Loading...
Prior art review in capstone design: a multifaceted approach to a literature research assignment
Sherriff, Graham Rand, Dustin
Sherriff, Graham
Rand, Dustin
Citations
Altmetric:
License
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/
DOI
Abstract
Exploration of "prior art" - the state of a technology’s development, as manifested in literature, documentation, and artifacts - has many benefits for capstone students. It expands their understanding of the design problem, reveals a range of possible solutions, and develops skills important to professional practice. This paper presents an innovative approach to a prior art review assignment in the University of Vermont (UVM)’s capstone course for mechanical, electrical, and biomedical engineers. The assignment and accompanying instruction were redesigned in 2018-2019 to address several issues that limited students' ability to do the required work to a high standard. Foundational knowledge about key publication types and research skills was "flipped" into a set of online tutorials; the class session was converted from a lecture to an interactive workshop-style presentation; research consultations with an engineering librarian were made more specific to individual projects; and the assignment deliverables were redesigned to incorporate more reflection about the process of engaging with prior art. This multifaceted approach involves a substantial amount of preparation. However, assessment showed significant returns on the investment: improved knowledge of engineering publication formats, demonstrated use of advanced research practices, and insightful reflections on the role of prior art in design thinking.
Description
Date
2020-01-01