Overview of Course Features

Welcome to Engineering Product Innovation: ENGR 804

Course Orientation

Before beginning our semester of study together, it is important to review all of the material in this Course Orientation.

What Will We Learn in the Course Orientation?

• Structure & Learning Environment of this Course;
• How to Succeed in this Course;
• Topics of Study in this Course;
• Unique Reading Activities in this Course;
• Course Journal; and
• ELIM e-Portfolio Option.

Please refer to the Course Syllabus for:

• What Assignments are Required in this Course;
• An Overview of Canvas, Penn State's Course Management System;
• Technical Requirements for Viewing Instructional Materials; and
• Where to Get Assistance if Assistance is Needed.

Structure & Learning Environment

This course will include reading material, which constitutes “lectures” here on Canvas. The readings will need to be read by the student prior to preparing a discussion post(s) each week so that students can participate in meaningful class discussions with classmates on the module topics. Class Modules will be based on that material but will also contain supplemental information or exercises to reinforce the learning objectives for each lesson. One module will be completed each week, with the reading due to be completed prior to that week's class. You will be required to complete all the modules, and pass a (reading) quiz at the end of each one. The “self-paced” nature of the course means that there is an established end date for completion of the reading, and for the module, but you have a great deal of flexibility within that week for how you'd like to proceed through the modules. Each Module is due by Sunday at 11:59 pm Eastern Time; however, once a module is open, you may begin working on it, as long as you complete the deadlines as established.

In addition, students will be assigned to virtual project teams, with members from the class for any Team Projects. The teams will be assigned to a project mid-way through the semester by the Instructor, and will work together throughout the semester to complete the tasks. Virtual meetings among the team members will be the primary mode of collaboration. Teams are expected to establish meetings to facilitate their work. Penn State University provides many free resources, such as Zoom Meetings; however, students are free to decide how to meet as long as deadlines are meet.

All materials are accessible from Canvas, Penn State's course management system. It is here that you'll access course pages and materials, take online quizzes and surveys, and check assignment scores and course grades.

It is unfortunate that we cannot simply inject each student with all of the knowledge they will gain during the semester so that the team-based projects could be initiated with full awareness of the challenges of working on virtual teams and some of the tools to address these challenges. This knowledge will be developed over the course of the semester, and we hope that you will adjust your team and how you interact as we work through these lessons.

How to Succeed

How do you define and achieve success in an on-line (or even a residential) course like this one? It depends on your goals and perspective. A 24-year-old graduate student who registers for this course in the hope of earning an easy “A” is unlikely to be successful, no matter how adept he or she may be with information technology. Assuming that you are motivated to get the most out of this class, which attitudes and behaviors increase your chances of having a satisfactory experience?

Habits of Successful Learners

1. Devote sufficient time and effort. Time-on-task is a necessary condition for learning. Schedule several blocks of time during each week to study the text, to work on project assignments, and to read and contribute to discussions.
2. Approach learning reflectively. Be aware of your strengths and weakness as a learner. Students who develop strong “metacognitive” skills tend to be the most effective learners. Also, those who are able to relate what they learned to situations outside the classroom (real or virtual) are most likely to retain that knowledge.

Source: Palloff, R. M. and Pratt, K. (2001). Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom: The Realities of Online Teaching.

The Learning Experience

Online courses make great organizational demands on you, the student. This is especially true in a self-paced course, in which you alone are responsible for your progress. You can work in the middle of the night or afternoon. The classroom never closes, and this flexibility allows you to fashion the learning experience around your schedule. However, this freedom also requires that you be disciplined in your efforts. You must be willing and able to commit the same amount of time as you would for attending class and studying for a traditional course.

Topics of Study

There are 14 Modules that will be completed for this course. We will complete the Modules at a rate of approximately 1 unit per week. Topics will include:

1. Introduction to Engineering Production Innovation
2. Organizational and Market Considerations
3. Major Approaches to Product Innovation
4. What, Why &; How to Innovate
5. Market Research, Analysis & Product Testing
6. Intellectual Property (IP) Considerations
7. Pitching Your Own Product Innovation
8. Team Product Innovation
9. Product Innovation Measures and Metrics
10. Overcoming Barriers in Product Innovation
11. Leading Innovation Through Failure
12. Studying Product Innovation for Introspection
13. Simulation of Production Innovation
14. Product Dissection as Applied to Product Innovation

Unique Reading Activities

Throughout each lesson you will see four unique reading activities, each identified with their own specific icon. Be sure to pay attention to these areas throughout your lesson pages.

• Focus on Research
• Focus on Theory
• Focus on Application
• Focus on Practice

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Journal

Throughout each lesson there will be journal entry requirements to assist in your comprehension of and reflection upon key concepts. Your grade will be based on your completion of each journal entry related to the specific section of content and your demonstration of at least a basic understanding of the underlying concepts. Journal posts do not need to be lengthy, but should concisely show your thoughts on the question at hand. Throughout each lesson, look for the brainstorming icon to signify when you should pause in your studies, reflect on what has just been presented and write a journal entry.

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ELIM e-Portfolio Option

Canvas offers a unique opportunity for you to monitor your own learning as you move through all of the courses for the Engineering Leadership and Innovation Management (ELIM) Certificate. You will be writing weekly journal entries and completing assignments that could be highly relevant to your future (if not, present) work setting. We highly recommend that you create and set up a Canvas e-Portfolio for capturing all of your work, including your journal entries, for all of the ELIM courses. You can later use this repository of work as a way to track all the topics you covered and/or to track your personal growth and understanding. Even if you are not completely this course for ELIM, having an e-Portfolio to reference back to, will be helpful as you progress through your coursework, as well as your career.

You control who can access your Canvas e-Portfolio. You simply need to provide the appropriate URL to anyone you may want to share with, including current or future employers. Please use these directions to set up your personal e-portfolio space now. That way, you can easily add your work throughout this course, and future courses, as you see fit.