The Solar powered aircraft project course 20012002

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The Solar powered aircraftproject
course2001-2002

• A three-semester course where 15 students from
  two specialization programs did a joint project

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Project spec

• Design, build and fly a solar powered aircraft
  able to carry a 2 kg payload
• Constraints
• 3 semesters, 5000, in-house premises

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Teaching and learning modes

• 1. Project meetings
• Project management
• Task definitions
• Problem statements
• Objectives
• Oral presentations
• 2. Subtasks
• Teamwork (small groups)
• Application of knowledge
• Info search
• Knowledge search
• Report writing

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Teaching and learning modes

• 3. Workshops
• Conceptual design
• Manufacturing and assembly
• 4. Informal tutorials
• Theory
• Machine shop
• Composites lab
• General advice

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Project milestones

• 1. Conceptual design
• 2. Subsystems verification
• Propulsion
• Manufacturing processes
• Electrical systems
• Aerodynamics

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Wind tunnel tests
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Project milestones

• 1. Conceptual design
• 2. Subsystems verification
• 3. Preliminary design
• Report writing (Project report)
• Reviewing
• Modifications and recalculations
• 4. Final design

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Manufacturing and assembly
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Project milestones

• 1. Conceptual design
• 2. Subsystems verification
• 3. Preliminary design
• 4. Final design
• 5. Final verification
• - Operate!
• http//flygmac7.flyg.kth.se/sap

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Assessment

• Original model (faculty plan)
• Grades through mix of teachers and students
  opinions

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Assessment

• Revised model (students mutiny)
• Pure 360 peer review procedure through average
  of grades from fellow students

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Assessment

• Extended revised model (redress of faculty)
• Average grade from colleagues
• Sub-categories
• Feedback

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Assessment form

• Grade Ed using the following categories (use
  decimals if you like)
• Practical effort (practical work, dexterity)
• Administrative effort (communication, planning,
  management)
• Theoretical effort (analysis, research)
• Social effort (enthusiasm, conflict handling,
  cooperativeness)
• Final grade in the course
• I liked that you
• I wish that you

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Assessment output

• Course grades in MSc Diploma (traditional)
• Course certificate including
• Description of the course
• Description of the project
• Grades (subcategories and final) from peers
• Personal feedback from peers

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Lessons learned (selected few)

• The project generated urge for knowledge
• Online feedback was received
• External customer desirable
• Subtasks preferably small and short-term rather
  than large and long-term
• Make students budget-responsible
• Distribution of work uneven over time
• Distribution of work uneven between students
• Make liaisons with believers, avoid disbelievers

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Improvements

• Teach
• Project management
• Written and oral presentation
• Basic economy
• Self assessment
• Develop course goals
• Introduce (fixed) grading system early
• Practice
• Mid term grades (poll)
• Monitor student efforts
• Estimated time vs logged time
• Participation
• Portfolios

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• We made it!