1. The Idiots Guide to Collaborative work practises: Author, The students

2. From an external Learning Technologist: “Engineering does a lot of group work, do you provide collaborative software ? What do the students do when you give them an assignment?”

4. Our Degree programmes are all accredited by the relevant Professional body The Institution of Mechanical Engineers The Institution of Chartered Civil Engineers The Institution of Chemical Engineers The Institution of Engineering and Technology As a consequence our degree programmes down to the modular level are heavily scrutinized to ensure they meet industry standards and are relevant to todays business requirements.

6. IEng degree as an enhancement or limitation to BEng(Hons) for CEng BEng(Hons) for CEngIntegrated MEng degree as enhancement of BEng(Hons) US2i Knowledge and understanding of mathematics necessary to support application of key engineering principles US2 Knowledge and understanding of mathematical principles necessary to underpin their education in mechanical and related engineering disciplines and to enable them to apply mathematical methods, tools and notations proficiently in the analysis and solution of engineering problems. US2m A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the mechanical and related engineering disciplines, and an appreciation of their limitations. US3iUS3 Ability to apply and integrate knowledge and understanding of other engineering disciplines to support the study of mechanical and related engineering disciplines US3m An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects. D5i Ensure fitness for purpose (including operation, maintenance, reliability etc) D5 Ensure fitness for purpose for all aspects of the problem including production, operation, maintenance and disposal D5m S2iS2 Knowledge of management techniques which may be used to achieve engineering objectives within that context S2m Extensive knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues.

8. When you give your student an assignment what happens, between issuing the brief and receiving a completed piece of work?  Is that different when it’s a group project?

9. Well that’s difficult to say… It depends on the assignment I don’t really care as long as it comes in on time. Well they must talk and meet…

10. Picture courtesy of Anna Briggs (Flickr)

11. (Imagine Victoria mumbling to self) didn’t ask the right questions? didn’t ask the right people? better asking the students… EPIPHANY!! So we asked the students!

15. Picture courtesy of I Fuller (Flickr)

18. Has a laptop and smartphone, uses both but mainly the smartphone. Uses Facebook on a daily basis mainly for non academic work. Uses it as a way to maintain contact with the friends from back home, which is important in 1 st year. Has used a FB group for one academic group project. Uses the Civil Engineering year 1 FB Group. Has engaged in asking about and answering tutorial questions online using FB chat. Uses dropbox to transfer files instead of a USB. Prefers to use text messaging to arrange meetings. Uses email but prefers either to talk or text on a mobile phone.

19. Has an iPad Is a class rep and is heavily engaged with technology to manage academic and social life. Uses doodle to arrange meetings followed up with email confirmations. Dropbox to manage all files and to co-create academic materials. Uses dropbox to upload tutorial and past exam questions and to reply to other students solutions using a mobile phone / iPad camera and the dropbox app. Regularly creates and manages FB groups, managing a University of Edinburgh Society page including advertising. Uses a FB group Mechanical and Electrical Engineering to fill the knowledge gaps between the two disciplines, that are not filled by the academic materials. Uses the MechEng FB group to manage the 3 rd year co-hort and syllabus

20. Considers self to be completely digital, uses a laptop and mobile. Is constantly connected and will read all emails within 30 mins of being sent. Uses twitter to keep in contact with colleagues and has uses this to co-ordinate assignments. Has administrated and participated in FB groups for group assignments. Uses Wiki’s but prefers other solutions. Uses a mixture of Google doc, dropbox and GIThub to create documents depending on the requirements for version control (and will explain the various benefits and features of all at length). Considers their online data as a personal brand and takes care to ensure what is presented [to the outside world] is suitable for their digital CV.

21. Ease of use Frequency of access Consideration of the tools that met the differing academic and social requirements. All demonstrated levels of understanding of privacy and security issues that suggested these had been considered before I spoke with them. All consider these tools to be essential to their academic workset. The development of these strategies happen mostly without UoE staff direction or guidance, through peer discussion and actions.

22. They gather together their digital offices tools, on the bus, at the flat, in the library or in the computing labs. They work together, they work separately and they share. They engineer solutions that allows them to live and study in that way that fits their lives, what ever that might be. And they submit their assignments!