Summer is a boom time for scores of student researchers to focus on a project without having to dash off to class or study for tests. |
Students learn through a variety of different modes. One of the methods that can instill deep comprehension and help students develop critical thinking skills is inquiry-based learning. This occurs when students are faced with an engineering problem without a specific road-map to how the problem can be solved. In this case, the faculty member(s) acts more as a coach to guide the students while allowing students to explore different solutions. Students learn to apply their fundamental engineering knowledge; collaborate with team members; manage time and resources; communicate; design experiments; analyze data; and reach well-informed conclusions.
This initiative aims to increase opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in projects, especially those that have real-world applications and can further the knowledge base of their disciplines.
As the Director of Projects and Research for the College of Engineering, I welcome any recommendations for how the College can move forward in these areas.
Winny Dong, Ph.D.
Director of Projects & Research
College of Engineering
Professor, Chemical & Materials Engineering
UAV Research Takes Off with NSF Grant
Aerospace engineering Professor Subodh Bhandari has received a $360,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to continue research on the development of robust controllers for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs): http://polycentric.csupomona.edu/news_stories/2011/10/uav-research-nsf-grant.html
