Department or Program: Engineering

Course Number: ENGR 491

Course Title: Engineering Seminar

Number of Credits: 1

Catalog Description: (1 S.H.) Varying topics seminar class. Students are required to give presentations on topics pertinent to engineering. Also includes guest speakers from the engineering profession. Emphasis on oral presentation of research and engineering projects activities. Engineering Seminar is one of two engineering courses that collectively satisfy 3 credits of the Oral Flag requirement in the University Studies Program.

This is an existing course that has previously been approved by A2C2 Yes .

OR

This is a new course proposal No . (If this is a new course proposal, the WSU Curriculum Approval Form must also be completed as in the process prescribed by WSU Regulation 3-4.)

Department Contact Person for this course: Maryam Grami

Email: mgrami@winona.edu

The proposed course is designed to satisfy the requirements in (select one area only):

Course Requirements

A. Basic Skills: B. Arts & Sciences Core:

______ 1. College Reading and Writing ______ 1. Humanities

______ 2. Oral Communication ______ 2. Natural Science

______ 3. Mathematics ______ 3. Social Science

______ 4. Physical Development and Wellness ______ 4. Fine & Performing Arts

1. Critical Analysis _____ 1. Writing

______ 2. Science and Social Policy ___X__2. Oral

______ 3. a. Global Perspectives ______ 3. a. Mathematics/ Statistics

______ b. Multicultural Perspectives ______ b. Critical Analysis

__ __ 4. a. Contemporary Citizenship

______ b. Democratic Institutions

Department of Engineering

Fall and Spring 2001-2002

1 Credit 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursdays, Room: Stark 106

Tel: 457-5348

Email: mgrami@winona.edu

Office Hours: Mon.: 8:30 - 12:00 a.m., 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.,

Wed.: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., and Fri. 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Each senior will give an oral presentation (30 minutes speaking and 10 minutes answering questions) and write a two-page paper (about 1000 words) on a subject pertinent to composite materials engineering or engineering in general. The subject must be approved by the coordinator. One or two students will give presentation in each seminar session. If for any reason such as scheduling an invited speaker or bad weather the student seminar was cancelled it will be rescheduled as the first speaker on the following week. The paper will be evaluated by the faculty and will be posted on the bulletin board for one week.

The topic to be presented in the seminar should not be any of the subjects that were covered by a professor in any engineering class, and should not be a topic that was presented by the student in another class.

Students are required to provide:

1. The title of their seminar topic as soon as possible (at least three weeks before seminar) to make sure they have enough time for any possible major changes.

2. A brief abstract of about one to two paragraphs one week (Wednesdays of the week before) before their presentation.

3. The paper one day before seminar.

4. A copy of their Power Point Presentation at the day of their seminar.

All faculty who are present will participate in grading the presentations. Faculty evaluations will be given both orally and written in the evaluation forms.

Seniors will participate in peer evaluation. Evaluation forms will be distributed each time a senior speaks.

Video Taping: Each seminar will be videotaped by the student who presented seminar the week before. This duty will be shared on a rotating basis.

Grading:

Paper 10%

Presentation 90% (approximately 50% for the scientific

content and 40% for the presentation skill)

Attendance, Video Taping There is a penalty of up to 30% for not attending the seminars and failing to video tape

- Faculty average grades, as given in evaluation form, will be used for presentations and the paper.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this course are to enable the student:

1. To engage in independent research on a topic pertinent to engineering.

2. To conduct literature search, collect data, perform an investigation, and present the findings of a study to colleagues, staff, and faculty.

3. To gain experience in public speaking, professional presentations, and oral communications.

4. To present studies, express ideas, and advance solutions and conclusions clearly to an audience, and to be able to defend your thesis.

5. To interact with an audience and engage in professional discussions.

6. To engage in a lifelong practice of organizing ideas, thoughts, and theses for presentations, and learn from colleagues, professionals, and one's own performance how to continuously improve communications skills.

7. To learn to share ideas and information in professional settings and to give feedback to and receive feedback from peers in the profession, and in other public fora.

8. This course is designed to satisfy the requirements in the University Studies Oral Flag.

1. Requirements and learning activities that promote students’ abilities to earn significant course credit through extemporaneous oral presentation

This is a seminar course. The whole course is devoted to an oral presentation. Each student gives a thirty-minute presentation on the topic of their choice pertinent to composite materials engineering or engineering in general. At the end of the seminar the speaker answers questions for about ten minutes. For better evaluation of students understanding of the subject matter, the students are required to write a two-page paper on their seminar topic. Students are evaluated both by peer students and the Engineering faculty. Ninety percent of the course grade is based on the average of faculty grade on the presentation and ten percent on the related paper.

2. Requirements and learning activities that promote students’ abilities to understand the features and types of speaking in their disciplines

The seminar course is a one-year course. Students must attend all weekly meetings. Every year the Engineering Department invites several professional speakers and schedules their presentations during seminar meeting times. These presentations are excellent examples of public speaking for the students.

3. Requirements and learning activities that promote students’ abilities to adapt theory speaking to field-specific audiences

During the first few weeks of the school year, the faculty coordinator invites a faculty from the Department of Communication Studies at WSU to give a presentation and provide "Tips on Public Speaking." Additionally, presentations of the invited speakers are quite informative on engineering subjects and present real-world examples of the related issues.

4. Requirements and learning activities that promote students’ abilities to receive appropriate feedback from teachers and peers, including suggestions for improvement

All senior Engineering students are required to take the course and attend the weekly meetings. All engineering faculty attend the seminar. There is a detailed evaluation form to be filled by the student and faculty audience. The faculty meets after the seminar to discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the presentation in the absence of the student. Then the faculty calls the speaker and provides their feedback to the students. Faculty written feedback on presentation and the paper are handed to students after the seminar. If the Engineering faculty realizes that the speaker did not thoroughly cover the scientific background of the subject matter or if the presentation is not satisfactory, they require the speaker to repeat the seminar to the faculty.

5. Requirements and learning activities that promote students’ abilities to make use of the technologies used in research and speaking in the field

During the first few weeks of the semester the students are scheduled to visit the WSU Library. In this visit the library faculty provides a detailed presentation on method of library search for books, articles, and any related document both on line and in the library. Students become familiar with the most advanced method of search and using highly efficient system of information technology. Students also use computers for preparing their paper and presenting their talk.

6. Requirements and learning activities that promote students’ abilities to learn the conventions of evidence, format, usage, and documentations in their field

Organization and Content of the Seminar Paper (about 1000 words)

First page:

Title of your seminar, your name, course name and number, and the date.

2. Abstract:

A brief summary of the seminar. The abstract is a short, complete paper by itself. It should include about one to two summary sentences for each part of the seminar (about one paragraph).

Brief theoretical background and description of the importance and application of the topic you have selected (about two to three paragraphs).

Organized summary of your materials compiled from different references. If you are presenting the results of your own research experiments; include methods and materials, results, and discussion (about three to four paragraphs).

5. Conclusion:

A brief summary of the major findings presented in the seminar (one to two paragraphs).

6. References: At least five references have to be cited for the seminar preparation.

Note: All Internet references together are counted as one reference.

 

Note: The paper needs to be typed, single space, and in two columns as shown in the sample copy.

Department Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved____ Date:______

Chairperson Signature_______________________ Date______

Dean's Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved ____* Date:______

Dean's Signature_______________________ Date______

*In the case of a Dean's recommendation to disapprove a proposal a written rationale for the recommendation to disapprove shall be provided to USS

USS Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved____ Date:______

University Studies Director's Signature_______________________ Date______

A2C2 Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved_____ Date:______

A2C2 Chairperson Signature_______________________ Date______

Faculty Senate Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved____ Date:______

FA President's Signature_______________________ Date______

Academic Vice President's Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved____ Date:______

VP's Signature_______________________ Date______

President's Decision: Approved_____ Disapproved____ Date:______

President's Signature_______________________ Date______