Service-Learning Model: An Example

This article is a follow-up of the previous "A Service Learning Model" post. The model suggests interdisciplinary engineering students working on real-life projects that benefit the communities.

Earlier we talked about how this model is useful in three ways:
1. BITSians learn to work on real-life projects that have customer requirements, deadlines and the most essential aspect of engineering: design, build and test.
2. The needy communities benefit from the delivered products, so BITSians help the society around them.
3. BITSians make industry connections so that they share a great relationship at the time of internships, placements.

As an added advantage, such project provides a great platform to strengthen students' skills and resumes. This model, truly has an enormous potential to become one-of-its-kind in India to be implemented exclusively by BITS, just like our renowned Practice School program.

Now, let's consider an example of such a project:
   
Primary/High school children learn basics of physics, biology and solar system roughly in their 1st to 7th standard. It'll be an interesting exercise to create models to teach them basic concepts through interactive mechanical models with which they can play around. To take an example, one project can be to demonstrate operations of a biological cell with the help of a workshop-fabricated model with microcontroller-based sound system, LCD displays and rotation mechanism. This model can be an excellent exhibit in a local science museum. This will benefit the children around BITS campus.
  
 Let's break it down to see what the project components are. Firstly, this project has a great interdisciplinary aspect to it. BITSians from various engineering and science major can contribute. The mechanical subteam can handle: the choice of material, fabrication of the model, fitting various parts to it and mechanical movement capabilities. The electrical subteam can take up microcontroller programming, motor and LCD interfacing and power management. The biology subteam can help with the biological processes within a cell and help draw a skeleton of the model and its intended functionalities. Folks interested in project management can work on the plan, timeline, keeping everyone on track and community/industry communication. They can also apply for industry grants and gather support from local administration.

----There are tons of exciting tasks with each project and each task cultivates a skill that is very useful in post-graduation (industry) life.

More on this model with some more examples in future posts.... Stay tuned!


 

A Service-Learning Model

A learning model that is increasingly becoming popular among educators, is service-learning based engineering education model. This model has a tremendous potential when applied to engineering curriculum in developing nations such as our country. Our nation has its own social and economic issues. A small percentage of people are both socially aware and financially capable so that they help communities in their humble ways.

How can we, engineering students, help solve such problems? How can we help underprivileged communities?

The answer comes from the fact that the communities are facing problems, some of which can be solved by applying smart engineering solutions designed by students as they learn with the guidance from people from academia and industry. 

To elaborate on this, let's discuss three critical elements of this model:

1. Community problems: These are public/private institutions that help communities with their services. Some examples are: public libraries, night schools, science museums, construction workers' associations etc. They face a number of problems and they have many agenda items to improve the quality of life of their members. We, as students, can identify problems that can be converted to small engineering problems and with the help of faculty, industry people, can  work on solving them. Some examples of such problems could be: designing a software database for library books to be accessed via the Internet (CS, IS), designing a solar power and storage system to be applied for night schools (EEE, EnI), building science/biology demonstration models for school children (ME/BIO),  building battery-operated chairs for handicapped (ME,ECE,EnI).

2. Engineering solutions: While solving such problems, we learn actual implementation of the theoretical ideas learned from the courses. Not only the technical knowledge, but we learn a great deal about team building, finances, public relations, and most importantly professional approach to solving problems. Applying such practical solutions to real problems makes this model an extremely powerful tool. We can take those projects as LOP,COP to get suitable credits for our work. When we deliver the product to communities, we actually contribute serving the communities!

3. Industry reviewers: Our industry is more than willing to donate money for social welfare. They need a proper established channel. Funding such projects can be an excellent way not only to empower the communities by the delivery of products, but to help engineering students learn practical tools along the way. Industry can send the reviewers to critique the design and monitor the progress. This relationship is extremely helpful in terms of getting funded projects, practice school stations and finally placements!

This model is developed by educators in Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA and is currently running successfully since last 10+ years (https://engineering.purdue.edu/EPICS). It has numerous imitations all over the world. If the BITS administration decided to apply this model, they will not only increase the level of engineering education, but help serving communities across the nation.

As students at BITS, we can go and talk to communities and take up small projects, work on it and make a difference as well. This will be our share of service to our nation while adding value to our own engineering education and opening doors of countless opportunities through industry contacts.  

BITS Top 10

This article is mainly for current and aspiring-to-be BITSians. After talking to many I realized that they made a decision to study at BITS based on its brand name and what it stands for. To understand "what it stands for" from outside is not that easy. To many, it stands for knowledge being power supreme. While a number of industries and universities consider it to be an equivalent to IITs, a few regard it being better in some aspects.

I've had a chance to work with BARC, Tensilica, Cisco, Qualcomm and Purdue so far. I believe this to be a varied set of institutions. I've engaged in many conversations with colleagues and friends and tried to form my opinion on "what makes BITS unique and special". Here's what I think about my Alma mater.

Top 10 things that make BITS (and BITSians) special:

10. On-campus organizations: give many a chance to get involved in activities of their choice and cultivate extra-curricular interests.

9. BITSAT (admissions): is India's first online entrance test considered having a very low rate of acceptance and is reservation-free.     

8. Excellent textbook choices: provide (an opportunity to learn) state-of-the-art knowledge of a topic.

7. Diversity: among students and faculty ensures that we share a stronger bond of being a BITSian.

6. Hostel life: teaches how to manage one's own life.

5. Mini-tests: ensure we don't fall out of track and follow the same academic standards as that of any US/UK university or an MBA school.

4. International recognition: is not just a "feel-good" factor, but helps summarize your educational background in a few words to many across the world. 

3. Emphasis on basic sciences: helps one shape her ideas and get on to the basics.

2. The BITSian network: always reaches out to a fellow BITSian for guidance and help when needed.

1. Practice school: is the most important factor why industries and academia like us.