Design, Construction, and Destruction in the Classroom: Experiential Learning with Earthen Dams

Abstract

Early in their career, engineering students sometimes have difficulty linking academic concepts between courses and the interests that led to their enrollment. We present a design “interlude” event that is intended to improve experiential inductive learning and the vertical and horizontal integration of engineering courses. In this exercise, second year engineering students design, build, and test a scaled model of an earthen dam. The method integrates content from technical courses in which they are currently enrolled, such as statistics and fluid mechanics, and previews future courses in their curriculum, such as soil mechanics, hydrology, and hydraulics. Students consult with a range of experts, mock stakeholders, and mock protestors. Projects are evaluated for social/environmental impacts, technical design, cost, and performance, including stability, power generation, and spillway overflow. Student feedback was positive and highlights the intended benefits for the students, including interaction with industry partners, team building for the students, hands-on learning, and a better understanding of the impact of engineering projects.