Reflection
|
ABET
Outcomes
for
AE 481W/482 |
Outcome not able to be assessed
(Score of 0) |
Level of ability demonstrated but below acceptable
(Score
of 1)
|
Minimum acceptable level of ability demonstrated
|
More than minimum level of ability demonstrated
|
a. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics,
science, and engineering
|
- |
- |
- |
X |
b. An ability to analyze and interpret data
|
- |
- |
- |
X |
c. An ability to design a system, component, or
process to meet desired needs
|
- |
- |
- |
X |
e. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve
engineering problems
|
- |
- |
- |
X |
f. An understanding of professional and ethical
responsibility
|
- |
- |
X |
- |
g. An ability to communicate effectively
|
- |
- |
- |
X |
h. The broad education necessary to understand the
impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context
|
- |
- |
X |
- |
i. An ability to engage in life-long learning.
|
- |
- |
X |
- |
j. A knowledge of contemporary issues |
- |
- |
- |
X |
k. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and
modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
|
- |
- |
- |
X |
o. Engineering design capabilities in at least two
(2) of the (3) basic curriculum areas of architectural engineering, and that
design has been integrated across the breadth of the program
|
- |
- |
- |
X |
p. Communication and interaction with other design
professionals in the execution of building projects
|
- |
- |
- |
X |
AE 481/482 Course Reflection
The AE Senior Thesis project is divided into two halves: AE 481W and AE 482. AE 481W was more structured and focused on the preliminary portions of the project, which included the abstract, building statistics, technical assignments, and proposal. AE 482 was designed to be more unstructured, thereby placing the burden of completing the final report and presentation squarely on the shoulders of the student with the intention of developing time management skills.
I found the structured nature of AE 481W very helpful with time management as there were a lot of little parts that needed to be completed. I failed to obtain the necessary plans and specs over the summer. As a result, I was inherently behind from the start. The semester tasks were laid out in such specifics that I found it very easy to catch up once I received construction documents.
AE 482 was a completely different story. The unstructured nature of the second half of senior thesis forced me to layout my own tasks and due dates. I was able to complete the tasks I set for myself in a much different timeframe than other students. And, without knowledge of how the final reports have been graded, I cannot comment of the effectiveness of my own ambition compared to that of my classmates, but I can say that the free nature of the course allowed for a lot of discrepancy between students.
CPEP Reflection
AE Senior Thesis utilizes student-generated electronic portfolios to maintain communication between students and their advisors. The CPEP sites, as they are referred to, were generated using a common template, thereby relieving most students of the responsibility of creating their own template (as had been the case in past years).
All of my assignments were posted to my CPEP and reviewed electronically by my advisor. As a result, I did not need to have any in-person contact with my advisor until my final presentation. I found the CPEP very easy and convenient to use. It was definitely a time-saving device.
The two main electronic resources for this project are the discussion boards, monitored by professionals, and the CPEP sites from previous years. I did not use the discussion boards myself, but I did get to review the questions posted by my classmates and the boards definitely seemed helpful. I did occasionally utilize the CPEP sites from previous years as guides for my own analyses and reports. I found them helpful, but I can imagine a scenario where the easy access to old reports would drastically reduce the amount of creativity a student would need to employ to complete the requirements of the AE Senior Thesis project. That is the only hesitation I found with featuring the use of CPEP's so prominantly in the thesis process.