Journal of Engineering Education Transformations

Journal of Engineering Education Transformations

Year: 2020, Volume: 34, Issue: Special Issue, Pages: 607-614

Original Article

Structured Approach to Enhance the Quality of Undergraduate Capstone Project: A Case Study

Abstract

The capstone project course has been considered as a commanding student-centered learning activity designed to provide an opportunity to an undergraduate student to solve critical real-life problems by applying the technical and soft skills acquired. A major objective of the capstone project is to apply real-life engineering practices to fulfill customer needs. This paper outline the challenges and best practices learned in the development and implementation of the open-ended undergraduate capstone project with the intention to enhance the quality and learning outcomes. In order to enhance the quality of the capstone project, various strategies such as group formation, student evaluation, sourcing student projects, project plan, project space, project funding, and support for patent and paper publications have been discussed also. The capstone project is offered in the fourth year of B. Tech. mechanical engineering program and it consists of two modules; Phase I and Phase II. Around 72 students and 18 supervisors were involved in the activity for the entire academic year. The student learning outcomes were measured using the commercial software and observed that all the learning outcomes have been attained more than 75% and students have developed very good projects in a team by applying technical knowledge and soft skills learned in the program.

References

  • Deepamala, N., and Shobha, G. (2018). Effective approach in making capstone project a holistic learning experience to students of undergraduate computer science engineering program. Journal of Technology and Science Education, 8(4), 420-438. https://doi.org/10.3926/jotse.427
  • Jon M. Duff, Thomas E. Schildgen, 2005 Establishing Outcomes for Senior Capstone Projects In Industrial Technology, Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition
  • Kala Meah, Donald Hake II, and Stephen Drew Wilkerson, (2020) A Multidisciplinary Capstone Design Project to Satisfy ABET Student Outcomes, Hindawi Education Research International Article ID 9563782, https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/9563782.
  • Jacqueline Stagner and Jennifer Johrendt, (2014) Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Course � CEAB Accreditation Outcomes Assessment, Proc. 2014 Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA14) Conf.
  • Manankil-Rankin, Louela; Lunyk Child, Ola; Chen, Ruth; Martin, Lynn; and Bentley Poole, Lynda (2016) "A Capstone Project: A way to Integrate Knowledge and Empower Students to Become Change Agents in the Practice Setting.," Quality Advancement in Nursing Education - Avanc�es en formation infirmi�re: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 6.
  • Mohamed A. Omar (2014) Design and Implementation of a Capstone Course to Satisfy the Industry Needs of Virtual Product Development and ABET Engineering Criteria, Hindawi Publishing Corporation Education Research International, Article ID 578148, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/578148
  • Mosher, Gretchen A., "Enhancing Team-Based Senior Capstone Projects: Opportunities and Challenges" (2014). 2014 ASEE North Midwest Section Conference. 1.
  • Rajendra Pawar, Sushma Kulkarni, Sachin Patil, Project Based Learning: An Innovative Approach for Integrating 21st Century Skills, Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, Volume 33, No. 4, 58-63.
  • Rajendra Pawar, Rajanikant Metri, Supriya Sawant, Sushma Kulkarni (2020) Evolving Product Development Skills Through Group Based Activity Instructions in Engineering Exploration Course, Procedia Computer Science 172, 314�323.
  • S. Howe, L. Rosenbauer, and S. Poulos, �The 2015 capstone design survey results: current practices and changes over time,� International Journal of Engineering Education, vol. 33, no. 5, pp. 1393�1421, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17483/2368-6669.1060
  • Shekar Viswanathan, 2017, Implementation Of Effective Capstone Projects In Undergraduate Manufacturing Design Engineering Program, American Journal of Engineering Education, Volume 8, Number 1, pp 45-60.
  • Sushma Kulkarni, Sachin Patil, and Rajendra Pawar (2020) Adoption of the Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate approach to the Third Year Project in a team-based design build environment, Procedia Computer Science 172, 559�567
  • Tien D.T.K., Mohyi M.H.H. (2016) Assessment in Mechanical Engineering Capstone Project: The Case of Taylor�s University. In: Tang S., Logonnathan L. (eds) Assessment for Learning Within and Beyond the Classroom. Springer, Singapore. http://doi-org-443.webvpn.fjmu.edu.cn/10.1007/978-981-10-0908-2_24.

DON'T MISS OUT!

Subscribe now for latest articles and news.