Seminario Internacional de Educación 2012: Aprender Haciendo 2012

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Learn by Doing at Cal Poly

A Tradition for 100 years

Phil Bailey

Dean, College of Science and Mathematics

California Polytechnic State University

San Luis Obispo, California

Chinese Proverb

I hear and I forget.

I see and I remember.

I do and I understand.

October 2012 2

Cal Poly Campus Early Years

October 2012 3

Cal Poly Campus Today

October 2012 4

Fast Facts

Predominantly undergraduate (95%)

Approximately 19,000 students – almost 50% in

engineering and agriculture

Six colleges

Incoming freshmen average GPA 3.84

76% graduation rate

Comprehensive polytechnic

Declare major on entry

10,000 acres plus Swanton Pacific Ranch near Santa

Cruz

October 2012 5

Learn by Doing – What We Do

From day one

Active engagement

In and outside of

class

Apply classroom

knowledge in real-

world settings

Lots of it

October 2012 6

Learn by Doing – How We Do It

Major classes in first

year

Learn by Doing in

foundational courses

High resource

allocation to labs

Senior projects

Co-curriculum

October 2012 7

Learn by Doing – What It Is

Labs, projects,

undergraduate research,

departmental clubs,

competitions

Hands-on experience

Learning operations but

always with interpretation

It is not training! It is

education!

October 2012 8

Learn by Doing – What Students Gain

Real-world

experience

Problem-solving

ability

Confidence

Application of

classroom learning to

professional

situations

October 2012 9

Learn by Doing – From Day One

Aerospace Engineering – First Quarter

Aerospace Fundamentals

Introduction to Design Manufacturing

Animal Science – First Quarter

Introduction to the Animal Sciences

Principles of Animal Science

October 2012 10

Learn by Doing – From Day One

Economics – First Quarter

Microeconomics

Statistical Inference for Management

City and Regional Planning – First Quarter

Introduction to the Profession of City and Regional

Planning

Introduction to Urban Planning

October 2012 11

Learn by Doing – Foundational

Courses: Studio Classrooms

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Studio Classrooms

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Studio Classrooms

Integration of lecture and

lab.

Content presentation and

experimentation flow into

each other.

Content supports student

interests, majors, critical

and creative thinking, and

developing life skills.

October 2012 14

Chemistry for Engineers

What is the nature of

materials?

How does chemical

composition determine

properties and potential uses?

How is chemistry important to

the strength of materials,

electrical systems, thermal

properties, life of products,

components of air, acidity of

soil and water? How are these

properties determined and

measured?

October 2012 15

Chemistry for Engineers

Curriculum focuses on solid state and materials (for

example, the chemical make-up of semiconductors)

How do you analyze for organic compounds?

Modern instrumentation for analysis

Current computer technology integrated with the

following:

Data acquisition probes for pH, temperature, and

voltage

Refractometers

Gas chromatographs

Visible and infrared spectrophotometers

October 2012 16

Teacher Preparation – Studio Learn by

Doing Labs

October 2012 17

Senior Project & Student Research

Demonstrate

disciplinary expertise

Think critically

Communicate

effectively in writing

Integrate ideas and

information from

different sources

October 2012 18

Senior Project

Design a portable telescope Write a city’s climate action

plan

City of San Luis Obispo Climate Action Plan

October 2012 19

October 2012 20

Student Research

Student Research: Dr. Chris Kitts, Biological

Sciences

18 peer-reviewed publications, 16 with Cal Poly student

co-authors

10 professional reports, all with student co-authors

59 undergraduates and 23 master’s students have

presented at professional meetings around the United

States and the world, including New Orleans, Monterey,

Washington DC, Salt Lake City, Quebec, Montreal,

Calgary, Cancun, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen.

Students have presented at Cal Poly's College of

Science and Mathematics Research Conference.

October 2012 21

Metrics – Survey Results

80% of freshmen and 87% of senior respondents report

applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in

new situations quite a bit or very much vs. 73/79% for

the California State University (CSU) system.

63% of senior respondents report that they have done a

practicum, internship, field experience, co-op

experience, or clinical assignment vs. 40% for CSU.

28% of senior respondents report that they have worked

on a research project with a faculty member outside of

course or program requirements vs. 13% for CSU.

October 2012 22

Metrics – U. S. News and World

Report Rankings Best public, largely undergraduate university in

the western U.S.

College of Engineering: Best state-supported

engineering program in the country

Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical

Engineering: best program at a public university

nationwide

Civil and Aeronautical Engineering: second best

program at a public university nationwide

October 2012 23

Metrics – Other Distinctions

Aeronautical industry ranked Cal Poly as the #1

preferred school for hiring.

Architecture professionals ranked Cal Poly’s

undergraduate program as fourth in the nation.

Master’s in City and Regional Planning ranked first

for universities that don’t offer a Ph.D.

October 2012 24

Metrics – What Employers Say

High overall quality

High industry readiness

Cal Poly has high

employment of its

graduates compared to

national averages.

Cal Poly is a

recognized source of

excellent students for

masters and Ph.D.

programs.

October 2012 25

Learn by Doing – Concerns

Expensive

Often faculty members and students don’t

immediately see the advantage. Are we really

covering the material?

Real Learn by Doing is student-centered

whereas lecture is often faculty-centered.

Some faculty members may feel a loss of

control.

October 2012 26

Learn by Doing – Advantages

Students are actively engaged and invested in the

learning process.

Students take responsibility for learning and develop

confidence in their knowledge and skills.

Because they are actively engaged, students are

able to use critical thinking skills and employ

imagination and creativity.

Students are introduced to the inquiry/discovery

process.

October 2012 27

Learn by Doing – Examples in

Agriculture Event Management

Classes – Service

learning classes,

marketing projects,

engineering projects

Enterprise Project

Class – Student gains

experience, receives

academic credit but no

wage

Enterprise Project –

Student responsible for

all aspects of a project,

shares in the profits,

receives academic credit

Commercial Project –

Student gains

experience and is paid

Volunteer – Student

gains experience, no

compensation

October 2012 28

Agriculture Interior Plant Program

Floral Design

Competition

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Agriculture – Cal Poly Wines

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Agriculture – Logging Team

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Agriculture – Quarter-Scale Tractor

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Agriculture – Cal Poly Chocolates

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Agriculture – Dairy Products

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Agriculture – Dairy Products

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Crop Science

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Gallo Vineyard

Project

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Animal Science

Architecture – International Steel

Design Competition

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Architecture – City of Guadalupe

Community Plan

October 2012 42

Architecture – Bridge for a Local Park

October 2012 43

Architecture – Low-Income Housing

Challenge

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Architecture – Vellum Furniture

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Architecture – Design Village

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Architecture – Centennial Park

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Architecture – Centennial Park

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Architecture – Centennial Park

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Business – Human Resources Games

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Business – MBA China Program

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Business – Student Managed Portfolio

Project

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Business – Asparagus Shipper

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Business – Executive Partners

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Business - Center for Innovation and

Entrepreneurship

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Entrepreneurial opportunities

for students and faculty

members

Promote entrepreneurial

activity, scholarship and

dialogue across the university

Learn by Doing combined with

the support of an active group

of faculty, mentors, and

advisors

Develop a vibrant community

of innovators and

entrepreneurs

Business – Center for Innovation and

Entrepreneurship

October 2012 56

Engineers Without Borders

October 2012 57

Engineering – Concrete Canoe

October 2012 58

Society of Women Engineers:

Top Chapter in the United States

October 2012 59

Engineering – Robotics

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Engineering – Supermileage Car

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Engineering – Cubesat

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Engineering – Human-Powered

Vehicle

October 2012 63

Engineering – Aircraft Design

October 2012 64

Engineering – Quality of Life+ Lab

October 2012 65

Mission: foster and

generate innovations to aid

and improve the quality of

life of those injured in the

line of duty

Faculty/student team works

on a challenge from an

injured service member

6-9 months to develop and

manufacture a prototype,

which is then tested and

manufactured

Engineering – Quality of Life+ Lab

October 2012 66

Liberal Arts – The Forum History

Journal

October 2012 67

Liberal Arts – Shakespeare Press

Museum

October 2012 68

Liberal Arts – Public Relations Club

October 2012 69

Liberal Arts – History Internship

October 2012 70

Liberal Arts – Service Learning

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Liberal Arts – University Graphics

Systems Student-managed, student-run

commercial printing enterprise

on campus; 200 student

participants per year

Students learn and perform all

tasks associated with running

a real company in the

commercial sector

Print the daily campus

newspaper and offer

commercial services to a wide

range of customers and to

other campuses

October 2012 72

Liberal Arts – University Graphics

Systems

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Science & Math – Adaptive Paddling

October 2012 74

Science & Math – STRIDE

October 2012 75

Science & Math – E. Coli

Fingerprinting

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Science & Math – Guateca in Guatemala

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Science & Math – CUORE in Italy

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Science & Math – ALICE in Geneva

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Science & Math – ALICE in Geneva

Since 2007, 19 students have worked on the project; 16

have gone to CERN

Student authors on paper published in Nuclear

Instruments and Methods in Physics Journal

4 poster presentations at regional and national American

Physical Society meetings

5 presentations at Cal Poly COSAM research

conference

Students have gone on to be SLAC accelerator operator,

engineers, graduate students, high school teacher

October 2012 82

Science & Math – VERITAS in

Arizona

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Science & Math – Student Research

Conference

October 2012 84

Science & Math – Marine Science

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Science & Math – Marine Science

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Science & Math – Marine Science

October 2012 87

Interdisciplinary – Rose Float

October 2012 88

Interdisciplinary – Innovation Quest

The iQ Contest is designed to encourage innovators to pursue their

ideas and get funded for it. It is an unprecedented opportunity for

students to have no-strings-attached funding and assistance for their

great ideas—to discover whether they’re feasible and what to do

next.

Criteria for funding/assistance:

Projects that demonstrate & validate the novel idea

Ideas that have a high potential for commercialization and attract

industry

Solid multidisciplinary teams, technology, creativity,

business, etc.

Ideas that are paradigm shifts to a broad new market

October 2012 89

Interdisciplinary – Algae for Producing

Biofuels

October 2012 90

Interdisciplinary – PolyHouse

October 2012 91

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