Thoughts on Spring 2015 Activities

Here's a little bit about what I did this semester that wasn't related to classes or math!

Thoughts on Mechanics of Solids and Structures and Math Activities

My fourth class this past semester was Mechanics of Solids and Structures, or MechSolids, which is a mechE requirement. I also did a lot of math related activities. Compared to last semester, I didn't feel like I did very much math this semester, but what I did do was pretty varied.

It Flaps But Does Not Fly: Thoughts on Mechanical and Aerospace Systems

MechAero is a course I should not have taken.

Part of the mechanical engineering degree is a mechE elective, and MechAero counts as such an elective. It isn't taught very often, and I was excited because I thought, based on the course description, that I would get to do a lot of analysis, especially analysis related to fluid mechanics. Instead, the course was almost entirely a mechanical design class with little to no support for learning to do mech design.

Breaking Bolts and Exploding Glass: Thoughts on Materials Science

MatSci was, from the second week of classes, my favorite course of this semester. I was a little nervous about going into projects right away with no background first, but MatSci ended up being the best project-based class I've ever taken, and I definitely think projects were the right way to frame this course.

Arduinos, Valves, and Raining Patterns: Thoughts on Principles of Engineering

Principles of Engineering (PoE) is very much a do-learn course. It's really a class about integration, starting with three labs using Arduino Unos and then spending the rest of the semester on a team project that must include significant mechanical, electrical, and software systems. I was nervous about PoE going in because I was a mechE who hadn't done much mechanical design, so I wasn't sure what role I would take on the project team. I ended up having a lot more fun than I expected, and PoE contributed more than any other class this semester to my growth as a mechanical engineering. I wouldn't have expected to say this going in, but I think PoE is an important class to have in the curriculum, and I'm really glad it's a graduation requirement.