes Educational Curriculum Blacksburg Baptist Church Parking Lot Runoff Control Powhatan Welcome Center Renovation Design of Indoor Bouldering Facility “Designing a Doggy Domicile” Bridge Handrail Design
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
By The Numbers
~ 900 students 185 teams (~175 projects) ~ 90 Community Organizations Estimated 15,000+ hours contributed towards completion of project 90% of ROXIE community partners surveyed want to participate again in the future Increased interest in community partners working with engineering students
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Community Response
“Just a quick note to say Thank You for developing the ROXIE project. We always enjoy exposing students , particularly Freshmen, to community service and community .
helping them understand how their expertise and time can make a difference in the It was enjoyable, and impressive, listening to their presentations.” E. Gail Billingsley Executive Director, YMCA at Virginia Tech
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Community Response
“I just wanted to express my thanks for the opportunity to work with your Engineering students. It was a pleasure to work with this group as they handled themselves in a very professional manner.
The plans that were submitted as part of their final report will most likely be implemented as soon as we are able to work out the logistics of the move. We had hoped to find a "better" use of our space but with limited time and staff had not been able to look at what our options might be. What a great benefit to the museum this assignment was ! It is so good to see the University helping the community in these ways . Rest assured that as you send your students out, they are representing you well!” Rhonda Hale Executive Director, Montgomery Museum and Lewis Miller Regional Art Center
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Community Response
“ Thanks to the hard work of our ROXIE team , 28 young people working on their GED’s already have a computer to help them with their studies, which will help ensure their success with passing this test.” Nelda Pearson, Executive Director Beans and Rice
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Community Response
“We plan to implement as many projects as possible developed by our ROXIE teams. Tech seniors.” We are looking forward to a continued relationship with engineering students at Virginia —possibly even working on more advanced projects as Jean Ann Hughes, Director Girl Scouts of Virginia, Skyline Council
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Student Response
Working in the community was rewarding
“It is easy for students to struggle in finding a purpose for studying engineering during their freshmen year. ROXIE was an experience that allowed students to make their studies worthwhile, share their hard work with the community, and develop their engineering design skills and communication skills.” “Working with the community was very gratifying experience and helped me to realize how much people appreciate volunteering work.” “Being outdoors and doing a good deed for several young kids made this project an excitement from the start.” “I am glad that I have knowledge about how hard and time consuming it can be to keep a community service running.”
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Student Response
Working in the community was rewarding
“The project has allowed us to be exposed to other peoples’ lives while helping the community.” “I found it rather fulfilling. I have learned that doing what we did for the ROXIE project is something that I think I would enjoy doing for a living. … It really allows us to see what it is actually like to work as an engineer in the real world, and that experience is priceless.” “Working with the community was a great experience” I really enjoyed being able to work with a community partner…I believe that the overall process was a positive experience.
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Student Response
Learned How to Do Engineering Design
“(at) the beginning of the project I felt overwhelmed and flustered … I felt unprepared to do any good … However, by the middle of the project I was more comfortable with the idea of working with a real community partner and not a theoretical person.” “I thought I was going to design an object within a group and have competition with other groups. However (through ROXIE) I recognized design is more than that and it is a process of finding and solving these problems.” “The ROXIE project … has greatly helped instill the principles of the design process in my mind. I have learned that there is a lot more to it than just writing down the problem, brainstorming, and experimenting.”
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Student Response
Learned How to Do Engineering Design
“The ROXIE project was a unique experience that helped me to improve on my design abilities and also showed me what the future as an engineer would be like.” “Before entering the ENG program at VT I was a submarine mechanic for the US Navy … Looking back at this period in my life I wish that I had some of the problem definition skills that I was taught during these beginning engineering courses.” “I think that the design methods we learned in class will be useful for other engineering projects in the future”
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Student Response
Questioning ROXIE’s benefit to the community
“The only thing that I think is wrong with this project is the fact that we are not able to deliver our design to our community partners. It feels like we are taunting them with a solution to a major problem of theirs without delivering the solution to them.” “Since we will not actually implement our project, all the design processes and work we went through are basically useless.” “Engineers working on a House of Quality is definitely not serving the community or helping them in any way.”
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Student Response
How your Efforts Made a Difference
By developing alternative solutions to a problem, organizations are now able to focus in on the one idea that works best—in some cases leading to dramatic savings in consultant and professional fees With complete, detailed reports in hand, organizations are now able to discuss these projects with their executive boards and apply for grant funding to implement YOUR solution Many clients of the participating organizations are already enjoying the benefits of the ROXIE project
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Community Response
“Now that we have our report from our ROXIE team, we will begin immediately to apply for grants to fund our outdoor classrooms. It is very helpful and time-saving to have the detailed design and expenses in hand.” Tamra Oliver, Assistant Principal Falling Branch Elementary
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Outcome:
Lessons Learned
Community Partners Include community partners in kickoff meeting Reduce the overall number of community partners involved Keep partners involved through design reviews Students and Service Learning Design Projects Increase number of teams working on a single project Emphasize importance of intellectual service Emphasize importance of design solution and not design product
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
ROXIE
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ngineering Thank you.
ENGINEERING EDUCATION