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Engineering Design Coaches

As an Engineering Design Coach you will gain valuable teaching experience while sharing your passions and knowledge with new engineering students.

Student demonstrating MILL equipment for fellow students

Engineering Design Coaches (EDCs) are current undergraduate students in the College of Engineering who work with the staff, tools, and equipment in the makerspaces on campus to develop curriculum for the ENGR 202: Exploring Engineering course.

As an EDC, you would be developing and teaching your own workshops based on your own interests, skills, and desire to learn. You will have the opportunity to learn how to use the equipment in the makerspaces and can incorporate them into your workshop, or you can develop a workshop that doesn’t use those tools at all! There is no previous equipment or teaching experience required to be an EDC!

By serving as an EDC, you will have the opportunity to expose engineering undeclared students to new skills and ideas while simultaneously developing leadership skills such as lesson planning, public speaking, collaboration, and . You will also receive credit for successful completion of the training course in spring as well as a scholarship.

ENGR 202 is a CR/NC class that focuses on serving first-year ENGRUD students. It uses a hands-on approach to teach students fundamental skills that they will be able to apply in their future as engineers and their lives in general. Designed as a build-your-own-adventure style class, students select workshops that they would like to attend off of the course schedule. Students then attend their chosen workshop and complete a small homework assignment that allows them to practice the skills they learned in the workshop.

The workshops offered to the students are a combination of EDC created workshops and workshops developed by departments within UW College of Engineering. Students are required to attend and complete an assignment for a specific number of workshops in order to receive credit for the class.

The EDC program is a year + one quarter long experience that begins the spring quarter the year you apply and are accepted into the program. That spring, you will attend a leadership class with other ELE student leaders to develop basic leadership skills that will benefit all positions. You will also attend a linked ENGR 498 quiz section for EDCs only, where you will develop your first workshop based on your skills and interests. It’s totally ok if you don’t know anything about the equipment in our makerspaces, we will teach you!

Come fall quarter of the next academic year, you will begin teaching the workshop you designed in spring to the ENGR 202 students. Workshops will be taught on a weekly basis, with scheduling and material ordering all done by the EDC program management team. As the year progresses, you will be encouraged to learn another EDCs workshop or develop a new workshop of your own so you can continue to learn about our equipment, practice your lesson planning and teaching skills, and remain engaged throughout the year.

Each quarter, there will be up to three additional trainings that you will be required to attend. At these trainings we will offer additional leadership curriculum and professional development seminars, as well as allowing you the opportunity to bond and work with your fellow EDCs to improve your workshops. Trainings will be scheduled a quarter in advance to provide ample planning time.

Prepare course materials

  • Choose a workshop topic that interests you and develop a curriculum
  • Develop lesson plans and supplemental materials
  • Design homework assignments that build on lessons learned in the workshop
  • Work with fellow EDCs to create a robust curriculum that connects with and builds off the work of your peers
  • Prepare for ENGR 202 workshops

Facilitate

  • Lead meaningful activities designed to further student learning
  • Teach students how to use makerspace tools, hand tools, and software
  • Record students’ participation and attendance using Canvas
  • Provide thoughtful feedback on student work

Mentor

  • Guide students through the process of learning new skills and applying them in a variety of environments
  • Empower students to use their creativity and skills in projects
  • Support students’ exploration of engineering disciplines and applications
  • Share personal experience as an engineering student
  • Help connect students to university resources

Collaborate with ENGR 202 teaching team

  • Meet with EDC program director, teaching assistants, and fellow EDCs each quarter you serve as an EDC
  • Communicate frequently with program director and teaching assistants about any student issues or workshop concerns.

Serve as a member of the EDC team

  • Actively engage in all EDC trainings and meetings
  • Collaborate with program director, instructional technician, and teaching assistants
  • Share thoughts and ideas about the ENGR 202 course design
  • Build relationships with fellow EDCs
  • Utilize fellow EDCs as resources

As a result of serving as an EDC, you will be able to:

  • Build effective relationships with people from varying backgrounds
  • Communicate effectively through a variety of modes (email, public speaking, Canvas)
  • Develop greater confidence as a leader on campus
  • Support engineering undeclared and non-STEM students in their exploration of engineering topics through experiential learning
  • Create an engaging workshop experience that contributes to students’ achievement of the ENGR 202 learning outcomes
  • Value an intentional exploration and discernment process
Attendance at all EDC meetings, trainings, and ENGR 202 workshops is mandatory. Dates and times are subject to change.

Winter 2023

  • Attend the EDC Orientation: Tentatively set for Wednesday, March 1st, 2023, from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Spring 2023

  • Tentative: Participate fully in the ELE Retreat, April 7th-9th, 2023
  • Register and earn credit for ENGR 498 Student Leadership Development: Engineering Design Coaches. In this class, you will receive training on transition theory, public speaking, discussion facilitation, lesson plan development, and leadership.
    • Lecture: asynchronous online
    • Quiz section: likely Friday, 3:30-4:50 p.m.
    • *Note: Your schedule must accommodate the class times to be able to participate in the program.
  • EDC check-in #1: Individual meeting with Program Advisor and Teaching Team to articulate your goals for the upcoming year

Summer 2023

  • Continue to revise workshop lesson plans and train on equipment as needed

Fall 2023

  • Attend EDC program pre-quarter training: tentatively set for Monday, September 25th, 2023, hold 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Facilitate weekly iterations of the workshop you designed during Spring/Summer
  • EDC check-in #2: Individual meeting with program advisor and teaching team to gauge progress on goals set in the Spring.
  • Attend at least one EDC recruitment event/activity
  • Attend mid-quarter training: tentatively set for Friday, October 27th, 2023, hold 4:00-8:00 p.m.
  • Attend end-of quarter wrap-up: tentatively set for Friday, December 1st, hold 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Winter 2024

  • Facilitate weekly iterations of the workshop you designed during Spring and Summer OR workshop you cross-trained on during Fall
  • Develop a second workshop of your own for use in Spring Quarter OR cross train on another EDC’s workshop to teach in Spring Quarter
  • EDC check-in #3: Individual meeting with program adviser and teaching team to gauge progress on goals set in Spring/Fall. Develop new plans as needed
  • Attend at least one EDC recruitment event/activity
  • Assist with selection of new EDCs (returning EDCs only)
  • Attend mid-quarter training: tentatively set for Friday, February 2nd, 2024, hold 4:00-8:00 p.m.
  • Attend end-of quarter wrap-up: tentatively set for Friday, March 1st, hold 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Spring 2024

  • Facilitate weekly iterations of the workshop(s) you have developed or cross trained on
  • EDC check-in #4: Individual meeting with Program Advisor and Teaching Team to gauge progress on goals set in Spring/Fall/Winter. Identify progress and apply experience to future goals.
  • Attend mid-quarter training: tentatively set for Friday, April 26th, 2024, hold 4:00-8:00 p.m.
  • Attend ELE End-of-Year Celebration: tentatively set for Wednesday, May 15th, 2024, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
  • Complete EDC final reflection
  • You must be enrolled as an undergraduate in the College of Engineering at UW Seattle with an expected graduation date of June 2024 or later.
  • Passion for helping students explore engineering and learn new skills.
  • Demonstrated involvement on campus or in the community.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills; demonstrated ability to balance a variety of activities, including academics and extracurricular activities.
  • Ability to work well with peers, new students, staff; ability to listen and respond to individuals' questions and concerns; ability to help others problem solve and make decisions.
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills: the ability to work well with peers, new students, staff; ability to listen and respond to individuals' questions and concerns; ability to help others problem solve and make decisions.
  • Collaboration skills: be open to learning from and with fellow EDCs and be motivated to create your own workshops and lesson plans with other EDCs.
  • Public Speaking: Be comfortable presenting in front of an audience of up to five people and facilitating discussions, or possess the commitment to building these skills.
  • A commitment to fulfilling all responsibilities as an EDC throughout the Spring of your selection as an EDC.
  • Commitment: fulfill all responsibilities as an EDC throughout the spring 2023 and all of academic year 23-24.
  • Good academic standing: have a solid academic record demonstrating effective time management and organization skills.
  • Due to the support of generous donors, we are now able to provide scholarships of $1,800 amount for the 23-24 academic year (disbursed in equal portions after autumn, winter, and spring quarters of 23-24 after completion of program requirements)
  • 1-3 variable credit hours Spring 2023.
    • Spring: ENGR 498 credit for Student Leadership Development: Engineering Design Coach class.