Coursework emphasizes creative and critical thinking, planning, design, execution and statistical evaluation of experiments, multidisciplinary team work, and project management. Students will use engineering and project-management principles and concepts learned to-date to propose a project, develop requirements and constraints, complete initial design, and present initial results to a panel of professional reviewers.

Required Texts: None

After taking this class, students should be able to:

• Use project management tools to plan and execute an engineering project.
• Develop, test and analyze a prototype and write a report documenting the results.
• Use creativity and critical thinking to solve real-world engineering problems considering ethical, societal, environmental and economic issues.
• Communicate ideas and project outcomes to diverse audiences using oral, written, and graphical methods.
• Function as effective team member in a variety of roles such as leadership, administrative and/or technical support.

Students will be assessed through a variety of assignments related to various topics and their design projects. Participation will be recorded as part of the grade based on instructor observations and peer evaluations. Assignments will be divided into 2 categories: Assignments, and Deliverables. The categories will be weighted as indicated below. Each assignment will be weighted within the category by its point-value.

• Formal documentations are required for each of the above grading component.
• Exams are not planned in this course. There will be multiple presentations and written assignments.
• The percentages in the grading scale above may be varied depending on our overall project success this semester.
• A final project report is expected to be submitted in complete details in the format satisfying the requirements before the final presentation.
• Any components purchased using the SUU project funding support to be handed over upon completion of the project.

Reports and other formal documents summarizing the project must follow any format requirements presented in the assignment or on the course Canvas page. Reports should be professional in nature, at a similar level as to what is found in industry (i.e. conference publications).

From time-to-time students may be asked to evaluate their peers. Students are expected to behave in a respectful and professional manner and provide constructive comments. Disruptive, distracting behavior or comments that are not at a professional, mature nature will not be tolerated. This behavior may result in a grading penalty (if the evaluation is an assignment) and/or the student may be asked to leave the room.

The design projects are group projects. The majority of assignments will be given one score for the entire group (although exceptions can be made by the instructor if significant unequal work is observed). Each group is responsible for delegation of work. Each student must supply some technical effort to the project. While it is understood that the level-of-effort may vary among group members, groups are expected to make an effort to distribute technical and managerial work on the project as evenly as possible.

All assignments submitted for grading MUST follow the Homework Requirements (posted on Canvas and discussed in class). An objective for this class is to teach you how to communicate through your engineering calculations. Homework not following the requirements will not receive full credit. Consistent disregard for the homework requirements may result in a grade of zero for the homework.

Written Exam solutions should be neat and easily followed. Points are given for following the solution process, including drawing free-body and kinetic diagrams when appropriate, indicating the governing equations and how they apply to the problem and having a clear, follow-able solution carrying units! Getting a final answer is only part of the problem. You will lose points if I cannot follow your work and/or see key elements of the solution.

Oral exams. Oral exams during weekly presentations may require you to provide answers and/or partially solve problems (such as drawing appropriate diagrams/sketches and writing equations). Keeping your work neat and organized typically helps you work through solutions. If remotely taking an oral exam, ensure that you have an adequate way to show your work via the zoom meeting. Practice beforehand to see how it works if necessary. These exams will be short and you will not want to spend time working out your method during the exam.

Read the Directions - Many mistakes on assignments and presentations are made because students fail to read the instructions. This can be particularly detrimental if unnecessary work is performed that wastes valuable time.

Check your work. Ask yourself: Is this answer reasonable? - If your answer does not seem reasonable and you don’t have time to find your error (for example, on an exam), explain that the answer is not reasonable as well as a short explanation why you feel that way. Ask yourself, “Would I be happy to pay for the quality of work that I am producing?”

For essays, projects or other reports – You writing should be clear, grammatically correct, and completely address the topic. There should be an appropriate flow of ideas and facts that lead the reader through logical arguments and data to the conclusions. Being a scientist is no excuse for poor communication skills.

If you need help: The easiest way for me to provide assistance is to see your work first-hand. During office hours I plan to be available for assistance, however if you cannot make office hours, please email or call to make an appointment. The best way to get help is to show me how you have attempted to solve the problem. Getting help on tasks/assignments works best when you start your assignments early and do not leave matters until the last minute.

• LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR FULL CREDIT. In general, assignments are not accepted if they are submitted after the deadline. Prior information with justification is required for any excuse sought for late submission.
• Presentations must be given as scheduled. Any absence not excused in advance will result in a zero for that presentation. Unless pre-arranged, the order in which groups present will be determined by the instructor. Any material required for a presentation MUST be submitted prior to class and the presenters are responsible for ensuring the materials are uploaded and displayed. Students should be prepared to present in class or via a Zoom meeting.
• Assignments are due at the beginning of class and will not be accepted once class begins. LATE ASSIGNMENTS MAY BE PENALIZED BASED UPON THE TIME BETWEEN SUBMITTAL AND THE DUE DATE OR MAY NOT BE GIVEN ANY CREDIT.
• Assignments are due at the beginning of class and NOT accepted once class begins. LATE ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED FOR CREDIT. You are still encouraged to complete late homework and can always check your answers with me.
• Unless pre-arranged and approved by the instructor, due-dates for assignments will not be modified.
• If you miss a scheduled lab time, you are responsible for coordinating with the instructor a time to utilize the lab facilities within the time-frame of the assignment.
• If you stay home due to an illness, contact me ASAP so we can arrange for you to complete work remotely. Getting behind is one of the primary reasons students are not successful in this course.

• Attendance: Class attendance is required as per the course schedule posted on canvas. Additionally, you are required to regularly meet with the instructor (to be scheduled by your team and the instructor). There may be additional attendance requirements outside of class (such as a project review in the evening, or other large events such as the Festival of Excellence). Since class does not meet regularly, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND CLASS WHEN SCHEDULED with the exception of extreme situations. If you miss class, you are responsible for all the material covered and any assignments (due and/or assigned).
• While most of the materials will be available online via canvas posts and assignments, additional information may be provided during class time. If you miss class, you are responsible to get the information provided in class.

FE Reference Handbook, National Council of Examination for Engineering and Surveying, 9.5 Ed., 2018

• Canvas will be used for posting all assignments, recording scores for homework, projects and exams, and to make announcements to the class (outside of class time).
• All correspondence to the entire class outside of class time will be via Cavnas (assignments, announcements, etc.). Communication to individuals will be to your e-mail address associated with SUU. You are responsible for periodically checking your email and Canvas for announcements and assignments.

Safety and Professional Behavior: Projects may involve the use of lab or other university equipment. Students should maintain professional behavior at all times, but particularly when operating equipment. Students are required to read and follow instructions for use of equipment and only to use the equipment in a safe manner to minimize the danger to oneself and others. Disregarding safety and/or other procedures will result in your dismissal from the lab area and a grade of zero for the associated project (at a minimum). Significant disregard for equipment and/or safety my result in a failing grade for the course. If you are unsure as to how to operate equipment in a safe manner, ask for help. This is of particular importance in the capstone since students should be ready to transition to a professional environment.