Extra-curricular education-the Labor of Love project

Group based projects are an effective learning technique in many areas of higher education. Skills and techniques attributable to hands-on projects can only be alluded to in a typical classroom environment. The structured environment of a class project is frequently perceived as a mere extension of the classroom, with the same type of rules, deadlines and deliverables perpetuating the adversarial student-educator relationship. While many nationwide, project oriented contests exist, such as the SAE Mini Formula and the Solar Splash, they are highly structured and may not exceed the facility capabilities of a given university. Therefore a need exists for a long term, unstructured project, created and developed by students, but facilitated by an interested faculty member. This can provide a unique learning environment where faculty and students act as partners working towards a common goal, rather than adversaries. This type of extra-curricular education will allow students an opportunity to develop, enhance and test their skills, develop an enjoyable working relationship with the faculty member, and apply their classroom studies in a relevant context. Beginning in spring 2000, students in the engineering programs at the University of Texas at Tyler are invited to join with faculty in Labor of Love projects in the Mechatronics and Instrumentation Laboratory.