1. The Vertically-Integrated Projects (VIP) Program: Integrating Undergraduate Education and Graduate Research
Bloom, B. S. (Ed.). (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives: The
classification of educational goals. New York: McKay.
Bloom, B. S., Madaus, G. F., & Hastings, J. T. (1981). Evaluation to
improve learning. New York: McGraw-Hill.
All learning follows these processes.
Bloom’s Taxonomy: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis

2. Welcome to the VIP Program!
New Students
Welcome to the VIP Program!
VIP Integrates Research and Education
VIP Enables Innovation
Returning Students
Do not need to attend this lecture!
This is an Introduction to the VIP Program
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3. VIP – A Partnership for Innovation
Undergraduate
Students
Research and
Development
EPICS is a program that brings together students in Engineering and Applied Science and the Community in ways that help both achieve their goals.
Not-for-profit organizations in the community need the advice and help of people with technical skills to help them utilize new technologies to improve their operations or to better serve the community. They rarely have the budget or skills to be able to do this on their own.
Students in engineering and applied science need more than classes, homework and labs to fully develop their skills as engineers. They need real projects that are requested and evaluated by real customers.
EPICS provides a unique, sustainable model for these two groups to work together and learn from each other.
Undergraduate Students need Real Projects in which they Learn the Innovation Process
Large-Scale Research and Development Efforts Need Help at all Levels of Innovation
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4. Design/Discovery in an R&D Context
You see the full range of your discipline(s)
Understand research and development process
Dig deep into some topic(s) in your discipline
Learn about & work with other disciplines
Create ideas/systems/processes/etc. that move the project forward
Join the university community!!
Have fun!!
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5. The VIP Goal: Time Context Mentoring
Foster Innovative Thinking & Entrepreneurial Behavior
by Involving Students in Challenging Projects.
Ensure Success by Providing the Necessary:
Time Context Mentoring
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6. Program Architecture Long-term, large-scale R&D/Discovery projects:
Large teams: 8-40 undergraduates; 1-6 grad students
Long-term participation: each UG can register for credit for up to six semesters
Sophomores through seniors + grads on each team
New students replace those who graduate
Challenging, real projects:
Real research projects, real needs, real customers, …
The Innovation Continuum:
Research, design, & deploy real solutions
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7. How VIP Teams Work: They function like design/research firms
Projects grow semester to semester, year to year, decade to decade, ….
Work Together to develop technical and professional skills & contribute to your team
Everyone must be self-motivated and active!
Faculty advisers do not give you all the answers – because they don’t have them!
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8. VIP Grading – The Purpose
Provide Feedback to You
How are you doing?
How can you do better?
Check on team progress
Is everyone working
Is the team on the right track
What needs to change to make faster progress
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9. Grading: Mid Semester End of Semester Peer Evaluations
Design Notebook evaluation
Meet with your advisor if questions on how to succeed
End of Semester
Final Presentation (at last team meeting)
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10. Peer Evaluations Are not graded (except for completeness)
Evaluatee doesn't see evaluations
may add a summary in the future
Constructive criticism
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11. Grading areas: Documentation
Design Notebook
If it isn't in your design notebook, you didn't do it!
Meeting notes, references, individual & group study
Signed, Numbered, dated pages
Could someone else use your notebook to understand your work, accomplishments, and get up to speed where you left off?
Wiki
Code
Other Areas
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12. Grading Areas: Effort and Accomplishments
Quizzes, assignments, reading assignments
Team specific
Self-motivated
Don't wait for someone to hand you a solution,
or even a problem
Effectiveness
Do you get results? Finish projects?
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13. Grading areas: Teamwork
Attendance and Participation
Know other team members' status!
Communication and Interaction Skills
Work within a group
Share ideas, listen to others
Leadership Skills
responsibility, vision, direction
Established students can and should be leading
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14. As a Team Member: Responsibilities Roles and Time
Everyone does Disciplinary Work
Everyone does Presentations and Writes
You are to be Active; not Passive
Roles and Time
Learning
Contributing
Coordinating and Leading
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15. Peer Evaluations You evaluate each member of your team
The process is confidential
Advisors see all team members evals of you
Factor in grade/range and to you with comments/feedback
Advisers meet with you if they see problems.
Meet with your adviser if you’re concerned.
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16. Team Start-Ups/Transitions
New (and Returning) Members Have Met!
Progress Update from Returning Members
Returning Members: Prepare and Give presentation on progress from last semester. End-of-Semester presentations are perfect
for this.
New Teams + New Team Members
Learn about teams’ tasks and goals
Schedule Team Dinner for Week 2, 3, or 4; Adviser’s Treat!
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17. Getting (Re)Started Returning Members – Plan for Semester
Train New Members: Course Modules, Tools, Reading Assignments, Labs, etc.
Organize Projects; Plan this Semester’s Work
Make Progress!
New Members – Start Learning
Explore team’s t-square/wiki/lab/etc sites
Question returning members about project
Get Involved!!
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18. Resources Recorded Tutorials: SVN, PHP, MySQL, C Programming, Linux
VIP Subnet and Server Cloud
Designed/Administered by Dr. Abler
Two VIP Labs: VL-465, Klaus 1440
Senior Design Labs
Invention Studio
Your adviser(s)’ research infrastructure
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19. Available on the Wiki http://vip.gatech.edu/wiki
Syllabus
Available on the Wiki
Grading details
Responsible Adults (expectations)
Shared facilities
Team Adviser may have additions/changes
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20. Benefits to You Takes design/discovery experience to a new level
New depth and breadth of knowledge
You can participate in a large research effort
Improves the undergraduate curriculum
You see how course knowledge can be applied
Learn to work in a team; Opportunity to lead
Be an active learner, not just a passive learner
Do something you can talk about in interviews
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21. Information: http://vip.gatech.edu {jsk, ejc, randal.abler}@gatech.edu
Thank You for Joining!
Questions?
Information:
{jsk, ejc,
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