Welcome
Welcome to ENGR 215 Introduction to Design. This is a 3-credit course aimed at introducing the student to the engineering design process, including critical analysis of problems, teamwork and technical communication. The course meets weekly for 2 hours of lecture and 3 hours of lab. However, these “lecture” periods and “lab” periods will be used for multiple learning formats as this course will integrate lecture, discussion, student projects, computer labs and outdoor field activities. It will require active learning on your part. If you have any type of disability that may hamper your full participation in these activities, please inform your instructor as soon as possible so that we can make the appropriate accommodations. Check out the Student Disability Resource Center (http://sdrc.humboldt.edu) for more information on the services provided at HSU.
Course Objectives
- Students will learn about and experience the engineering design process.
- Students will further develop the many computing skills needed by practicing engineers and scientists. These skills include:
- word processing
- spreadsheet
- CAD (Computer Aided Design)
- Internet skills, including email, web searches and web pages
- Students will further develop the many communication skills needed by practicing engineers and scientists. These skills include:
- written communication
- verbal and visual presentation skills
- teamwork
This course addresses the following Environmental Resources Engineering program objectives:
I. ERE graduates will be able to apply the tools and concepts of mathematics, basic sciences, and engineering science in engineering practice.
II. ERE graduates will be prepared and understand the need to continue their life-long education in mathematics, basic sciences, and engineering science, design, and practice.
III. ERE graduates will have developed an understanding and an appreciation for contemporary issues and the historical, social and political context of the environmental resources problems that will engage them in their careers
IV. ERE graduates will be able to effectively and professionally communicate ideas and technical information to the public and to fellow and other professionals in written and oral reports.
V. ERE graduates have the ability to design systems, components, processes and procedures to meet specified objectives, with an emphasis on designs for managing environmental resources.
VII. ERE graduates will be able to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams and, when necessary, to pro-actively resolve problems with team dynamics.
X. ERE graduates will have a professional attitude and ethical responsibility to their client and their community in terms of the legal, economic, technical, and the environmental aspects of their role.
XII. ERE graduates will have the ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
Grading
You are expected to attend and participate in all class sessions. You are expected to complete the assigned reading prior to the date indicated on the class schedule, to do all homework assignments, and to participate fully in the team projects. Your fellow students will evaluate your performance on the team projects. Attendance at all group/teamwork sessions is mandatory.If you have more than 3 unexcused absences, you will receive an F in the course.
- 50% Design Project Report (Design Team)
- 15% Peer Evaluation (Design Team)
- 8 % Rube Goldberg Design Project (Design Group)
- 22% Lab and Class assignments (Individual and Group Work)
- 5% Class Portfolio (Individual Work)
Late Assignments
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior instructor approval will be severely penalized or not accepted.
Make-up assignments will only be accepted in extraordinary situations that are verifiable and well documented. The reason for missing work must be substantial and quite beyond the student’s control.
Academic Honesty
In attempting to cope with the various aspects of this course, the sharing of ideas will often be educationally useful. Part of my teaching philosophy is to encourage students to learn from one another and to help fellow students to learn. The team projects illustrate the collaborative approach.
Collaboration on coursework is authorized in this course provided that it is done in the spirit of mutual learning and sharing of ideas. When this occurs, you should indicate the names of all persons with whom you collaborated. The copying of someone else’s work or ideas and representing them as your own is unethical and prohibited. As in most, if not all issues involving ethical considerations, it may be hard to know where to draw the line. If you do not provide the names of your co-workers, I will presume the collaboration is copying, not mutual learning. If you do collaborate, it must be noted and you are still responsible for understanding all the material.
You should read: The official Student Code of Conduct and HSU’s Policy of Academic Honesty.
Professional Ethics
Below are some URLs that provide useful information of the ASCE code of ethics for Professional Engineers and ethics for engineering and science.
- ASCE Code of Ethics
- ASCE Homepage - Ethics
- National Society for Professional Engineers Ethics Homepage
- Online Ethics for Engineering and Science
Course Materials
- Memory stick or other device to back up files
- Presentation materials for final project poster and for final project document
- Up to $100.00 in project materials ($25 – Rube Goldberg, $75 – 10-week Design Project)
Attendance
Attendance at all class/lab sessions is mandatory. If you will miss a session, you must contact your instructor in advance to arrange a make up or alternate exercise.Failure to do so will result in a grade penalty. If you have more than 3 unexcused absences, you will receive an F in the course.
Makes-ups will only be given in extraordinary situations that are verifiable and well documented. The reason for missing work must be substantial and quite beyond the student’s control. Not many excuses are accepted. The instructor will decide whether an excuse is acceptable. One criterion for acceptance of any excuse will be its timeliness. Therefore, whenever possible, inform me before the missed work is due.
Previous Design Projects
- Spring 1995 ERE Home pages Instructor Beth Eschenbach)
- Fall 1995 - Schatz Energy Research Center Home pages and the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary Home pages (Instructor Beth Eschenbach)
- Spring 1996 - Solar Oven Design for K-12 School Teachers (Instructor Beth Eschenbach)
- Fall 1996 - Re-Design of the Arcata Educational Farm Irrigation System (Instructor Beth Eschenbach)
- Spring 1997 - Design of a system or plan for Coast Sea Foods that will reduce Bat Ray predation. (Instructor Beth Eschenbach)
- Fall 1997 - Design of Stencil Program for Humboldt County Surfrider Foundation (Instructor Beth Eschenbach)
- Spring 1998 - Solar Oven Design for the ASEE National Design Graphics Competition (Instructor Beth Eschenbach)
- Fall 1998 - Design of Simple Machines for Discovery Museum (Instructor: Susan Firor)
- Spring 1999 - Instructional demonstration to be used by either an elementary or high school teacher to teach Slow Sand Filtration (Instructor: Susan Firor)
- Fall 1999 - Water Treatment From Your Kitchen (Instructor Beth Eschenbach)
- Spring 2000 - Solar Oven Design for K-12 School Teachers (Instructor Beth Eschenbach)
- Fall 2001 - Mobile Environmental Laboratory (Instructor Eileen Cashman)
- Spring 2001 - Physical Model of Groundwater flow and remediation for local K-12 educators (Instructors Eileen Cashman and Beth Eschenbach)
- Fall 2002 - Sleeping Structure for Arcata Youth Hostel (Instructor Derek Baker)
- Spring 2003 - Water Sample Storage Device for Developing Countries (Instructor Mike Anderson)
- Fall 2003 - Physical model for teaching K-12th grade students about energy conservation in the home or about renewable energy systems.
- Spring 2004 - Energy Reduction Plan for House 18 – Environmental Resources Engineering Department Office (Instructor Beth Eschenbach)
- Fall 2004 - Energy Reduction Plan for House 71 – Learning and Testing Center (Instructor Eileen Cashman)
- Spring 2005 - Flume Inserts for Redwood Discovery Museum (Instructor Eileen Cashman)
- Fall 2005 - Interactive Energy Efficiency Displays for Redwood Coast Energy Authority (Instructor Lonny Grafman)
- Spring 2006 - Interactive Energy Installations (video) for the Discovery Museum (Instructor Lonny Grafman)
- Fall 2006 - Appropriate Technology Infrastructure Models for CCAT (Instructor Lonny Grafman)
- Spring 2007 - Interactive Energy Efficiency Displays for Redwood Coast Energy Authority (Instructors Eileen Cashman and Lonny Grafman)
- Fall 2008 - Green building cottages for the planned Humboldt Bay Eco Hostel. (Instructor Lonny Grafman)