Bringing Real World Experience To The Classroom
Bringing the real world into the classroom is a key focus of Texas A&M University’s Dwight Look College of Engineering, and two individuals in the Department of Mechanical Engineering are doing just that.
Dr. Andrew Duggleby, visiting assistant professor, and Yuval Doron, a lecturer in the department, are using the industry experience they gain on a daily basis through their company, Exosent Engineering, in the way they approach teaching mechanical engineering students.
The company, which designs and manufactures transport trailers for hauling hazardous materials and liquids on the highway, uses cutting edge computer software that allows it to account for every aspect of the design process down to the final weld.
In their classes the pair continuously apply knowledge gained in daily operations at the company to their mechanical engineering classrooms by teaching students to understand how engineering is evolving through the new technologies available.
“I teach students to think about the big changes in the engineering process,” said Duggleby. “I want them to be able answer, prior to even starting a design, what questions are you asking? What are you thinking about? I want them to think about the realities of fabrication. How objects have to be bent, formed or welded will impact their designs.
“I stress to students there may be 100 different ways to build a part and end up with the same functional apparatus, but only some designs will lead to a high quality, low cost, better performing apparatus.”
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This article by Jay Walton originally appeared in the Texas A&M College of Engineering website.
