Will this class consume all my free time?
ENG H193 is a time-intensive course, centered around a
complex engineering design project. The allotted in-class time alone
is not sufficient to meet all the requirements of the project. Thus,
you will likely need to spend a significant amount of time outside of class
working with your group on the project. This includes meeting to
brainstorm early in the quarter, utilizing open lab times to build and
test, and so forth. Former FEH students have reported
spending anywhere from 10 to 15 hours per week, on average, outside of
class. The end of the quarter is often somewhat overwhelming due to
a scramble to fix last-minute problems and meet deadlines.
Despite this, our hope is that you will find the time you
spend on the project enjoyable and challenging, so that perhaps the work
won't seem so much like work.
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If the class is entirely project-based,
then how will I be graded?
The grading in ENG H193 is not in a traditional
style. There is no midterm or final, but there is one quiz which
covers the material in the three hands-on labs. There will also be
several "homework assignments," which include weekly performance
reviews (your robot must meet certain minimal requirements) and progress
reports. Additionally, a written and oral final report must be
presented during the 10th week of the quarter.
About 80% of your grade will come from your performance
on your team as the project progresses. There is a peer-evaluation
element to your grade, so if you fail to contribute well to your team then
you will can be marked down as a result of your teammates'
evaluations. Similarly, however, if you make a serious effort to
work well on your team, your teammates will help boost your grade with
positive feedback.
You should also know that, in previous quarters, the
majority of the grades were A's, A-'s, and B+'s. Those who make a
serious effort, no matter what the outcome of their project, will be
rewarded.
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How is in-class time spent?
Only one or two hours per week involve lectures. The
rest of the in-class time, especially as the end of the quarter gets
closer, will be solely devoted to working on the robots.
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Does this class have labs like ENG H191 and
H192?
Yes. There are three hands-on lab experiences
included in ENG H193, designed to familiarize you with the Handy Board,
motors, and sensors. These are scheduled close to the beginning of
the quarter, in order to give you the maximum amount of time at the end of
the quarter to work on the robots. There will also be a single quiz
covering material from these lab experiences.
Check the Labs page for more
information.
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Do I have to buy a text for this
class? What about lab fees?
There is no required text for ENG H193, but optionally you
may choose to purchase Robotic
Explorations: A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering by Fred G.
Martin, the designer of the Handy Board controller module. One copy
of this text will probably be provided to each group as part of the course
materials.
In addition, there is a required lab fee for participation
in the course. This fee covers the cost of purchasing materials for
the robots, Handy Board repairs, etc. The fee for this spring has
not yet been set, but last year's fee was $75. You will need to pay the fee
at the department office by check or cash during the first week of the quarter.
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How are the teams chosen?
The robot teams are chosen out of students in the same ENG
H193 section as you. The selection is done by the FEH staff, based on
your previous group performance and reports. In other words, you
cannot pick your own team. However, we will ask you for the names of
people you would like to work with, and also those who you cannot or do
not want to work with. We will try to have at least one whom you
want to work with and none of those whom you do not want to work with, but
this is not guaranteed.
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Do I have to take ENG H193? I heard that I don't need it to
graduate and I don't want to waste my time!
The requirement situation for ENG H193 was changed in autumn 2001. ENG H193 (or
an equivalent such as Engineering 183) is now required for all
engineering students. Prior to Autumn 2001,
the ENG H193 course was not specifically required by any engineering
department at OSU and was thus an "extra" course for FEH students.
All engineering students must now complete:
1. Either Engineering 181 or Engineering
H191,
AND
2. Either Engineering 183 or Engineering
H193.
We can offer the following motivation for taking the H193 course.
First of all, it's fun! You might not have too many chances in your
college career to take a class where you learn a lot and have a great deal
of fun at the same time.
Second, consider the practical skills you will gain (or build upon) by
taking ENG H193. Not only will you learn more about how different
engineering disciplines (electrical, mechanical, computer, materials, etc.)
interrelate and come together to form a coherent whole, but your teamwork
skills will significantly improve. Recent surveys of engineering employers
show that teamwork skills are the #1 desired trait in new hires. This
includes internships and co-ops. When you go to an interview for a co-op or
internship position, wouldn't it be nice to be able to talk at length about
the challenging team-based project which you completed your freshman year?
Finally, if you're worried about the academic challenge, we have some
data on that too. We have traditionally tracked FEH and non-FEH students
with similar academic histories through their college careers, and come up
with some statistics. The data shows that students who complete the entire
FEH sequence (including H193) are generally farther along toward graduation
in their majors than those students who drop out early (without taking H193)
or never take FEH at all.
Hopefully these points provide you with some good reasons to seriously
consider taking ENG H193 if you are having doubts. Please take the time to
speak with an FEH professor if you have further questions or difficulties
specific to your major which you need to discuss. For a student perspective
on all of this, ask any of the FEH teaching assistants, all of whom have
taken H193.
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When is the robot competition?
The competition is tentatively set for May 25, 2006 (a Thursday) 3:30
to 5:30pm at St. John Arena.
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