11/1/2007 Author: McCarthy, J.M, Technical Editor
Volume: 129(11) – November, 2007
It is Fall, which means our project teams are trying to get organized. The blank look on the faces of our senior students forces me to remember that only months ago I was watching in amazement as last year’s team worked smoothly and effectively to repair their damaged Formula SAE vehicle overnight so not to miss a single event in the competition. It is a long way from here to there.
An important characteristic of innovation is its potential to transform the way we do things. A small insight applied at the level of fundamentals can have a transformational outcome. Innovation in engineering education should have this transformative leverage.
I have seen confidence in their own abilities and trust in their colleagues, literally transform my students individually and as a team. I can work to provide the opportunity, but I am not sure you can make it happen. It really is not whether a team wins or loses, but seeing them learn to work together as engineers that draws me back year after year.
