Overview
The Lyle School of Engineering will host the SMU Lyle Engineering Innovation Camps which will provide a creative environment for students to learn and apply knowledge. The Lyle School uses this effective method of teaching to educate its current 1,000 undergraduate engineering students.
The camp is designed to give students who are interested in pursuing educational opportunities and careers in STEM fields an opportunity to live on campus in residence halls, be mentored by representatives from the SMU faculty, participate in panel and group discussions with industry partners while working on a real world, hands-on design innovation project.
Cost
$500 for 3 days and 2 nights on campus, meals and room included
Session One:
11th & 12th grade girls June 17 - 19, 2013
Session Two:
11th & 12th grade boys June 24 - 26, 2013
Immersion Design
Immersion design experiences are intensive, beyond-the-typical-classroom learning opportunities which transcend all academic disciplines (engineering, science, business, humanities, etc.). This “live-eat-breathe” the project method allows students to thrive in an environment in which they are encouraged to apply their learning in creative ways.
The standard SMU Lyle immersion design experience is a 10-day rapid design and prototype challenge. College students are presented with a problem and asked to design and build their response to the issue. For example, for ten days at the beginning of the Spring 2011 semester, six Lyle students from different disciplines formed a team to address how a commercial application could be developed to modify an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to allow it to fight forest fires. The students designed a system that could roll into the cargo bay of the transport UAV to carry water to a forest fire.
After the design phase was complete, the students put together a budget and procurement plan and began to work on a scaled down prototype to test their idea. A remote controlled helicopter was purchased along with the necessary supplies to build the water reservoir and delivery system. The students designed a suspension system for the reservoir and attached it to the remote controlled unit to simulate the firefighting cargo transport UAV. Industry partners were invited to the test flights and demonstration so the students could present their ideas. A follow up debrief was held at SMU Lyle where the students presented their experience and design project to faculty, fellow students, and corporate partners.
This format of learning allows students to explore subjects on a deeper level. Through this process, students will identify with certain challenges for which they have significant interest and passion--cultivating not only knowledge, but also understanding and a unique perspective.
With the Engineering Innovation Camps, the participants will expand their learning opportunities beyond the classroom to include the world. The Lyle School of Engineering encourages all students not only to broaden their academic goals but also to consider how to live meaningful lives solving big problems for the benefit of humanity.
The students will work with their mentors in brainstorming sessions to develop solutions to the proposed problems given to each team. Students will have access to the latest technology and devices to design their projects. Mentors will work with the students on all facets of teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving techniques to include prototype development. Students will learn to solve grand challenges with limited resources up to and including preparing a project budget and procuring supplies need to build their prototypes. The student teams will also learn how to put together an oral/visual presentation and participate in a debrief exercise with the SMU Lyle faculty and industry partners.
Application
The camp will be open to all female and male students who will be entering the 11th and 12th during the 2013 - 14 academic school year. The students must have also completed or plan to complete Algebra II in 11th grade, in addition to completing at least one science lab-based course prior to the beginning of camp.
Oversight
The Lyle School of Engineering will provide around-the-clock security for all of the campers and counselors associated with the Engineering Innovation Camp. Campers will be chaperoned at all times by a representative of the Lyle School of Engineering. Additionally, the SMU Police Department is committed to the safety of all of the visitors, students, and guests on the campus.
Campers will not be allowed to have personal automobiles on campus during the duration of their assigned camp - no exceptions.