Engineering Communication ENGR-1400

FALL 2013
Course Description:
This is an undergraduate introductory course covering basic concepts and skills in engineering communication. Topics include technical writing, project planning and proposal writing, data visualization, system modeling and simulation, engineering graphics and CAD, and effective uses of software tools.

Course Prerequisites:
A mobile computing platform w/internet capability and working knowledge of the operating system is required. See Course Software section below. Microsoft Windows operating system strongly recommended Please be sure to bring your PC/Power cord to the Lab.

Course Software:
Latest versions of Siemens NX 8.5 and National Instruments LabVIEW 2012-SP1 are available to download from the VCC Help Desk site: http://www.rpi.edu/dept/arc/web/software/sw_available.html Microsoft Office 2010/2013 is available from the VCC Computer Store

Course Credits: Course Webpage: Course Text: Course Coordinator:

(1) Credit Hour This course uses LMS (Learning Management System): http://lms.rpi.edu NO Textbook required Dr. Jeff Morris morrij5@rpi.edu JONSSN 7030 518.276.2613

Course Meeting Times:

Table 1: Weekly Course Format Sect 1 2 3 4 5 6 Day M T W W W R Time 2:00 3:50 PM 2:00 3:50 PM 10:00 11:50 AM 12:00 1:50 PM 2:00 3:50 PM 2:00 3:50 PM Lead TA Weltz, Adam Zheng, Chengjian Moore, Robert Weltz, Adam Moore, Robert Zheng, Chengjian 2nd TA Zheng, Chengjian Weltz, Adam Gao, Mengqian Moore, Robert Zheng, Chengjian Weltz, Adam 3rd TA Rambaran, Vana Moore, Robert Frantz, Emily Roman, Ines Rambaran, Vana Brown, Russell 4th TA Gao, Mengqian Miller, John Patny, Bhavna NONE Gao, Mengqian Mortimer, Michael 5th TA NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE Room 3210 3210 SG 5101 3207 3210 3210 CRN 48084 48085 48086 48087 48088 48089

Course Assistants: Office Hours:

Lead Teaching Assistants e-mails are found in Table 3: Lead TA Office Hours

Several of the Lead TAs are holding Office Hours for students who need a little more help. The office hours are available to all students even if the person holding them is not your Lead TA. If you take advantage of these sessions, bring your laptop and your specific questions. Your Lead TA may also have additional office hours not posted here. You should contact them for any additional times.

Table 2: Coordinator Office Hours

Coordinator
Jeff Morris Jeff Morris

E-MAIL
morrij5@rpi.edu morrij5@rpi.edu

DAY
M, W, R T

TIME
3 5 PM 2 5 PM

LOCATION
JEC 7030 JEC 7030

Table 3: Lead TA Office Hours

LEAD TA
Adam Weltz Robert Moore Chengjian Zheng

E-MAIL
weltza@rpi.edu moorer5@rpi.edu zhengc2@rpi.edu

DAY
M, R M, R M, T

TIME
4 6 PM 10:30 12:30 PM 4 6 PM

LOCATION
JEC 2001 JEC 2001 JEC 2001

Course Format:
1. Lecture Approximately 1 hour video lecture per week Available on LMS for download Video lectures must be viewed prior to studio/lab Studio/Lab 2 hour studio/lab sessions for assignment completion

2.

Student Learning Objectives:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Understanding 3-D space and parametric 2-D sketching. General solid creation. Standard documentation practices. Data Integrity and responsibility. Prepare the outline of a technical document effectively using MS Word. Generating effective graphs/charts from a set of data using MS Excel. Develop and organize a small project plan. Generate effective formats for technical slides. Organize the logistics of an effective meeting. Describe and use NI LabView to visualize the behavior of a system.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students which successfully complete this course will be able to demonstrate:

1. 2.

An ability to communicate effectively An ability to use techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Course Grading Criteria & Assessment:

1. 2. 3. 4. Grades will be based upon your performance on the following items. Each lab assignment has five grading criteria, each being worth 1-2 points (5-point total) This course uses grade modifiers, as shown below. The following weightings will culminate in the final course grade: Table 4: Assignments

Quantity 11 6 3 1 21

Description Lab Assignments (Phase I) Lab Assignments (Phase II) Lab Assignments (Phase III) Portfolio TOTALS

Point Value Each 5 5 5 20

Total Point 55 30 15 20 120

Percentage 35% 35% 20% 10% 100%

Table 5: Letter Grades Percentage 93.3 90.0 93.3 86.6 90.0 83.3 86.6 80.0 83.3 76.6 80.0 73.3 76.6 70.0 73.3 66.6 70.0 60.0 66.6 < 60.0 Letter Grade A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D F

Early Warning System and Mid-Semester Evaluation:

1. 2. 3. If the student is in danger of failing the course by Week 7 of the semester, an Early Warning System (EWS) alert will be issued through the Institute Grade System. The student should receive an e-mail and is encouraged to contact the Lead TA or Course Coordinator immediately. At any time the student may request his/her current overall course grade from the course coordinator ONLY. Specific assignment grades may be discussed with the LEAD TA.

Portfolio Grade:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Students will copy every computer file generated for ENGR-1400 (submitted or not) into a folder named with their RCS ID (e.g. smithj9). These computer models will NOT be re-graded for the purposes of improving a grade, forgiving special circumstances. Please refrain from copying LMS PDF assignments or lecture videos that you have downloaded. It is your responsibility to maintain this data throughout the course. Hard drive crashes, stolen laptops, re-images, computer repair slips, etc. WILL NOT BE VAILD EXCUSES! This folder will be transferred to the Lead TA via USB drive during Session 14. The Lead TA will supply the USB drive. After this one-time transfer, no further data will be accepted by the Lead TA. You will have to submit your files to the course coordinator. If the student is submitting their final data LATE, then the student must provide it on writeable media (e.g. CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW). a. The student must write their RCS ID and section number on their media. b. Slide this media under the door JEC 7030.

Course Attendance:
1. 2. Attendance at all lab sessions is mandatory to obtain full credit of laboratory assignments. See Late Work for policies reg arding submitting late assignments. Students with extenuating circumstances will need to contact the coordinator for approval to ma ke up the assignment and obtain a written excuse from SEO (see Late Work policy).

Late Work:
1. 2. Laboratory work is due for grade at the end of the laboratory session. OFFICIAL EXCUSE: a. No late work is penalized if a VALID excuse is presented to the course coordinator. b. VALID Excuses: Issued by the Student Experience Office (SEO): 4th floor of Academy Hall, x8022, se@rpi.edu c. The preferred method is an e-mail issued by the Student Experience Office (SEO) to the course coordinator. d. Students can than submit their assignment the following session or during an office hour before next session without penalty. e. In-Lab Only Assignments (Modules II & III): Make-up (only if official excuse is presented) during scheduled office hours ONLY (LMS Page > Help Sessions). f. Students will have as many sessions as they have been excused to submit missed assignments. NO OFFICIAL EXCUSE: a. If a student is not in class to have that sessions work graded, then that submission will be marked as late. b. Class Assignments: deduct 50% per week late. For example, an assignment that earned 5 points would become 1.25 points if it were 10 days late. c. Portfolio submission: deduct 2 points per day late.

3.

Academic Integrity:
Student-teacher relationships are built on trust. For example, students must trust that teachers have made appropriate decisions about the structure and content of the courses they teach, and teachers must trust that the assignments that students turn in are their own. Acts that violate this trust undermine the educational process. The Rensselaer Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities defines various forms of Academic Dishonesty and you should make yourself familiar with these. In this class, all assignments that are turned in for a grade m ust represent the students own work. In cases where help was received, or teamwork was allowed, a notation on the assignment should indicate your collaboration. Student-teacher relationships are built on trust. For example, students must trust that teachers have made appropriate decisions about the structure and content of the courses they teach, and teachers must trust that the assignments that students turn in are their own. Acts that violate this trust undermine the educational process. The Rensselaer Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities defines various forms of Academic Dishonesty and you should make yourself familiar with these. In this class, all assignments that are turned in for a grade must represent the students own work. In cases where help was received, or teamwork was allowed, a notation on the assignment should indicate your collaboration. Violation of any of the following six poly guidelines will result in failure of the course: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. While some collaboration between students is expected and encouraged, all work submitted by an individual student MUST be his/her OWN work. EXCHANGING ANY FILES associated with this course in any manner (e.g. E-MAIL, UPLOAD/DOWNLOAD, USB, etc.) is a VIOLATION of this policy. Parts retrieved through any website other than LMS are illicit and not allowed. NO students electronic data should reside (i.e. be saved or opened) on another students computer/USB drive/storage media. If you are experience computer trouble, see the course coordinator immediately. There is no excuse to use another students computer. Direct copying of work is prohibited.

Failing to adhere to the above six policy statements will result in a FAILING course grade for all parties involved and further disciplinary action if needed. If you have any question concerning this policy before submitting an assignment, please ask for clarification.

Course FAQ:

HARDWARE/SOFTWARE TROUBLE
Check the NX FAQ first. http://homepages.rpi.edu/~morrij5/CAD/NX8.5_FAQ.pdf

1.

I cannot install/operate NX/Office/LabVIEW on my Windows operating system.

A: Check the NX FAQ above. If the problem persists, see the Course Coordinator during an office hour. In the meantime, you may use the desktop computers in the Voorhees Computing Center and save your files to your personal flash drive.

2.

I cannot install/operate NX on my MAC operating system.

A: The RPI campus offers little support for MAC. NX 8 is supported for MAC OS X version 10.5.5 and lower. Contact the MAC User Group on campus with your issue; they may be able to provide assistance: http://mug.union.rpi.edu/. In the meantime, you may use the desktop computers in the Voorhees Computing Center and save your files to your personal flash drive.

3. 4.

I am having trouble viewing a video lecture. Can the coordinator send it to me?
A: No. View the NX FAQ on LMS or see the Course Coordinator during office hours.

I had computer trouble preventing me from completing the assignments. Can I get an extension/full credit on the assignment(s) that I was not able to complete?
A: Yes, but only if this issue is confirmed by a TA. The coordinator must be notified by e-mail from a TA of the computer issue. You may attend the course coordinator office hours to have the assignment(s) graded. A: If the computer issue happens prior to 24 hours of class time, you will be expected to use the VCC machines to complete the assignments and bring them to class via personal storage media (USB, etc.).

LATE REGISTRATION
5. I registered fo r the course after the first class. Can I get an extension on the assignment(s) I missed?
A: Yes. Please have your assignments graded by the end of the next session. Make sure you speak to the lead teaching assistant of your section to ensure your name is placed on their grade sheet.

6.

I just registered for the class, however I cannot access LMS.

A: Allow 24 hours for the system to update.

LATE SUBMISSION
7. I am ill and I don't think I will be able to make it to class today. Will I need an excuse to be allowed to turn in my assignment late for full credit?
A: An official excuse is required for full credit. See the syllabus, the section titled Late Work.

8.

My computer crashed just prior/during class and I did not save my work. Can I get an extension for the assignments due?
A: No. Re-do the assignments and save your work often. If your computer is inoperable, have a TA confirm this and have the TA e-mail the Course Coordinator (see FAQ #4).

9.

I have been busy and unable to complete the assignments; can I come to office hours after class and show you the work for ful l credit?
A: No. Being Busy is not an official excuse. The assignments will be marked late.

PORTFOLIO
10. 11. I created the assignments on more than one computer. Will this be a problem when submitting the portfolio for original work?
A: No. As long as all of the work is your own and originally created by you, creating assignments on a different computer (as long as it is your own or property of the Institute) is acceptable.

My computer crashed and I lost all of my files prior to portfolio submission.

A: You will need to re-do as many assignments as possible to obtain portfolio credit.

ASSIGNMENTS
12. 13. I believe there is a missing dimension: what should I do?
A: E-mail the Course Coordinator immediately describing the assignment and the dimension that is allegedly missing. You may also use the Discussion board on LMS as this is checked by the Course Coordinator.

Do I print any assignments?

A: No assignments are to be printed.

OTHER
14. I need a signature from the coordinator for a Transfer application/ROTC progress report.
A: Attend the Course Coordinators office hours to obtain the signature. If you need a course current grade, e -mail the Course Coordinator 24 hours prior to attending.

Course Organization and Schedule:

This course will consist of three major phases. 1. The first phase will have students learn solid design and visualization techniques using Siemens NX. 2. The second phase will focus on skills useful as a member of an engineering group by using MS Word, MS Equation 3.0, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel. 3. Finally, in the third phase, students will focus on system behavior modeling. They will be introduced to National Instruments LabVIEW. For more information, see Table 6. Table 6: Course Outline

Week

Lecture
00-1 01-1

Main Topic
Course Introduction User Interface 0-1-1 1-1-1 1-1-2 1-2-1 1-2-2 1-2-3 2-2-1 2-2-2 2-2-3 2-2-4 2-3-1 2-3-2

Sub-Topics
Course Introduction Layout/Toolbars Templates/File Management Origin & Coordinate Systems Views Glass Box & Mouse Movement Sketch Planes Basic Sketch Curves Snap Points Advanced Curves Geometric Explicit Inferred Dimensional Sketch Operations Expressions 3-D Extruded Solids Parameters & Options 3-D Revolved Solids Through 2, 3, X Curves Options Boolean Concepts Selecting Previous Geom Sketch Operation: Project Hole Blend/Chamfer Shell Feature Relationships Trim Body Arrays Mirrors Entering Drafting Master Model Concepts Views/Interface Standard Conventions Annotations & Notes Dimensions Sectional Views Detail Views Broken Views Symbols Audience & Purpose

Assignments

Related Courses/Topics

Pts

Length Size
08:34 04:46 04:14 05:49 04:41 04:55 05:32 06:39 05:49 16.1 7.3 4.9 7.6 5.0 10.7 8.4 9.4 10.0 7.6 50.5 9.0 42.7 21.6 20.6 13.5 15.5 22.2 8.8 7.7 15.5 8.0 11.4 15.5 17.2 11.6 5.2 11.2 17.2 31.6 25.3 8.9 8.6 8.8 10.7 18.2 19.4 5.9 29.7 13.2 23.4 29.3 50.6 52.1 43.3 23 22.3 17.2 18.3 14.8 5.83 9.53 15.6 9.33 5.84 5.09 14.93 2.11 24.1 17 15.3 56.62 13.84 20.77 23.73

Week 1 01-2

ENGR-2050 IED; Design Courses

3D Space

02-2

2-D Sketcher Introduction

LAB 2: CHISEL DOOR LATCH

ENGR-2050 IED; Design Courses

04:54 10 17:07 04:46 12:19 13:30 12:20 08:47

Week 2 02-3

2-D Sketcher Constraints

2-3-3 2-3-4 2-3-5 3-2-1

03-2 Week 3 05-1

Extrusion/Revolution

3-2-2 3-3-1 5-1-1 5-1-2 7-1-1 7-1-2 7-1-3 7-2-1 7-2-2 7-2-3 7-2-4 7-2-5 7-3-1 7-3-2 6-1-1 6-1-2 6-1-3 6-1-4 6-2-1 6-2-2 9-1-1 9-1-2 10-1-2 10-1-3 6c-1-1

LAB 3: PLEAT KNOB COVER (REVOLVE) POD (THROUGH CURVE)

ENGR-2050 IED; Design Courses

07:41 15 12:24 04:31 03:48 11:32 04:51 07:43

Through Curve Solids

07-1

Multiple Feature I

LAB 4: PIN SPACER SPLIT PILLOW BLOCK

ENGR-2050 IED; Design Courses

09:40 10 09:41 05:53 02:50 06:17 09:12 05:35 08:54 06:30 05:55

Week 4

07-2

Multiple Feature II

07-3

Multiple Feature III

07-1

Documentation I

LAB 5: CUTTER AXEL PART CUTTER AXEL DWG CRANE SCOOP CRANE SCOOP DWG
ENGR-2050 IED; Design Courses

06:12 20 07:39 13:41 11:46 03:07 10:02 08:26

WRIT-2500 Writing for the World of Work; WRIT-2360 Communication and Design; WRIT-4120 Technical and Professional Communication Any courses that require technical reports; Any lab courses

Week 5

07-2 09-1 10-1

Documentation II Adv. Documentation I Adv. Documentation II Written Communication I

Week 6

6C

Lab 6: Technical Writing

11:56 12:08 08:01

6c-2-1
Week 7 7C

Planning a Document Photos within a Document Equations References Intro to Data Line & Scatter Plots Other Charts (Pie/Bar/etc.) Database Intro to Project Management Deliverables & Activities Identify Resources Scheduling Risks Proposals Monitoring Projects Delivering Information Project Closing Phase Introduction to Systems Systems Visualization Getting Started A Few Examples Data Types File Input/Output Documenting Software Code
Lab 12: Flow Diagram & State Diagram Lab 13: Introduction to Vis Lab 7: Equations, Photos, References

Written Communication II

Week 8

8C

Data Visualization

Week 9

9C

Project Management I

Week 10

10C

Project Management II

Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14

11C

Project Control

7c-1-1 7c-2-1 7c-3-1 8c-1-1 8c-2-1 8c-3-1 8c-4-1 9c-1-1 9c-2-1 9c-3-1 10c-1-1 10c-2-1 10c-3-1 11c-1-1 11c-2-1 11c-3-1 12c-1-1 12c-2-1

18:00 10:24 09:48

Lab 8: Data Manipulation & Presentation

ENGR-2600 Modeling and Analysis of Uncertainty

07:02 06:59 05:40 10:05

Lab 9: Tasks, Deliverables, Simple Project

ENGR-2050; Important skills for students to manage projects and term papers

04:33 06:50 10:25

Lab 10: Gantt Charts, CPM

ENGR-2050; Any design courses that require a proposal development

06:16 04:07 08:01

Lab 11: Project Control, Effective Slides

ENGR-2050 IED; ENGR-1010 PD1; Any course including team projects Functional analysis (MANE); Data flow diagram/Use cases (CS/CSE); Block diagram (EE); Material and Energy Flow (Chem., IME);

14:17 03:25

12C

Systems Labview I

12:38 08:08

13C

13c-1-1 13c-2-1 14c-1-1

ENGR-2050 IED; Design Courses

05:10 14:43 04:29

14C

Labview II

14c-2-1 14c-3-1

Lab 14: Programming, Documenting

ENGR-2050 IED; Design Courses

04:52 06:12