First off, I’d like to say that I enjoyed this class so much. I’m a computer science major, and I’ve been consumed with C++ code, algorithms and data structures ever since I declared my major at the end of my freshman year. However, one of the great things about my major is that we are forced to take engineering classes outside of our discipline. I haven’t taken a design-build-test class since ENGR 100, and I’m glad I got the chance again. This class was a nice reminder of why I applied to engineering colleges in the first place.
The great thing about this class was that while it was a design-build-test class like ENGR 100, it was so much more detailed. To be honest, at the start of ME 250, I assumed that most of the information covered would be exactly the same as ENGR 100. To my surprise, we delved so much deeper into the design-build-test process. While the FRDPARRC tables were tedious and at some times irritating, they were really effective. They really helped grasp what the real problems in designing are. Through that we were had a better idea of what we needed to accomplish to create the best machine we could. And since we had toiled over the tables for so long, we never had to wonder if our strategies were ever wrong. We could keep moving in the right direction.
I’ve never had to rely on the help of my teammates as much as I did in this class. I think that the task set before us was just difficult enough to make it an impossible feat for one person, and I really appreciate that. Working in teams is always a better experience than working alone. I wish more of the classes in this school were based around team activities. I’ve come to realize that learning how to work in teams in one of the most important, if not the most important skill a person can learn. It is definitely worth more than anything a person can learn from a textbook. I learned to build a trust with three people I didn’t know in a matter of days. We all came from different backgrounds, but we were able to put aside our differences and focus on the task at hand, something that everyone needs to know how to do whether he/she is a cashier at a supermarket or a world leader.
I personally liked how this course with “revamped.” The version my friend took last year was a lot easier, but I don’t know if he learned anything from it. Given that this was the first installment of the Arena project, I think the course was very smoothly run. My one comment regards how crazy it was in the machine shop. With 250, 350, and 450 all going on at the same time, it was difficult to get all the work done we wanted. I wish the Wilson Center was fully open to us and reserved for our class. I guarantee everyone’s machine would have been more impressive, and I think we would’ve enjoyed the class more. And due to that, I think the staff would’ve enjoyed it more as well.
I do wish I had more time to focus on this class. Seeing I was taking two core classes concurrently, this class did have to get sacrificed when I was having trouble in those classes. However, that being said, this class was definitely worth taking and well worth the time that it required.
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