Real world capstone design course

Abstract

Recent feedback from industry and our alumni indicates that graduating engineers need better preparation in solving open-ended problems, thinking "outside the box", working in teams, and in developing strong communication skills. In response to this feedback, as well as ABET Program Outcomes Requirements, we redesigned our senior capstone course to include real world and multidisciplinary technical projects proposed and sponsored by eleven companies, five University departments and the student satellite and solar car projects. Many of our industrial partners also participate as guest speakers in the class exposing ECE majors to real world professional topics including engineering design, the proposal process, design reviews, patents and intellectual property, ethics, quality and robustness issues, and considerations involved in designing for the environment. All students work in design teams of three to six students and prepare significant written documentation as well as three oral presentations during the two semester, four credit hour sequence of the course. Varied forms of assessment are used for the class, including a unique, well-designed rubric for the evaluation of the student's writing portfolios. The class is team taught by an ECE faculty member and the ECE Department's Technical Communication Expert. We believe that students' enthusiasm for the course results from both the uniquely collaborative design of this class and the real world application of all of the material provided in this innovative course.