Service learning experiences: a way forward in teaching engineering students?

Figures & data

Table 1 Evolution of Level 4 module: first phase (Handscombe, 2010)

Year	Students taking module	Module description	Specific details	Module leader reflection
1	28	A module on commercial exploitation, challenging student groups to devise new commercial applications for a piece of mature university research.		No emotional attachment. No technical problem to focus on - emphasis on business venturing. No external dimension.
2	43	Merger of the above module with Technology Strategy to create a new Business Planning module where a commercial problem was identified and student teams devised new companies to overcome it.	A representative of Tesco outlined the problem they have with costs and customer complaints regarding wine tainting through corkage. This was a real technical challenge to devise something different from what currently exists.	Good technical challenge. Good external interaction from Tesco setting the problem and assessment by a team of external mentors.
3	51	As above, but with the identified problem having a social element.	A representative of a packaging association outlined the challenges of child proof but easy to use packaging.	Again a real technical challenge, the opportunity for licensable intellectual property and a strong sense that the work was ‘worthwhile’.
4	55	Focus this year was on a company’s major business problem.	A local company identified its overall business problem and asked for new product ideas.	Very little emotional commitment - an unknown company has problems making a profit. No clear technical problem to focus on.

Table 2 Example of module timetable (2009)

Topic	Type of delivery	Speaker	Position held	Company	Date
1. Writing your business plan Design for living	Lecture Lecture	Elena Rodriguez-Falcon AI aster Yoxall	Senior University Teacher Lecturer	The University of Sheffield SHU	Feb 11
2. IPR Understanding the customer	Lecture Lecture	Douglas Drysdale Louise Hitchings	European Patent Attorney Marketing Executive	Murgitroyd Outokumpu Stainless	Feb 18
3. The challenge	CUSTOMERS	Staff members Patient and Wife	Various	St Luke’s Hospice	Feb 25
4. Business models	Lecture	Peter Crawford	Solicitor	Taylor & Emmet	Mar 4
5. Finance sources	Discussion panel	Emma L Turner Martin Manning	Business Manager Business Angel	HSBC YABA	Mar 11
6. Financial statements	Lecture	SIFE representative	Calum Moore	SIFE Ltd	Mar 18
7. I have done it!	Discussion panel	Will Christopher Paul Thomas	Entrepreneur	Will Yaki Mycorrhizal Syst Ltd	Mar 25
8. What makes a good business plan. Elevator pitches	Lecture Lecture	Richard Campos Elena Rodriguez-Falcon	Managing Director Senior University Teacher	RC Business Support Limited The University of Sheffield	Apr 1
Mentorship scheme (technical and business)
Business mentorship: by appointment only!	Advice	Amy Jones (Mech Eng), Liz Gillot (BE SY), Jenny Moore and Toni Cook (Enterprise at Sheffield), Emily Savage, Helen Parrott (WRCETLE)	Email for an appointment or for advice
Technical mentorship	Surgery	Nigel Harrison	Director	KingKraft	April 29
ASSESSMENT (Submission deadlines and poster presentation date)
Business plan (50%) Individual effort factor	Assessment	Elena Rodriguez-Falcon	Tutor	The University of Sheffield	May 8
• Poster presentation (40%)	Assessment	Customer, academics and business people	Various	Various	May 21

Figure 1 Students meeting Kieron and his family

Figure 2 St Luke’s patient with winning students at poster presentation

Table 3 Evolution of Level 4 module: second phase

Year	Number of students taking module	Module description	Specific details	Module leader reflection
5	70	Focus on a specific need of a specific individual.	A boy with cerebral palsy is interviewed by the whole class and outlines what he can do and what he would like to do.	Huge emotional commitment to find technical solutions to the boy’s problems and limitations. Ideas worked up well technically, and prototypes are being manufactured, but focus moved to technical aspects of product development and away from new venture development.
6	87	Focus on supporting a local children’s hospital	A representative for the children’s hospital and a patient are interviewed by the whole class and outline the problems in the occupational therapy and rehabilitation department.	As above, huge emotional commitment to find technical solutions to the children’s problems and limitations. Ideas worked up well technically and prototypes are being manufactured. Students from the course volunteered to solve other problems.
7	97	Focus on supporting a local hospice	A representative of the hospice and a patient are interviewed by the whole class and outline the problems faced by the hospice in providing care for their patients.	As above, huge emotional commitment to find technical solutions to the children’s problems and limitations. Ideas worked up well technically and further research is being conducted.
8	144	Focus on supporting a local school for children with special needs	No data available yet.	No data available yet.

Table 4 Key findings from the questionnaire

High satisfaction level: (%)	Pure experiential learning	Service learning
2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Module in general	74	78	62	89	87	87
Project	75	77	45	92	89	93
Assessment	76	75	70	78	77	80
Perceived learning achieved	70	72	68	77	78	79
Professional outcomes	65	63	25	77	76	77

Table 5 Impact measures

	Pure experiential learning	Service learning
2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Student numbers	43	51	55	70	87	97
Student interview with clients (time in minutes)	25	30	25	80	80	85
Number of contributors	3	4	5	8	15	17
Sponsorship for prizes	150	250	250	1000	750	750
Products prototyped				1	1	Ongoing (2)
Media interest				Yorkshire Post, Sheffield Star and BBC website. Interview with BBC Look North.	Yorkshire Post, Sheffield Telegraph. Interview with BBC Radio Sheffield.	Yorkshire Post (2), Sheffield Star.
Extra-curricular projects				1	1
Teaching awards and grants				RAEng, Teaching Award, ¬10,000	RAEng, ExxonMobil Teaching Award, ¬10,000	TUOS, BiC grant ¬10,000.
Non-requested project					X	X