Course

Applied Engineering Project: Field Prototype Development

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Engineering
Course Code
ENGR 2999
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15 Weeks
Max Class Size
36
Method(s) Of Instruction
Seminar
Practicum
Field Experience
Typically Offered
Winter

Overview

Course Description
This course enables students to acquire practical experience. Working in groups, students will take on projects where they define, design, develop, and implement a prototype electronic, or mechanical, or electro-mechanical device or system. Student groups, in consultation with a faculty adviser, will select an appropriate project. Project topics may vary from in-depth research to systems analysis and design development proposals. Students will learn more about technical documentation. Project management fundamentals will also be covered.
Course Content

The content details will depend upon the particular subject of each project. However, there will be several common topics. Seminars will be held to deal with:

  1. The proposal of a project;
  2. The format of a contract;
  3. The techniques of gathering data/information;
  4. Organizing and running meetings;
  5. Information sources, such as libraries and resource centres;
  6. The preparation of a report;
  7. The management of weekly status report of a project;
  8. Problem solving skills;
  9. Creating mechanical CAD and/or electronic circuit design documents;
  10. Optimally using Project Management software.

Criteria for Selections of Project Topics:

  1. A project's subject must entail some form of mechanical, or electronic, or electro-mechanical development  and be viewed by evaluator as providing valuable information;
  2. A project's scope must be such that its objectives can be attained in one semester;
  3. The client preferably should be an organization outside the educational institution; should be an entity not related to the student (such as a relative);
  4. Since confidential information must be protected for some companies, preference will be given to projects for which the results may be published and made available to the public;
  5. The contents and results of a project must be original, as plagiarism is unacceptable and viewed as a serious offence;
  6. Although projects are essentially for individuals, partnership agreements may be made with the approval of the faculty supervisor.

Typical projects may include (but are not strictly limited to) research, analysis, design or development in one of the following areas:

  1. Mechanical device/system design;
  2. Electronic device/system design;
  3. Electro-mechanical device/system design;
  4. Feasibility studies/analyses.

Project Management Life Cycle:

  1. Project management deliverables;
  2. Project milestones;
  3. Risk management.

 

Learning Activities

Practicum, seminar, lab work, and tutorial may be used in this course.  Most of the instruction will be on a one–to–group basis between students and faculty advisor to guide the students through a self–managed work plan.  In the case of outside company projects, much of the learning process will take place on site with employers and coworkers guiding the students experience.  Weekly communication with faculty adviser will be compulsory.

Means of Assessment

Even though the topics and subjects of student's projects will vary, key documents, such as specifications and progress reports will be common to all. Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will decide on the exact evaluation criteria.

Initial project proposal including timeline, schedule, and scope: 15% – 20%

Project implementation design specification: 15% – 20%

Progress Report 1: 10% – 15%

Progress Report 2: 10% – 15%

Project Completion Summary Report: 15% – 25%

Project Post Mortem Analysis Report: 15% – 25%

 

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

  • Prepare a project proposal;
  • Formulate and negotiate an agreement to set up the terms and conditions of a project;
  • Identify a set of objectives/tasks that can be accomplished within the allotted time;
  • Apply the life-cycle of systems analysis and design to a device/system design project;
  • Gather pertinent information and data through interviews, questionnaires, surveys, and observations of the device/system’s activities;
  • Organize a project meeting, prepare an agenda, and issue timely updates;
  • Use problem solving skills to tackle problems encountered during the project period;
  • Present orally and provide written memos/reports to clients and faculty supervisor in a formal environment;
  • Prepare technical documentation (such as mechanical CAD or electronic circuit designs, a user manual) and a final project report on the work performed.
Textbook Materials

Teaching materials will be decided by the instructor at the time of the course offering. Students consult Douglas College bookstore for current required text/materials. The following resources could be considered:

  • Douglas College Custom Courseware on Project Management
  • “Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Practical Tools for Leaders and Teams” by Terry Schmidt
  • “Project Management For Beginners: Proven Project Management Methods To Complete” by Ed Stark
  • “Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling” by Harold R. Kerzner

Requisites

Prerequisites

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

None.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for ENGR 2999
Athabasca University (AU) No credit
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) No credit
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR APSC 2XX (3)
Northern Lights College (NLC) No credit
Simon Fraser University (SFU) No credit
University Canada West (UCW) No credit
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) No credit
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) No credit
University of Northern BC (UNBC) No credit
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV ENGR 2XX (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) No credit
Vancouver Community College (VCC) No credit

Course Offerings

Summer 2024