Pedersen said the class prepares students for the realities of the engineering field.
Shane Rice
– Staff Writer –
“On your mark! Get set! Go!” is what the students of Tim Pedersen’s Engineering and Design class heard as their fall 2009 finals began. The class assembled and raced three go-karts for their final project. “All three karts made it around the track.
”I was very impressed with the outcome,” said Pedersen, Ph.D. “Watching those who had little to no mechanical skills actually get their karts, put them together, run it, and seeing students succeed was what I liked the most about this project.“
Every semester, Pedersen said, he tries to come up with both different projects; challenging and fun for his students. He said this particular project had more to do with luck, only because of the balance between students who he considered entry level and those who are more advanced in the fields of fabrication, welding and assembly.
“I envisioned a lot of work, and it was, but the satisfaction of doing it outweighs any extra effort you have put into it. The students will surprise you, as to what they know and what they can accomplish,” Pedersen said.
This semester, Pedersen’s students will be reliving the life of inventor Heron of Alexandria from 60A.D by remaking some of his most famous illusions, or “pranks” as Pederson calls them. He said he is hoping to have some on display by midterm.
Pedersen said the class prepares students for the realities of the engineering field.
“From the outside, things may seem simple, but what you find out, very quickly, is that it’s not as easy as it looks. It takes more time and more effort,” Pedersen said.
However, he said the hard work pays off in the end.
“Anything of value isn’t achieved without hard work, and if it comes easy, it’s not of value,” Pedersen said. “Don’t be afraid of it; if I can do it, anyone can do it. It’s easy to get scared off because it’s easier to take the road of less work. Take the road of harder work because it has value. In order to achieve success, [first] you have to fail.”
