AC 2011-1211: SE CAPSTONE: INTEGRATING SYSTEMS ENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS TO ENGINEERING CAPSTONE PROJECTS: EXPERIENTIAL AND ACTIVE

This paper highlights the use of active learning in a capstone engineering design track to create a distributed learning environment where students apply their knowledge of Systems Engineering fundamentals to complete a design project for a real-world customer. An organizational structure consisting of students at Missouri University of Science and Technology and distance education students across the country was developed for the use in two courses, mirroring current industry practices. Six student design teams were formed at the beginning of the first course; with each team assigned a graduate student facilitator, a faculty mentor, and a professional practitioner acting as an industry mentor to provide additional guidance, structure, and support. The capstone project was to implement systems engineering fundamentals and principles to design, specify, and construct a wireless vest for the use in immersive training, satisfying a documented need statement provided by United States of America's Department of Defense representatives. This paper highlights the implementation of this pedagogy within a distance education environment. Further, this paper highlights the development and use of this new pedagogy and elaborates on the details of the implementation. The paper provides a thorough synopsis of the courses. structure, an elaboration on shortcomings, a discussion of survey results provided as student feedback, and a description of the students' perception of learning.