Guiding students through an intense, three-month-long product development process
From ideation…
For eight terms, I served as either a lab instructor, curriculum consultant, or teaching assistant for Product Engineering Processes, MIT MechE’s senior product development course. In one semester, teams of 16+ students go through a full product design process to build real product prototypes that they test with real users under real conditions.
As a co-instructor guiding one team, I constantly evaluated how the team could best learn and grow together, and I provided feedback to all 120+ students in the course.
…to product launch!
In between, lots of iteration and user feedback
In this course, students investigate open-ended problems in order to define product requirements. Oftentimes, teams need a push to identify their target user or to reflect on their users’ needs. As students brainstorm solutions, I encourage them to test concepts frequently and iterate efficiently.
Students learn best when they enjoy the creative process
Throughout the semester, the teaching team and I work to build a supportive, engaging community between students and staff.
At the end of each semester, I see students’ unmatched pride and joy when they demonstrate their mechanical devices at an Apple-style product launch event with over one thousand live audience members and four thousand webcast viewers. This is when I know my design challenge—helping students build innovative, impactful products while delighting in the learning process—has been successful.
Learning teamwork & communication is just as important as specifications & prototyping
Larger teams often struggle with collaboration; I know each person brings a unique perspective, so I guide teams to leverage varied viewpoints, ensuring each member contributes.
Bi-weekly milestones get students comfortable with various forms of communication: formal presentations, visual communication, conversations with experts, discussions with teammates, and more.
