MEP 101 – Product Realization

Product Realization is an experiential learning course offered to all 850+ UG students who are fresh from schools. The purpose of this 2 credit course is to provide product building experience and hands-on skills to students early in their programme.

During first half of this course students practice with various manufacturing machines, tools and processes (equivalent to 1 credit). All students are expected to do exercises using computer controlled machines (CNC) and 3D printing too. During second half of the course students build a simple product in teams to address a social need (equivalent to 1 credit).

Students are given freedom to work on product of their choice. The following link gives some of the prototypes made in this course and videos prepared by students about their projects.

http://web.iitd.ac.in/~pvmrao/mep_101.htm

More video can be seen by searching for “MEP101” on you tube.

Some of the realizations from this course are:

· Students generally do well if they identify the problem/need on their own instead of faculty suggesting/assigning a problem. Faculty can be moderators in this process. Experiments have shown that students do well when they have ownership of their problem and solution.

· Students who are fresh from schools are more enthusiastic and excited about learning. A hands-on product building course in the very beginning of their programme helps in retaining their interest in engineering.

· As we are moving from a paradigm of knowledge acquisition to knowledge application, the role of teachers too is changing. Teacher’s major role now is not that of instruction but to excite and provoke students to learn.

· Given a freedom, students often come together to work in multi-disciplinary teams. Our curricula often do not provide enough of such opportunities.