Books by Thomas H Colledge
International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship, 2012
Humanitarian Engineering, Frugal Engineering, Service Learning in Engineering, Research, Social ... more Humanitarian Engineering, Frugal Engineering, Service Learning in Engineering, Research, Social Entrepreneurship, Research, Interdisciplinary, Sustainability
Papers by Thomas H Colledge
2010 Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings
is a Senior Research Associate in the Electronic and Computer Services (ECS) department and an af... more is a Senior Research Associate in the Electronic and Computer Services (ECS) department and an affiliate faculty member in the School of Engineering Design, Technology and Professional Programs (SEDTAPP) in the College of Engineering at Penn State. His professional interests include innovative system integration, high-tech entrepreneurship and international social entrepreneurship. His research interests include social networks, application of cellphones for development, innovation in engineering design education, indigenous knowledge systems and systems thinking.
Reflective of current trends in industry, engineering design professionals are expected to have k... more Reflective of current trends in industry, engineering design professionals are expected to have knowledge of 3D modeling software. Responding to this need, engineering curricula seek to effectively prepare students for the workforce by requiring instruction in the use of 3D parametric solid modeling. Recent literature contains many examples that learning this type of software involves three types of knowledge: declarative command knowledge of the software, specific procedural com mand knowledge of the software, and most importantly for engineering design students, strategic knowledge of the software. Engineering design faculty, to be successful, should seek to implement teaching strategies and instructional practices that promote strategic thinking. However, current assessment of student success is often based on the inspection of the product of the modeling effort rather than the strategic thinking of the student during the construction process. This paper considers the impact of t...
International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship
The objective of engineering education is to educate students who are ‘ready to engineer’. This ... more The objective of engineering education is to educate students who are ‘ready to engineer’. This implies that students should be broadly prepared with not only deep knowledge and understanding of the technical fundamentals, but also the pre-professional skills required to be successful in the engineering workplace of today and tomorrow1. Part I of this paper includes a brief rationale and need for ‘Engaged Scholarship’ and the inherent need for a robust ecosystem to support it. Part II details the existing curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular efforts which form the core for the engaged scholarship ecosystem in the College of Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. Curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for students are detailed.  Part III provides an overview of how this assortment of minors, certificates, programs, courses, and student organizations is being integrated and institutionalized into a strategic mission for the University.
International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship
This project analyzed and redesigned the various components of a previously designed sisal decort... more This project analyzed and redesigned the various components of a previously designed sisal decorticator prototype. The sisal plant is easily grown in the arid regions of Kenya and its fiber has widespread industrial and consumer applications. Competition from Brazilian and Chinese sisal growers has made it difficult for small-scale Kenyan sisal farmers to yield a profit. Decorticator machines strip the usable fiber from the sisal leaves. A strong market exists in Kenya and beyond for an affordable and capable decortication device. Based on interaction with University of Nairobi students and faculty, design parameters were assessed and adapted to create a working prototype to meet these needs. Throughout the design process, affordability, energy consumption, transportability, reliability, on-site material and assembly constraints were taken into account. The designs chosen accomplished the project requirements by minimizing cost through material selection and ease of manufacture, and...
International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship
This is the first of a series of papers which seek to elaborate upon the cognitive and metacognit... more This is the first of a series of papers which seek to elaborate upon the cognitive and metacognitive skills which industry has identified as needed by engineers and the descriptions of the pedagogical tools to better prepare the prospective engineers for the careers that lie ahead of them. The papers describe an alternative way of conceptualizing the engineering curriculum by shifting the focus from learning engineering as a body of disparate knowledge consisting of science courses, engineering science courses, and analysis courses to understanding engineering as a way of thinking – promoting deeper conceptual understanding of core fundamental ideas and preparing students to be lifelong learners. Focus is placed on the pedagogy for enhancing the cognitive aspects of thinking including adaptive expertise, self-regulated learning, problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, metacognition and workplace thinking –incorporating engaged scholarship at its core.
32nd Annual Frontiers in Education, 2002
Penn State uses a standardized instrument called an "SRTE" (Student Rating of Teaching Effectiven... more Penn State uses a standardized instrument called an "SRTE" (Student Rating of Teaching Effectiveness) to obtain feedback from students at the end of each semester. A Likert scale reflecting level of agreement with several statements provides options ranging from one to seven. The results from this administration are summarized in numerical form and returned to both the faculty member and his or her department. This form of faculty assessment is limited in its ability to inform either curricular or faculty improvements, particularly when problem-based, collaborative-learning, or other non-traditional environments are being used. This paper reports on a new approach piloted in Spring 2000 and currently implemented in the Engineering Design department at Penn State. Student teams are asked to write and sign a formal letter to the department head reporting on their experiences with both the course and the faculty. The qualitative feedback provided through this approach is rich and timely, aids in the interpretation of SRTE scores, and allows faculty to reflect on their performance on a deeper level.
Currently, those working for a sustainable development in a vast array of contexts all over the w... more Currently, those working for a sustainable development in a vast array of contexts all over the world are often duplicating efforts. In an era where a rapid transition towards sustainability is needed, such wasted effort is no longer tolerable. This paper will discuss current work to overcome this challenge by creating an Open Sustainability Network (OSN) that links relevant individuals, programs, courses, projects, and organizations aimed at just sustainable development. The paper will build an understanding of, and collaboration ...
International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship (IJSLE) will soon begin its eighth year of publication. Over these past seven ye... more Entrepreneurship (IJSLE) will soon begin its eighth year of publication. Over these past seven years, there has been a significant growth in the number of faculty, courses, and programs at universities across the country and beyond which engage students and faculty in exciting and productive experiential learning opportunities, while collaborating with communities to make a difference in people's lives. We at the journal are proud to be an outlet for the dissemination of this research, design and pedagogical work. Over the past decade, at various conferences and workshops around the country, there has been a recurring, and growing, interest expressed by practitioners as to how we might form a better defined 'community' and how we might elevate our work to a more scholarly level. There are often suggestions that our work might better be undertaken as part of the more 'traditional' engineering disciplines and 'massaged' into making it more relevant to our readers. This editorial is intended to comment on such notions and suggest that what makes the practitioners and authors who submit to the IJSLE different is their significant emphasis on both the technical content of their engineering endeavors as well as the cultural, entrepreneurial, political, sustainable and user-focused aspects; in other words, the interdisciplinary nature of our work. This editorial is intended to spur discussion and seeks to catalyze action in this regard. BACKGROUND Efforts to create the International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering (IJSLE) began in the fall of 2004 and the first issue was subsequently published spring of 2006. The two principal goals of the Journal were: a) to foster inquiry into rigorous engineering design, research and pedagogy and direct those efforts toward collaboratively addressing issues experienced by marginalized communities, and 2) to nurture service learning in engineering as a distinct body of scholarly knowledge and to facilitate community building amongst practitioners. Interested authors were strongly encouraged to examine the cultural appropriateness of their work, seek to collaborate with their community partners to develop economically and culturally sustainable solutions, and implement appropriate technologies in a pro-active sense. Focus was also placed on associated pedagogy and program development. In the spring of 2009, IJSLE expanded the scope of its publications to include manuscripts in the closely aligned fields of humanitarian engineering and technology-based social entrepreneurship. With that, the journal's name was modified to the International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering: Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (IJSLE).
– The objective of engineering education is to educate students who are ‘ready to engineer’. This... more – The objective of engineering education is to educate students who are ‘ready to engineer’. This implies that students should be broadly prepared with not only deep knowledge and understanding of the technical fundamentals, but also the pre-professional skills required to be successful in the engineering workplace of today and tomorrow 1. Part I of this paper includes a brief rationale and need for ‘engaged scholarship ’ to help accomplish these goals, and the inherent need for a robust ecosystem to support it. A summary is provided of the outcome-based objectives for the training of engineers as well as the industry-identified personal competencies required. The role of the university in engaged scholarship is examined along with the benefits and impediments to its implementation. A definition of educational ecosystem is provided. Part II details the existing engaged scholarship ecosystem in the College of Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University, while Part III provides a...
Currently, those working for a sustainable development in a vast array of contexts all over the w... more Currently, those working for a sustainable development in a vast array of contexts all over the world are often duplicating efforts. In an era where a rapid transition towards sustainability is needed, such wasted effort is no longer tolerable. This paper will discuss current work to overcome this challenge by creating an Open Sustainability Network (OSN) that links relevant individuals, programs, courses, projects, and organizations aimed at just sustainable development. The paper will build an understanding of, and collaboration between, relevant online tools. The paper concludes that the OSN can: 1) develop partnerships with sites with online tools to alleviate some of the technological overhead; 2) help inform entrepreneurs and expanding businesses about the challenges and opportunities presented in social entrepreneurship; and 3) benefit service learning implementation by acting as a repository for appropriate technologies, systems, and policies, while also acting as a clearing...
ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education, 2002
Penn State uses a standardized instrument called an "SRTE" (Student Rating of Teaching Effectiven... more Penn State uses a standardized instrument called an "SRTE" (Student Rating of Teaching Effectiveness) to obtain feedback from students at the end of each semester. A Likert scale reflecting level of agreement with several statements provides options ranging from one to seven. The results from this administration are summarized in numerical form and returned to both the faculty member and his or her department. This form of faculty assessment is limited in its ability to inform either curricular or faculty improvements, particularly when problem-based, collaborative-learning, or other non-traditional environments are being used. This paper reports on a new approach piloted in Spring 2000 and currently implemented in the Engineering Design department at Penn State. Student teams are asked to write and sign a formal letter to the department head reporting on their experiences with both the course and the faculty. The qualitative feedback provided through this approach is rich and timely, aids in the interpretation of SRTE scores, and allows faculty to reflect on their performance on a deeper level.
International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship, 2006
This project analyzed and redesigned the various components of a previously designed sisal decort... more This project analyzed and redesigned the various components of a previously designed sisal decorticator prototype. The sisal plant is easily grown in the arid regions of Kenya and its fiber has widespread industrial and consumer applications. Competition from Brazilian and Chinese sisal growers has made it difficult for small-scale Kenyan sisal farmers to yield a profit. Decorticator machines strip the usable fiber from the sisal leaves. A strong market exists in Kenya and beyond for an affordable and capable decortication device. Based on interaction with University of Nairobi students and faculty, design parameters were assessed and adapted to create a working prototype to meet these needs. Throughout the design process, affordability, energy consumption, transportability, reliability, on-site material and assembly constraints were taken into account. The designs chosen accomplished the project requirements by minimizing cost through material selection and ease of manufacture, and provided adjustable parameters in order to facilitate decortication quality testing. A vertical feed, small diameter decorticator with steel blades transportable via a steel frame with two wheels was determined to be the optimal solution. Testing with actual sisal and variable components enabled quality to be assessed as well as ensured that the designed prototype operated correctly and safely.
International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship, 2014
The objective of engineering education is to educate students who are 'ready to engineer'. This i... more The objective of engineering education is to educate students who are 'ready to engineer'. This implies that students should be broadly prepared with not only deep knowledge and understanding of the technical fundamentals, but also the pre-professional skills required to be successful in the engineering workplace of today and tomorrow 1. Part I of this paper includes a brief rationale and need for 'engaged scholarship' to help accomplish these goals, and the inherent need for a robust ecosystem to support it. A summary is provided of the outcome-based objectives for the training of engineers as well as the industry-identified personal competencies required. The role of the university in engaged scholarship is examined along with the benefits and impediments to its implementation. A definition of educational ecosystem is provided. Part II details the existing engaged scholarship ecosystem in the College of Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University, while Part III provides an overview of how this assortment of minors, certificates, programs, courses, and student organizations is being integrated and institutionalized into a strategic mission for the University.
International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship, 2014
The objective of engineering education is to educate students who are 'ready to engineer'. This i... more The objective of engineering education is to educate students who are 'ready to engineer'. This implies that students should be broadly prepared with not only deep knowledge and understanding of the technical fundamentals, but also the pre-professional skills required to be successful in the engineering workplace of today and tomorrow 1. Part I of this paper includes a brief rationale and need for 'Engaged Scholarship' and the inherent need for a robust ecosystem to support it. Part II details the existing curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular efforts which form the core for the engaged scholarship ecosystem in the College of Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. Curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for students are detailed. Part III provides an overview of how this assortment of minors, certificates, programs, courses, and student organizations is being integrated and institutionalized into a strategic mission for the University.
Advances in Engineering Education, 2014
Reflective of current trends in industry, engineering design professionals are expected to have k... more Reflective of current trends in industry, engineering design professionals are expected to have knowledge of 3D modeling software. Responding to this need, engineering curricula seek to effectively prepare students for the workforce by requiring instruction in the use of 3D parametric solid modeling. Recent literature contains many examples that learning this type of software involves three types of knowledge: declarative command knowledge of the software, specific procedural command knowledge of the software, and most importantly for engineering design students, strategic knowledge of the software. Engineering design faculty, to be successful, should seek to implement teaching strategies and instructional practices that promote strategic thinking. However, current assessment of student success is often based on the inspection of the product of the modeling effort rather than the strategic thinking of the student during the construction process. This paper considers the impact of three instructional strategies on first year engineering design students' strategic thinking when using a 3D parametric modeling software package. Findings appear to suggest that 1) expertly modeling the design construction process may improve student confidence related to using CAD software, but does not impact student ability or proficiency with the software; 2) object construction is more effective at supporting the development of declarative command knowledge related to CAD software than engaging with and completing software tutorials; 3) Engaging with and completing the software tutorials supports the development of procedural command knowledge 2 winter 2014 advances in engineering education instructional strategies to Promote student strategic thinking when using solidWorks more effectively than constructing a design object and; 4) constructing a design object supports the development of strategic use of the software more effectively than expertly guided modeled design processes.
International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship, 2017
This is the first of a series of papers which seek to elaborate upon the cognitive and metacognit... more This is the first of a series of papers which seek to elaborate upon the cognitive and metacognitive skills which industry has identified as needed by engineers and the descriptions of the pedagogical tools to better prepare the prospective engineers for the careers that lie ahead of them. The papers describe an alternative way of conceptualizing the engineering curriculum by shifting the focus from learning engineering as a body of disparate knowledge consisting of science courses, engineering science courses, and analysis courses to understanding engineering as a way of thinking-promoting deeper conceptual understanding of core fundamental ideas and preparing students to be lifelong learners. Focus is placed on the pedagogy for enhancing the cognitive aspects of thinking including adaptive expertise, self-regulated learning, problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, metacognition and workplace thinking-incorporating engaged scholarship at its core.
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Books by Thomas H Colledge
Papers by Thomas H Colledge