UK Centre for Materials Education
Working with you to enhance the student experience
Working with you to enhance the student experience
Awarded to: Ian Jenkinson
Institution: Liverpool John Moores University
Funded in: 2001
Project description: The aim of the proposed project is to develop an interactive learning resource to encourage independent, student-centred learning in the application of plastics to the solution of engineering design problems.
Background: The study of materials, materials processing, and engineering design are core elements of programmes in mechanical and manufacturing engineering. Engineering Design at JMU as in most engineering courses plays an important role in integrating the taught elements of the programme. At Level 2 students are set open-ended design problems and are expected to produce workable design solutions. However, experience has shown that students often find it difficult to transfer their knowledge of materials and processing to the development of solutions to engineering problems. This is particularly evident in the field of plastics engineering.
Objectives: The objective of this project is to produce a web based resource based on case studies of products selected on the basis of their relevance to problems set in the engineering design module. The resource is designed to assist students in the selection and application of a key set of materials to the solution of engineering design problems. The resource will focus on an appropriate set of plastics and their application to product and process design. Each case study would follow the following scheme:
Each of these sections would contain video clips, e.g. tensile testing of polymer test specimens, behaviour in service, industrial-scale processing techniques.
Deliverables: The project will deliver a web-based resource for the support of student learning in the field of plastics design and process engineering. The resource although predominantly for use at degree level 2, will also help to support the School of Engineering's current work with teachers of design technology as part of the governments CAD/CAM into schools initiative. A short report will also be written which will include an evaluation of the project and its outcomes, together with a summary of the lessons learned, and which will be suitable for dissemination throughout the UK Materials Community.
