Topics: Engineering to Improve the Quality of Life
Professor: John Collier
Monday, Wednesday, Friday - 10:00-11:05am
X-hour Thursday 12-12:50pm
Spanos Auditorium, Cummings Hall
SYLLABUS - Fall '09
Week 1: Introduction to the course and problem solving
No skills session this week
| Wednesday, Sept. 23 | Goals of the course;
Introduction to the Engineering Method
Turn in personal profile (Prof. Collier) |
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| Thursday, Sept. 24 5:00 - 7:00 PM | Introduction to Thayer laboratory and Machine Shop facilities & Pizza dinner in the Couch Project Lab
| Assignment: read the Problem Solving Loop |
| Friday, Sept. 25 | Use of matrices for design decisions, segmentation and problem solving techniques
How to select a problem (Prof. Collier)
| Assignment: read Problem Solving method example. |
Week 2: Group Selection
Prototype fabrication skills - 1
| Monday, Sept. 28 | Problem solving techniques and how to select a group (Prof. Collier)
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Assignment: "How to Select a Team" |
| Tuesday, Sept. 29 | Hand in group selection sheets | |
| Wednesday, Sept. 30 | Needfinding (Prof. Robbie)
Assignment of project groups (receive lab books) |
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| Friday, Oct. 2 | Group dynamics
Questions & Answers about Proposal; Structure of the written and oral presentations |
Assignment: Group dynamics |
Week 3: Project selection and discussion
Prototype fabrication skills - 2
| Monday, Oct. 5 | Intriguing concepts and great ideas
Slide max: 6; 2 slides max per idea |
Assignment, in class feedback |
| Wednesday, Oct. 7 | Intriguing concepts and great ideas
Slide max: 6; 2 slides max per idea |
Assignment, in class feedback |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | How to Give a Proposal Presentation
How to Write a Project Proposal One Page Executive Summary of Proposal due at noon. Email Ms. Amanda Perry. |
Assignment: Read proposal guidelines |
Week 4: Project Proposal
Prototype fabrication skills - 3
| Monday, Oct. 12 | Proposal Presentations - Spanos | Critique at least one other presentation and turn in eval sheet |
| Tuesday, Oct. 13 | Proposal Presentations - Spanos | Critique at least one other presentation and turn in eval sheet |
| Wednesday, Oct. 14 | Feedback on Proposals: Written proposal due by 9 am to Amanda in Room 119
2 bound copies and one stapled 3-hole punch (10 pg. maximum plus appendices) |
Assignment: watch video with TA |
| Thursday, Oct. 15 X-Hour |
Lecture on safety at Thayer School (Prof. Levey & Dr. Cimis)
(Note: this seminar is mandatory for all ENGS 21 students who haven't already taken it (as part of ENGS 24). Check your status Note: The "Shop Safety" course does not satisfy this "undergraduate safety seminar" requirement. |
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| Friday, Oct. 16 | No class |
Week 5: Ethics and Modeling
Prototype Fabrication Skills: model making
| Monday, Oct. 19 | Models, mock-ups and 3D modeling (Prof. Robbie) | Assignment: by Robbie |
| Wednesday, Oct. 21 | Engineering Ethics and Professional Codes of Conduct
(Ms. Donovan and Ethics Institute) |
Assignment: read the Professional Code of Conduct for Engineers |
| Friday, Oct. 23 | Developing the Progress Report
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Assignment: read the guidelines for progress reports and understand the grading sheet |
Week 6: Progress reports
Prototype Fabrication Skills: testing and analysis, electronic assembly, sensors and displays
| Monday, Oct. 26 | Engineering Ethics and Case Study (Prof. Collier)
One Page Executive Summary of Progress Report due at noon. Email Ms. Amanda Perry |
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| Wednesday, Oct. 28 | Progress Report presentations - Spanos Auditorium | Assignment: critique at least one presentation and turn in eval sheet |
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | Progress Report presentations - Spanos Auditorium
3 copies of written Progress Reports due in Room 119 at noon (2 copies bound and 1 copy stapled and 3-hole punch) |
Assignment: critique at least one presentation and turn in eval sheet-prepare 2 minute progress summary for classmates |
| Friday, Oct. 30 | Summary presentations of progress to classmates | Provide written suggestions to other teams |
Week 7: Product Design and Performance
Prototype Fabrication Skills: prototype development
| Monday, Nov. 2 | Product Design (Prof. Robbie) | Assignment: by Robbie |
| Wednesday, Nov. 4 | STATISTICS (Dr. Lasky) | Assignment: by Lasky |
| Friday, Nov. 6 | Sustainable Engineering (Prof. Cushman-Roisin) | Assignment: by Prof Cushman-Roisin |
Week 8: Other Factors in Product Design
Prototype Fabrication Skills: prototype testing
| Monday, Nov. 9 | The Role of Engineers in Product Liability; How To Protect Yourself. (Prof. Collier) | Read Liability handout |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Design Review and interactive feedback in Couch Project Lab | Assignment: provide suggestions to other teams |
| Friday, Nov. 13 | Design Review and interactive feedback in Couch Project Lab | Assignment: provide suggestions to other teams |
Week 9: The Business Plan & Entrepreneurship - Selling Your Product
Prototype Fabrication Skills: user testing, packaging, prototype optimization
| Monday, Nov. 16 | Entrepreneurship and Venture/Business Proposals (Mr. Gregg Fairbrothers) | Assignment: Read Prof Fairbrothers handout on entrepreneurship |
| Wednesday, Nov. 18 | Introduction to Engineering Economics: Why Cost is not Price
Marketing and How to Determine Price (Prof. Collier) |
Assignment: Read economics and cost/price handout |
| Friday, Nov. 19 | How to prepare the 'Venture Proposal' portion of the Final Report (Prof. Collier) | Assignment: Work with the 'skateboard' excel example and read guidelines for the final report |
Week 10: Finals Discussion
Prototype Fabrication Skills: project completion
| Monday, Nov. 23 | Final Question and Answer session and Discussion of Final Presentations |
| Wednesday, Nov. 25 | Thanksgiving Recess |
| Friday, Nov. 27 | Thanksgiving Recess |
Week 11: Final Presentations
No skills session
| Monday, Nov. 30 | Final Report Presentations, day 1 - Spanos | Critique at least one presentation and turn in eval sheet |
| Tuesday, Dec. 1 | Final Report Presentations, day 2 - Spanos Auditorium
3 copies of written Progress Report due in Room 119 at noon (2 copies bound and 1 copy stapled and 3-hole punch) |
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| Wednesday, Dec. 2 | Demonstrations of prototypes in GlycoFi Atrium | Each team has 4 min to present protototype |