I have no idea why but it took me a while to get this blog post up. I have be procrastinating a lot recently, not only in blogging but in almost everything that I do which is definitely not a good thing. However, class is officially started, a whole new semester to stress about as I believe I am taking up the initiative to join more clubs and societies than before. Now let's go back talking about engineering :)
So this Taylor's Engineering Fair happens annually and this year I happen to choose to cover this event, probably because I missed the science part of me when I was a once a science student in high school. Of course, it is organized by Taylor's School of Engineering and main sponsor by Ambank Group. This fair encourages first and second year engineering students to create projects in a group using the Project Based Learning approach.
Question 1: What is Project Based Learning?
This method helps to challenge them to design, solve problems, make decisions and investigate activities and come up with ideas and realistic solutions to problems.
This event helps to provide a platform for students to enhance their theoretical knowledge and technical skills, it prepares them to take on industrial challenges and contribute positively to the community when they graduate. Also, as said in prior, it is a group work thus learning about teamwork will be acknowledge as well.
For the year 2011, 54 teams of students competes for one of the 13 awards in recognition of their projects. It was held on the 18 and 19 January at the Taylor's university Lakeside campus.
For a communication student. it is pretty amazing to see what the engineering students can come up with within the time frame of three months. I found out that apparently this project will also be graded for a class, I guess is a good way to make the students put in more effort in this project.
I am going to leave the rest to the pictures below with some descriptions.
Hybrid Lighting System
A street light that is powered by using solar energy and wind energy
Eco House
An environmentally friendly house.
This reminds me of the world's greenest home from Astro TLC
Though, their water tank is leaking.
Check out their components.
Personal opinion, it may not be the most original idea but giving credits for the amount of things need to be done for this demo house.
Now take a look at this. I was firstly attracted to this project because of the light from the aquarium and I like to see some fishes. However, when I got there, the only I saw was a Fishbox.
You read it right, a fishbox. Honestly, I have no idea this fish is call a fishbox.
Their project is called Thermodynamics of Marine Biology (ToMB)
They study the thermodynamics of a marine life in this case, a fishbox.
According to them, there is something to do with the way this fish shaped that can help to promote better designs on certain things for example submarine or cars and etc. I was actually very interested on what they have done.
However, the next project is my personal favorite!
Classroom learning tool
Design and improve the current classroom learning tool using critical and creative thinking.
So as you can see, the tools that they came up with was tables and chairs.
In class, many times, if you are unlucky, you have no choice but to sit behind a super-duper tall person, to make the matter worst, he or she has this crazy big bushy hair and it totally blocked your view of the board/projector. Sounds familiar? Well, it happens to me all the time because I'm petite.
So with this design of chairs that creates a particular way of sitting method that allows students at the back to sit between the two person in the front. The best part about this is that the chairs elevates, thus the following row behind can sit higher and still see the lecturer! It also comes with a bottom storage compartment.
Below are a few ways it can be used.
For two person discussion.
A bigger group discussion setting.
Even though I think it is a great idea and it is somewhat original, there might be still some faults with this idea like spacing issues and the design of the chair don't look very comfortable for a person to lay back on as it is not a flat back surface or how about armrest?
This fair definitely attracted some media attention.
There are more but I just picked these few to show it off here. xD
Overall, it's a good event because I am a big believer in showing off your completed assignments to people other than your lecturer. Everyone should be proud of what they have done. It may not be the best but there is always room for improvements. What the heck, we are still students anyway! This is where we learn to prepare ourselves for the real world. :)
Heartz,
jq
Available @ nia.ljq@gmail.com
