Development of a Discrete Event Dynamic Systems Curriculum Using a Web-Based 'Real-Time' Simulated Factory

该奖项为波士顿大学Pirooz Vakili博士指导的为期三年的联合研究课程开发项目提供资金支持，该项目名为“使用基于网络的“实时”模拟工厂开发离散事件动态系统课程”。拟议项目的课程开发部分旨在采用一种综合和创新的课程开发方法，与目前的工程方法论课程教学方法有很大不同。课程的重点是制造系统，离散事件系统（DES）的一个主要例子，将开发。本课程将引入两个关键创新：(a)课程将以问题为导向，以工业案例研究为基础，介绍问题、关键概念和解决方法；(b)将使用基于网络的“实时”模拟工厂，作为互动实验室，学生或学生团队将在学期中管理工厂。这些创新旨在实现以下教学目标：(i)从一开始就激励和吸引学生，（ii）在学生积极参与学习过程的程度上引入一个巨大的飞跃，（iii）引入团队活动，（iv）突破“教科书”和“课堂”例子的限制，以及(v)在最能理解其意义和贡献的背景下引入研究成果和方法。该项目的主要成果将是为社会科学课程创造一种新的课程开发模式。其他成果将包括研究成果、波士顿大学制造工程系课程新课程的开发和整合，以及研究生参与研究和课程开发。

This award provides funding for support of a three year Combined Research-Curriculum Development program entitled, "Development of a Discrete Event Dynamic Systems Curriculum using a Web-Based "Real-Time" Simulated Factory," at Boston University, under the direction of Dr. Pirooz Vakili. The curriculum development component of the proposed project aims at an integrative and innovative approach to curriculum development that departs significantly from the current methods of teaching engineering methodology courses. A course with a focus on manufacturing systems, a prime example of a Discrete Event System (DES), will be developed. Two key innovations will be introduced: (a) the course will have a problem driven focus where industrial case studies will be the basis for the introduction of problems, key concepts, and solution methodologies, and (b) a web-based "real-time" simulated factory will be used that will serve as an interactive laboratory where students or teams of students will be managing the factory during the semester. These innovations are intended to achieve the following pedagogical objectives: (i) motivate and engage the students from the outset, (ii) introduce a quantum leap in the degree to which students participate actively in the learning process, (iii) introduce team activity, (iv) break out of the limitations of "text book" and "classroom" examples, and (v) introduce research results and approaches in a context where their significance and contributions can be best appreciated. The key project outcome will be to create a new model of curriculum development for DES courses. Other outcomes will include research results, development and integration of a new course in the curriculum of the Manufacturing Engineering Department at Boston University, and involvement of graduate students in research and curriculum development.