Modernization of Aerospace Engineering Curriculum

航空航天工程课程现代化

• 批准号: 0431948
• 负责人: Ramesh Agarwal
• 金额: $ 9.97万
• 依托单位: Washington University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-08-01 至 2006-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0431948&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Modernization; Aerospace; Engineering; Curriculum

The School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis has a new Program in Aerospace Engineering leading to a B.S. degree. This major was created based on student demand and strong endorsement from the Boeing, their principal aerospace employer. This planning grant has four objectives for modernizing their aerospace engineering curriculum: (1) Teach aerospace design through hands-on design/build/fly projects; (2) Integrate these design projects into the classroom at all grade levels; (3) Integrate research into undergraduate-focused design projects; and (4) Improve the recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups in aerospace engineering: An essential part of the improvement in curriculum is an improvement in the diversity of the student body. A student-built project is a natural showcase for outreach events and recruiting visits, which should be intentionally used to attract pre-college students from underrepresented groups. In addition, retention of students will be improved through the program's improved connection with faculty and mentoring opportunities across grade levels. At present, these four objectives are informally implemented for spacecraft design; students in aerospace, mechanical, electrical and computer engineering are developing a 30-kg nanosatellite through coursework and volunteer project work. Intellectual Merit: The goal of this planning grant is to define a process for an integrated hands-on project oriented curriculum for both the aircraft and spacecraft design tracks. These tracks will be available not only to aerospace engineering students but to students from other disciplines as well. Broader Impact: The reformed curriculum will enhance the critical thinking & communication skills, provide cross-disciplinary exposure, encourage teamwork, mentoring and participation of minorities, and improve employment opportunities. It will provide a model for curriculum reform at other institutions. The state of Missouri has a four-university consortium in Aerospace Research & Education, with Boeing as an industrial partner, which is also very interested in this modernization effort.

位于圣路易斯的华盛顿大学工程与应用科学学院开设了一个新的航空航天工程项目，可获得学士学位。这个专业是根据学生的需求和他们的主要航空雇主波音公司的强烈支持而创建的。这项计划补助金有四个目标来实现航空航天工程课程的现代化：(1)通过实际的设计/建造/飞行项目来教授航空航天设计；(2)将这些设计项目融入各个年级的课堂；(3)将研究融入以本科生为重点的设计项目；(4)改善航空航天工程中代表性不足的群体的招聘和保留：课程改进的一个重要部分是提高学生群体的多样性。一个学生建造的项目是一个自然的展示外展活动和招募访问，它应该有意地用来吸引来自代表性不足群体的大学预科学生。此外，通过该项目改善与教师的联系以及跨年级的指导机会，学生的保留率将得到提高。目前，这四个目标在航天器设计中非正式实现；航空航天、机械、电气和计算机工程专业的学生正在通过课程作业和志愿者项目工作开发一颗30公斤重的纳米卫星。知识价值：此计划补助金的目标是为飞机和航天器设计轨道定义一个综合实践项目导向课程的过程。这些课程不仅对航空航天工程专业的学生开放，也对其他学科的学生开放。更广泛的影响：改革后的课程将提高批判性思维和沟通技巧，提供跨学科的机会，鼓励团队合作，指导和少数民族的参与，并改善就业机会。它将为其他院校的课程改革提供一个模式。密苏里州有一个航空航天研究与教育的四所大学联盟，波音公司是一个工业合作伙伴，波音公司也对这项现代化工作非常感兴趣。