Integrating engineering practice into undergraduate curricula using project simulation: outcomes related to retention and persistence

This paper presents a summary of the project simulations that the faculty in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Indiana Tech developed for the department's students. The simulations are based on the design and fabrication of a self-contained telemetry and television downlink package for a rocket launch. The paper discusses the original motivation for the project, and provides project background and scope for each academic year. It outlines student learning outcomes including: exposure to systems integration, environmental constraints, design tradeoffs, and simulation. Additionally, the paper presents the benefits to persistence and retention of engaging departmental constituencies in the project, which resulted in both significant interaction between students at all levels, and interaction with recent program graduates, local industry, and both practicing engineers and retired engineers. Finally, it presents project plans and progress for the current 2004-2005 rocket project simulation: a collaborative effort with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to loft a launch vehicle to an altitude of greater than 62 miles, the boundary of space