Please scroll down for the English version - "Getting hands dirty, igniting passion" | The story behind the British scholar teaching a National First-Class Course at UNNC.

近日，教育部結(jié)束了相關(guān)認(rèn)定結(jié)果的公示，寧波諾丁漢大學(xué)的《設(shè)計(jì)、制造及項(xiàng)目》課程成功被評(píng)為國(guó)家級(jí)一流本科課程。該課程融入了大量的實(shí)踐元素，鼓勵(lì)學(xué)生學(xué)以致用、知行合一。這樣的教學(xué)設(shè)計(jì)廣受學(xué)生的好評(píng)和喜愛，更有不少人認(rèn)為這是自己在寧諾求學(xué)期間最難忘的經(jīng)歷。這門課程的負(fù)責(zé)人便是寧諾機(jī)械、材料與制造工程系助理教授——Adam Rushworth。

從英諾到寧諾

——用鼓勵(lì)引領(lǐng)學(xué)生的探索之路

Adam來自英國(guó)，他所教授的《設(shè)計(jì)、制造及項(xiàng)目》課程是寧波諾丁漢大學(xué)材料成型及控制工程專業(yè)的核心課程之一。據(jù)介紹，這門課程的靈感來源于他在英國(guó)諾丁漢大學(xué)時(shí)期學(xué)習(xí)的設(shè)計(jì)與制造的相關(guān)課程，他說：“我對(duì)這門課程記憶頗深。它的難度非常大，學(xué)生們需要從零打造出一臺(tái)通過壓縮空氣產(chǎn)生旋轉(zhuǎn)動(dòng)力的馬達(dá)，最終只有極個(gè)別的小組能夠成功，但整個(gè)過程仍讓人終生難忘?！?/p>

Adam認(rèn)為，學(xué)生固然需要在壓力下應(yīng)對(duì)挑戰(zhàn)、尋求突破，但如果一門課程只有10%甚至更少的人能獲得成功，剩余的大部分學(xué)生可能會(huì)失落、沮喪，甚至因?yàn)榇鞌「卸Ｖ箤?duì)科學(xué)的探索。反之，如果學(xué)生通過努力最終取得哪怕并不完美的成果，這樣的經(jīng)歷在帶來喜悅和成就感的同時(shí)，還能鼓舞他們繼續(xù)創(chuàng)新。帶著這些思考，Adam著手對(duì)課題難度和研究深度做了大幅的改進(jìn)和優(yōu)化，并加入了更多的互動(dòng)環(huán)節(jié)，讓學(xué)生在學(xué)習(xí)過程中建立自信，激發(fā)他們對(duì)科學(xué)探索的熱情。

此外，對(duì)于部分學(xué)生 “放不開”、“回避發(fā)言”等痛點(diǎn)，Adam則會(huì)通過設(shè)計(jì)獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)機(jī)制、運(yùn)用交互軟件等方式輔助教學(xué)，為課堂營(yíng)造積極的氛圍，確保每一位學(xué)生都能深度參與到其中。

從樂高到水陸兩棲車

——“盡情弄臟你的雙手吧！”

Adam的教學(xué)強(qiáng)調(diào)“動(dòng)覺學(xué)習(xí)”，注重實(shí)操和參與，鼓勵(lì)學(xué)生在實(shí)踐過程中理解抽象的機(jī)械工程理論。樂高的Mindstorm系列是Adam本科課程教學(xué)活動(dòng)中的“常客”。據(jù)了解，該系列配備豐富的可編程主機(jī)、傳感器、馬達(dá)等元件，能快速讓學(xué)生完成從構(gòu)思到測(cè)試的步驟。例如，在部分教學(xué)環(huán)節(jié)中，樂高M(jìn)indstorm扮演著幫助學(xué)生克服早期設(shè)計(jì)開發(fā)階段相關(guān)障礙的重要角色。

此外，Adam還會(huì)經(jīng)常在課堂上激情飽滿地對(duì)學(xué)生大聲說：“盡情弄臟你們的雙手吧！” 在《設(shè)計(jì)、制造及項(xiàng)目》課程中，Adam會(huì)讓學(xué)生們帶上各自設(shè)計(jì)和制作的水陸兩用車輛，分別在水面上和陸地上和學(xué)生們一起從實(shí)用性、耐用性等方面測(cè)試每個(gè)作品，帶著大家一起“把自己的雙手弄臟”。

? 水陸兩棲小車測(cè)試

Adam透露，“弄臟雙手”的理念來源于自己少年時(shí)期的經(jīng)歷。他說：“我從小就喜歡用樂高研究如何搭建出復(fù)雜的可動(dòng)機(jī)械結(jié)構(gòu)。大約在我11歲的時(shí)候，我曾獨(dú)自發(fā)明了一個(gè)‘瓶子火箭’，通過水和空氣作為推進(jìn)動(dòng)力讓瓶子往前飛，使得這個(gè)‘火箭’能飛出30多米遠(yuǎn)的距離。當(dāng)你親身參與到設(shè)計(jì)和制作過程中并最終取得收獲，你就能體會(huì)到科學(xué)的魅力?！?/p>

來自2021屆的陳天怡回憶

“這門課程給我留下了很深的印象，因?yàn)樗€原了一個(gè)產(chǎn)品從設(shè)計(jì)、制作到最終測(cè)試的過程。我印象最深的是測(cè)試那天，整個(gè)環(huán)節(jié)充滿了樂趣，我們的作品需要在地面和水池中運(yùn)行，每個(gè)小組的作品都各有千秋。雖然我所在的小組的車輛行駛距離不是最遠(yuǎn)的，但其中有一個(gè)巧妙的設(shè)計(jì)得到了Adam的高度認(rèn)可。這門課是我在寧諾四年中最難忘的一部分?！?br/>

國(guó)際生Ricardo Bossano

“這門課程讓我體驗(yàn)了作為一個(gè)工程師在設(shè)計(jì)產(chǎn)品時(shí)所面臨的一切。通過結(jié)合實(shí)踐項(xiàng)目，我們能更好地理解所教授的內(nèi)容，并在這些基礎(chǔ)上做出更多的嘗試和創(chuàng)新。我真的能體會(huì)到對(duì)于高新技術(shù)設(shè)計(jì)與制造的樂趣，我也計(jì)劃將在這個(gè)領(lǐng)域長(zhǎng)久發(fā)展?！?br/>

從科幻到科普

——點(diǎn)燃?jí)粝?、激發(fā)熱情

課堂外，Adam是個(gè)不折不扣的科幻迷，《星際迷航》、《星球大戰(zhàn)》等西方科幻片曾深深吸引著自己，激起了他少年時(shí)期對(duì)科學(xué)的向往。他坦言，如今中國(guó)誕生了諸如《三體》和《流浪地球》這樣的優(yōu)秀作品，這勢(shì)必會(huì)引領(lǐng)新一代中國(guó)少年去追逐屬于他們的“科學(xué)夢(mèng)”。

Adam還一直熱衷于科學(xué)和工程的相關(guān)知識(shí)的推廣。2019年，他應(yīng)邀參與了寧波市科學(xué)技術(shù)協(xié)會(huì)主辦的《腦洞大開的3D打印》主題科技咖啡館活動(dòng)，展示了3D打印技術(shù)的相關(guān)運(yùn)用，并通過極富視覺沖擊力的現(xiàn)場(chǎng)操作，為各年齡段的觀眾科普制造和材料等領(lǐng)域的內(nèi)容。他還走進(jìn)寧波當(dāng)?shù)馗咧?，在夏校和各類分享?huì)中傳授相關(guān)的專業(yè)知識(shí)。

就在不久前，寧波諾丁漢大學(xué)上線了《諾學(xué)說Nottinghorizon》 視頻欄目，以知識(shí)分享、視野開拓、智慧啟迪為目標(biāo)，通過生動(dòng)而易懂的方式為大眾講述專業(yè)知識(shí)。在一系列的視頻中，Adam化身玩轉(zhuǎn)工業(yè)和醫(yī)療機(jī)器人的機(jī)械工程師，為觀眾介紹機(jī)械相關(guān)的基礎(chǔ)理論，同時(shí)探討時(shí)下熱門的機(jī)器人技術(shù)、激光、3D打印等話題。他希望通過為大眾科普相關(guān)知識(shí)和行業(yè)發(fā)展，激起更多人對(duì)學(xué)習(xí)機(jī)械工程的熱情。

相關(guān)數(shù)據(jù)顯示，近年來，超過50%的寧諾機(jī)械、材料與制造工程系畢業(yè)生進(jìn)入了加利福尼亞大學(xué)伯克利分校、哥倫比亞大學(xué)等全球頂尖學(xué)府或者蘋果、寶馬、華為等世界知名企業(yè)。Adam相信，學(xué)生在高參與度的科研活動(dòng)中親身體會(huì)通過努力走向成功的過程是一筆寶貴的財(cái)富，這有助于引領(lǐng)他們走上工程與設(shè)計(jì)的道路，更對(duì)他們未來的職業(yè)發(fā)展帶來了積極的影響。Adam也期待著在未來帶領(lǐng)更多寧諾學(xué)子一起“把自己的雙手弄臟”，共同探索工程與設(shè)計(jì)的魅力。

"Getting hands dirty, igniting passion" | The story behind the British scholar teaching a National First-Class Course at UNNC

Recently, the module "Design, Manufacture, and Project" offered by the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) was successfully recognised as a National Level First-Class undergraduate module. The module incorporates a large number of practical elements, encouraging students to apply what they have learned, and put it into practice. This teaching approach has been widely praised and loved by students, with many considering it the most unforgettable experience during their time at UNNC. The course is convened by Dr Adam Rushworth, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering at UNNC.

Adam is from the UK, and the module “Design, Manufacture, and Project” is one of the core modules of the programme Mechanical Engineering. The inspiration for the module design originates from his design and manufacture related studies at the University of Nottingham in the UK. “I had a very memorable experience when I was doing undergraduate study, where students were required to build an air motor from scratch and only very few groups made it,” he recalled.

Adam believes that while it is important to have challenging projects to make the students work hard and bring out their best with their creative skills and manufacturing skills, it would be very frustrating and disappointing for students if there’s only 10% of success rate, or even stop them from further exploration. With these thoughts in mind, Adam made significant improvements and optimisations to the difficulty and depth of the module, and increased interactive activities to help students build confidence and stimulate their passion for scientific research.

Adam’s teaching puts great emphasis on practice and encourages students to interpret abstract mechanical engineering theories in practice. Lego Mindstorms, which is used to create mechanical systems and includes sets of modular sensors and motors along with computerised Lego bricks, is often used in Adam’s teaching to let students quickly test their ideas. In the module "Design, Manufacture, and Project", Adam encourages students to get their hands dirty together by designing, manufacturing and testing an “amphibious vehicle”.

Tianyi Chen, a class of 2021 student, was greatly impressed by this module and that process. “The testing day was memorable. Our works had to operate both on land and in water. Although our vehicle did not travel the farthest, there was a clever design that gained Adam's high approval. This course was a very unforgettable part of my study at UNNC.”

Outside of the classroom, Adam is a fan of science fiction, and has also been passionate about promoting knowledge related to science and engineering. Not long ago, UNNC launched a video programme “Nottinghorizon”, to introduce basics of professional fields, share knowledge with a wider audience and ignite potential academic interests. In the series of videos, Adam introduces and presents the basic knowledge around mechanical engineering and discusses popular topics such as robotics, laser technologies and 3D printing.

According to the latest data, over 50% of the UNNC graduates of Mechanical Engineering went on to study in top universities around the globe like University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University, or headed to world renowned enterprises like Apple, BMW, and Huawei. Adam believes that students' firsthand experience of the process of striving towards success through highly participatory scientific research activities is a valuable asset which builds a foundation for their future path in engineering and design and has a positive impact on their career development. He also looks forward to leading more UNNC students to "get their hands dirty " and exploring the charm of engineering and design together.

圖文來源 | Patrick Cai, Elena Yang

?Copyright

轉(zhuǎn)載或進(jìn)一步了解

寧波諾丁漢大學(xué)市場(chǎng)與傳媒辦公室

commsandmarketing@nottingham.edu.cn

寧波諾丁漢大學(xué)

中國(guó)第一所中外合作大學(xué)

卓越學(xué)術(shù) 精彩未來