From Homeland to Heartland by Erik Ingemann Waldorff

1
From Homeland to Heartlandby Erik Ingemann
Waldorff

• The Undergraduate Experiences of a Danish Student
  at Aalborg University and the University of
  Michigan

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Undergraduate Career

• Aalborg University, Denmark
• 1996-1998
• Mechanical Engineering
• University of Michigan, U.S.A.
• 1998-2000
• Aerospace Engineering

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Aalborg University

• Main focus Group work (project)
• 1st year Basic Education, introduction to group
  work, some basic courses
• 2nd-5th year Mechanical education, introduction
  to industry involvement etc.
• No graded homework!
• One final exam for graded courses (pass/fail)
• 6 hour final oral group exam based upon group
  project
• Semester/course schedule set throughout

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Aalborg UniversitySemester Plan (schematic)

• Group Project
• Graded Courses (Full Semester)
• Non-graded Courses (1/2 or ¼ Semester)

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University of Michigan

• Main focus Courses
• Graded homework, midterms, final
• Group work integrated into specific courses,
  extracurricular activities allow for industry
  interaction, e.g. Solar Car, NASA RGSFO etc.
• Freedom to select courses

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University of MichiganSemester Plan (schematic)

• Graded Courses (Full semester)
• Group Work/Project
• Extracurricular Activities

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Comparison of Teaching Systems

• Aalborg University
• Advantage Group projects make the students ready
  to enter a real task force in the industry by
  applying the acquired engineering knowledge in a
  real setting.
• Drawback Lack of specific knowledge in each
  course. Only a few courses have a specific exam
  (final exam).

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Comparison of Teaching Systems (cont.)

• The University of Michigan
• Advantage Specific knowledge in each course a
  high priority.
• Drawback Acquired engineering tools used only
  in a few design courses or extracurricular
  activities where group work is introduced.

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Comparison of Teaching Systems (cont.)

• A Perfect World (?)
• Working continuously on projects with ties to the
  real world makes the students ready to enter
  industry.
• Combination of the two systems would optimize the
  specific learning curve for the students while
  making them aware of the applicability in the
  real engineering world.

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Comparison of Teaching Systems (cont.)

• Proposed model (semester)
• Two-three (2-3) courses taught in the style of
  the University of Michigan
• One group project with ties to (local?) industry
  based upon the current courses taken
• Seminars that emphasize other aspects of the
  project. These seminars are only used to make the
  students aware of these aspects