Making with Purpose

Margot is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Bucknell University. Her current work centers on engineering education research and specifically on the ways learning can be enhanced by active approaches like inquiry-based learning. She’s interested in the ways we can increase student engagement in engineering through active, collaborative, and problem-based learning approaches such as making, games, and entrepreneurship. She spearheaded Bucknell’s involvement with the White House Maker initiative and continues as the campus’ maker evangelist. Margot’s the mother of two teenagers and the proud owner of a excellent-condition 1992 Doctor Who Midway pinball machine.

Breigh currently serves as the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science and a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the University of Denver. She holds a PhD in Bioengineering and teaches in the fields of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and introduction to engineering. Her educational research interests include first-year engineering experiences, assessment, inclusive excellence, and active learning pedagogy, including project-based learning.

Michael is the Associate Professor of the Practice in Innovation and Product Design and Development in the Mechanical and Materials Engineering department at the University of Denver. He conducts research and teaches in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship. Michael is also the Executive Director of the Innovation Labs, a center for project-based, experiential learning center. He also serves as the Faculty Director for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community and Faculty Fellow for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Michael is a partner in a multidisciplinary design firm, CAMIC designs LLC. He revels in connecting students to high impact real world learning experiences.

Nate is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Bucknell University specializing in thermal and energy engineering. He has over two decades of experience developing energy technologies ranging from conventional gas turbines to advanced solar power and fuel production systems. His current interests include utility-scale solar power, energy conservation and efficiency, and the sustainable production of drinking water from atmospheric humidity. Dr. Siegel is also involved in the development and operation of MakerSpaces at Bucknell, and frequently works with students to develop hands-on, often entrepreneurial projects.

Gary received his BSc (Hons) from Cape Town University and worked for two years in the process control industry gaining his Pr-Eng. He completed an MSc in Bioengineering from Clemson University and his PhD from University of Virginia in Electrical Engineering. He returned to Zimbabwe to lecture at a new startup university where he was involved in the development of the new Electronic and Computer Engineering Department and was later was promoted to Director of ITS. He left academics to go into private practice where he established a number of regional companies primarily focused on information systems with special focus on education. After over 10 years in industry, he joined the University of Zimbabwe where he lectured in electrical engineering, building links between industry and academics which resulted in several sponsored student projects. He moved to Wichita State University as a lecturer in Biomedical Engineering to assist in creating clinical focused student projects as well as to foster an entrepreneurial mindset in students. To date, two companies have been established from these student projects. In 2018 moved to the Engineering Technology Department, where he is currently the Chair. The department also houses the new certificate-based program of Applied Computing.

Will making activities themselves have an effect on student learning outcomes? Give students a broader perspective of instrumentation and implement EM more heavily into the course to better prepare students for senior Capstone.

Adapt this flexible hands-on project where students work in teams and engage with maker spaces to create an inexpensive visual aid that illustrates a class concept, then use it to teach someone! This card also received an Honorable Mention in the 2020 ASEE Best Card Competition.

Task students with the design and creation of a set of drink coasters and a container for them which integrates multiple technologies into a single project, while encouraging them to take on an entrepreneurial mindset and develop a design which adds value to the package as a whole.