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Learn by Doing at Cal Poly
A Tradition for 100 years
Phil Bailey
Dean, College of Science and Mathematics
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, California
Chinese Proverb
I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.
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Cal Poly Campus Early Years
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Cal Poly Campus Today
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Fast Facts
Predominantly undergraduate (95%)
Approximately 19,000 students – almost 50% in
engineering and agriculture
Six colleges
Incoming freshmen average GPA 3.84
76% graduation rate
Comprehensive polytechnic
Declare major on entry
10,000 acres plus Swanton Pacific Ranch near Santa
Cruz
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Learn by Doing – What We Do
From day one
Active engagement
In and outside of
class
Apply classroom
knowledge in real-
world settings
Lots of it
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Learn by Doing – How We Do It
Major classes in first
year
Learn by Doing in
foundational courses
High resource
allocation to labs
Senior projects
Co-curriculum
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Learn by Doing – What It Is
Labs, projects,
undergraduate research,
departmental clubs,
competitions
Hands-on experience
Learning operations but
always with interpretation
It is not training! It is
education!
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Learn by Doing – What Students Gain
Real-world
experience
Problem-solving
ability
Confidence
Application of
classroom learning to
professional
situations
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Learn by Doing – From Day One
Aerospace Engineering – First Quarter
Aerospace Fundamentals
Introduction to Design Manufacturing
Animal Science – First Quarter
Introduction to the Animal Sciences
Principles of Animal Science
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Learn by Doing – From Day One
Economics – First Quarter
Microeconomics
Statistical Inference for Management
City and Regional Planning – First Quarter
Introduction to the Profession of City and Regional
Planning
Introduction to Urban Planning
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Learn by Doing – Foundational
Courses: Studio Classrooms
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Studio Classrooms
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Studio Classrooms
Integration of lecture and
lab.
Content presentation and
experimentation flow into
each other.
Content supports student
interests, majors, critical
and creative thinking, and
developing life skills.
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Chemistry for Engineers
What is the nature of
materials?
How does chemical
composition determine
properties and potential uses?
How is chemistry important to
the strength of materials,
electrical systems, thermal
properties, life of products,
components of air, acidity of
soil and water? How are these
properties determined and
measured?
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Chemistry for Engineers
Curriculum focuses on solid state and materials (for
example, the chemical make-up of semiconductors)
How do you analyze for organic compounds?
Modern instrumentation for analysis
Current computer technology integrated with the
following:
Data acquisition probes for pH, temperature, and
voltage
Refractometers
Gas chromatographs
Visible and infrared spectrophotometers
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Teacher Preparation – Studio Learn by
Doing Labs
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Senior Project & Student Research
Demonstrate
disciplinary expertise
Think critically
Communicate
effectively in writing
Integrate ideas and
information from
different sources
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Senior Project
Design a portable telescope Write a city’s climate action
plan
City of San Luis Obispo Climate Action Plan
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Student Research
Student Research: Dr. Chris Kitts, Biological
Sciences
18 peer-reviewed publications, 16 with Cal Poly student
co-authors
10 professional reports, all with student co-authors
59 undergraduates and 23 master’s students have
presented at professional meetings around the United
States and the world, including New Orleans, Monterey,
Washington DC, Salt Lake City, Quebec, Montreal,
Calgary, Cancun, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen.
Students have presented at Cal Poly's College of
Science and Mathematics Research Conference.
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Metrics – Survey Results
80% of freshmen and 87% of senior respondents report
applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in
new situations quite a bit or very much vs. 73/79% for
the California State University (CSU) system.
63% of senior respondents report that they have done a
practicum, internship, field experience, co-op
experience, or clinical assignment vs. 40% for CSU.
28% of senior respondents report that they have worked
on a research project with a faculty member outside of
course or program requirements vs. 13% for CSU.
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Metrics – U. S. News and World
Report Rankings Best public, largely undergraduate university in
the western U.S.
College of Engineering: Best state-supported
engineering program in the country
Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical
Engineering: best program at a public university
nationwide
Civil and Aeronautical Engineering: second best
program at a public university nationwide
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Metrics – Other Distinctions
Aeronautical industry ranked Cal Poly as the #1
preferred school for hiring.
Architecture professionals ranked Cal Poly’s
undergraduate program as fourth in the nation.
Master’s in City and Regional Planning ranked first
for universities that don’t offer a Ph.D.
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Metrics – What Employers Say
High overall quality
High industry readiness
Cal Poly has high
employment of its
graduates compared to
national averages.
Cal Poly is a
recognized source of
excellent students for
masters and Ph.D.
programs.
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Learn by Doing – Concerns
Expensive
Often faculty members and students don’t
immediately see the advantage. Are we really
covering the material?
Real Learn by Doing is student-centered
whereas lecture is often faculty-centered.
Some faculty members may feel a loss of
control.
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Learn by Doing – Advantages
Students are actively engaged and invested in the
learning process.
Students take responsibility for learning and develop
confidence in their knowledge and skills.
Because they are actively engaged, students are
able to use critical thinking skills and employ
imagination and creativity.
Students are introduced to the inquiry/discovery
process.
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Learn by Doing – Examples in
Agriculture Event Management
Classes – Service
learning classes,
marketing projects,
engineering projects
Enterprise Project
Class – Student gains
experience, receives
academic credit but no
wage
Enterprise Project –
Student responsible for
all aspects of a project,
shares in the profits,
receives academic credit
Commercial Project –
Student gains
experience and is paid
Volunteer – Student
gains experience, no
compensation
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Agriculture Interior Plant Program
Floral Design
Competition
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Agriculture – Cal Poly Wines
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Agriculture – Logging Team
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Agriculture – Quarter-Scale Tractor
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Agriculture – Cal Poly Chocolates
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Agriculture – Dairy Products
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Agriculture – Dairy Products
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Crop Science
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Gallo Vineyard
Project
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Animal Science
Architecture – International Steel
Design Competition
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Architecture – City of Guadalupe
Community Plan
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Architecture – Bridge for a Local Park
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Architecture – Low-Income Housing
Challenge
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Architecture – Vellum Furniture
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Architecture – Design Village
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Architecture – Centennial Park
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Architecture – Centennial Park
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Architecture – Centennial Park
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Business – Human Resources Games
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Business – MBA China Program
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Business – Student Managed Portfolio
Project
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Business – Asparagus Shipper
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Business – Executive Partners
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Business - Center for Innovation and
Entrepreneurship
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Entrepreneurial opportunities
for students and faculty
members
Promote entrepreneurial
activity, scholarship and
dialogue across the university
Learn by Doing combined with
the support of an active group
of faculty, mentors, and
advisors
Develop a vibrant community
of innovators and
entrepreneurs
Business – Center for Innovation and
Entrepreneurship
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Engineers Without Borders
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Engineering – Concrete Canoe
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Society of Women Engineers:
Top Chapter in the United States
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Engineering – Robotics
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Engineering – Supermileage Car
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Engineering – Cubesat
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Engineering – Human-Powered
Vehicle
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Engineering – Aircraft Design
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Engineering – Quality of Life+ Lab
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Mission: foster and
generate innovations to aid
and improve the quality of
life of those injured in the
line of duty
Faculty/student team works
on a challenge from an
injured service member
6-9 months to develop and
manufacture a prototype,
which is then tested and
manufactured
Engineering – Quality of Life+ Lab
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Liberal Arts – The Forum History
Journal
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Liberal Arts – Shakespeare Press
Museum
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Liberal Arts – Public Relations Club
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Liberal Arts – History Internship
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Liberal Arts – Service Learning
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Liberal Arts – University Graphics
Systems Student-managed, student-run
commercial printing enterprise
on campus; 200 student
participants per year
Students learn and perform all
tasks associated with running
a real company in the
commercial sector
Print the daily campus
newspaper and offer
commercial services to a wide
range of customers and to
other campuses
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Liberal Arts – University Graphics
Systems
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Science & Math – Adaptive Paddling
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Science & Math – STRIDE
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Science & Math – E. Coli
Fingerprinting
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Science & Math – Guateca in Guatemala
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Science & Math – CUORE in Italy
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Science & Math – ALICE in Geneva
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Science & Math – ALICE in Geneva
Since 2007, 19 students have worked on the project; 16
have gone to CERN
Student authors on paper published in Nuclear
Instruments and Methods in Physics Journal
4 poster presentations at regional and national American
Physical Society meetings
5 presentations at Cal Poly COSAM research
conference
Students have gone on to be SLAC accelerator operator,
engineers, graduate students, high school teacher
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Science & Math – VERITAS in
Arizona
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Science & Math – Student Research
Conference
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Science & Math – Marine Science
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Science & Math – Marine Science
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Science & Math – Marine Science
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Interdisciplinary – Rose Float
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Interdisciplinary – Innovation Quest
The iQ Contest is designed to encourage innovators to pursue their
ideas and get funded for it. It is an unprecedented opportunity for
students to have no-strings-attached funding and assistance for their
great ideas—to discover whether they’re feasible and what to do
next.
Criteria for funding/assistance:
Projects that demonstrate & validate the novel idea
Ideas that have a high potential for commercialization and attract
industry
Solid multidisciplinary teams, technology, creativity,
business, etc.
Ideas that are paradigm shifts to a broad new market
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Interdisciplinary – Algae for Producing
Biofuels
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Interdisciplinary – PolyHouse
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