CSCI 179 Engineering Design
- TEXTS
- There is no textbook, but you should be prepared to spend around $100 for the materials that we will use in this class.
- TIME AND PLACE
- MWF 10:00-11:15 AM
- RBH 223
- INSTRUCTOR
- Rebecca Bruce
- Office: RBH 220
- Office Hours: M,W: 11:15-12:00 & Th 1:00-2:30
- 828.232.2275
- bruce@cs.unca.edu
DESCRIPTION
This course introduces freshman students
to UNCA and to engineering design. Engineering design combines
creativity with a systematic approach to problem solving. In this
course, we focus on facilitating creativity. The course will
emphasize the following: the design process, 3D modeling,
microprocessors, fabrication, and the creative use of these tools to
solve problems. This is a 'hands-on' course; all concepts will be
introduced in an interactive lab/lecture environment. There will be
ample opportunity for self-guided exploration and creativity.
CLASS PHILOSOPHY
We believe that it is essential to
play with technology, exploring different possiblities directly in
hardware and software. We believe that exploration should be
self-guided to the largest extent possible. Creativity is fostered
by self-guided exploration. In order to incourage creativity, this
class strives to offer the nine dimensions of a climate for
innovation (Prather, C. W., 1996).
- RESOURCES
- Idea Time
- Idea Support
- Challenge and Involvement
- PERSONAL MOTIVATION
- Trust and Openness
- Playfulness and Humor
- Absence of Interpersonal Conflicts
- EXPLORATION
- Risk-Taking
- Debates About the Issues
- Freedom
Lecture: Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Failure to do so will impact your class grade and will be considered a lack of interest in success on the part of the student. Students are responsible for completeing all work missed due to class absense on their own.
Exams: If you must miss a quiz due to illness, you must email or telephone the instructor before the scheduled time to avoid a zero for that quiz.
LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY
Late assignments will not be accepted. As expected in an professional setting, assignments are due before class on the date specified in the statement of the problem. As per the catalog, students will be excused if they have documented emergencies or are representing UNCA on university-sanctioned travel. An equipment failure is not an excuse for turning in an assignment late.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
- Introduce students to education in a liberal arts environment by
- integrating information and intellectual approaches from different disciplines
- directly addressing the nature of the liberal arts, being multi-disciplinary or interdisciplinary in their approach to the topics
- emphasizing the responsibilities of a liberally educated person, promoting understanding about the campus community
- utilizing active learning opportunities
- Assist students in making the transition to UNCA by providing opportunities for students to
- becoming an active member of the campus community
- develop personal responsibility for their choices and goals
- learn about campus resources
- Achieve the following learning outcomes.
- students will be able to clearly articulate in their ideas in scientific writing
- students will be able to clearly articulate in class discussion their ideas about course content
- students will understand how a liberal arts education differs from other approaches to higher education
- students will be able to create 3D scale models in Google SketchUp
- students will understand basic 3D graphics terminology
- students will be able to read a simple schematic diagram
- students will be able to wire simple circuits
- students will be able to program the Arduino microprocessor
Tentative Course Schedule
- 08/16-21/09
- Sunday: Book Discussion, 3D Food Modeling.
- Monday: Introduction to the course, Introduction to Moodle Forum writing, and Google SketchUp Exercise 1; Pre-course survey
- Wednesday: SketchUp Exercise 2 and Found-Object Project
- 08/24-28/09
- Monday: Model objects for Found-Object Project in SketchUp
- Wednesday: Eileen Buecher, Career Center Director; Submit 2D views of Found-Object models to moodle forum
- 08/31-09/04/09
- Monday: Found-Object project fabrication in class; Submit sketchUp model of fabricated sculpture to moodle
- Wednesday: Eileen Buecher, Career Center Director; Sarah Jones for NSCS; & Take-Home Test on Google SketchUp; Sample Solution
- Thursday: 7:15pm dinner meeting to display found-object sculptures
- 09/07-11/09
- Monday: No Class: Labor Day
- Wednesday: Brent Skidmore, Craft Campus Director;
Discussion of Writing;
Writing Assignment - 09/14-19/09
- Monday: Part 1: Circuit Mapping, Circuit Mapping Forum, Identify Groups on Intro. Forum
- Wednesday: Part 2: Circuit Measuring, Circuit Measuring Forum
- 09/21-25/09
- Monday: Part 2: Circuit Bending, Circuit Bending Forum
- Wednesday: Part 3: Circuit Bending, Circuit Bending Forum
- 09/28-10/02/09
- Monday: Part 3: Circuit Bending, Circuit Bending Forum
- Wednesday: Review for Test on Basic Electronics, Writing Assignment, Sound Project Part 1 & Sound Project Part 1 Forum
- 10/05-09/09
- Monday: Test on Basic Electronics, Sound Project Part 1, & Sound Project Part 1 Forum
- Wednesday: Sound Project Part 2, Sound Project Part 2 Forum
- 10/12-16/09
- Monday: Fall Break, Enjoy!
- Wednesday: Sound Project Part 2 Continued, Sound Project Part 2 Forum
- 10/19-23/09
- Monday: Sound Project Part 2 Continued, Sound Project Part 2 Forum
- Wednesday: Sound Project Part 2 Continued, Sound Project Part 2 Forum
- 10/26-30/09
- Monday: Sound Project Part 3, review for Quiz on Sound Programming, & Writing Assignment,
- Wednesday: Calley Stevens Director of Learning Support & Quiz on Sound Programming
- 11/02-06/09
- Monday: LEDs & Sensor Project Part 1, LEDs & Sensor Project Part 1 Forum
- Wednesday: LEDs & Sensor Project Part 1, LEDs & Sensor Project Part 1 Forum
- 11/9-13/09
- Monday: LEDs & Sensor Project Part 2, LEDs & Sensor Project Part 2 Forum
- Wednesday: LEDs & Sensor Project Part 2, LEDs & Sensor Project Part 2 Forum
- 11/16-20/09
- Monday: LEDs & Sensor Project Part 2, LEDs & Sensor Project Part 2 Forum, review for Quiz on LEDs and Sensors, & Writing Assignment,
- Wednesday: Student-Led Project & Quiz on LEDs and Sensors
- Thursday: Joel Horne on Creative Use of Technology, 7-8pm in RBH 125
- 11/23-27/09
- Monday: Student-Led Project
- Wednesday: No Class: Happy Thanksgiving!
- 11/30-12/04/08
- Monday: Student-Led Project
- Wednesday: Student-Led Project
- 12/9/09
- Final Exam: Present final projects. Wednesday 6:00-7:30 pm
Grading
| Description | Number | Individual Points | Net Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quizes | 4 | 20 | 80 | |
| Projects | 5 | 25 | 125 | |
| Essays | 5 | 20 | 100 | |
| Daily Participation |
29 | 2 | 58 | |
| Totals | 363 points | |||
Letter grades are assigned based on the percentage of available points obtained by a student. 100% to 90% guarantees an A, 89% to 80% guarantees a B, and so on. The instructor reserves the option of relaxing the cut-offs for a letter grade in special circumstances. Plus and minus grades will be used for this course.
Resources
Return to Rebecca Bruce's home page
Last modified: August, 2009 22:36