UQ journalism and engineering students have collaborated on a unique project which shows how different disciplines can work together to achieve real-world results.
The 27 engineering fourth-years and 84 journalism third-years were asked to pool their talents and resources in a multiplatform design and communication exercise designed by Dr Lydia Kavanagh (engineering) and Dr John Cokley (journalism).
Dr Kavanagh attended the Project-Centred Learning Workshop held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) last month, and delegates said the project was an example of “world’s best practice”.
In a session spanning large lecture halls and the Great Court of UQ’s St Lucia Campus the students recreated what looked like an episode of ABC1 program The New (Young) Inventors.
Teams of engineering students presented media conferences about their current design work, including three Engineers Without Borders projects (a water meter, washing machine and a vaccine storage system), two Formula-style race car designs, a solar-powered water distiller for backpackers and a polymer flow project which is almost ready for market.
During these presentations the journalism students worked as reporters: asking questions, collecting video and audio footage as well as still photography, all of which will be used for upcoming assessment.
The innovative approach also included peer feedback and workshops, allowing each group to assess and improve the other’s performance and products.
“This kind of integrated feedback loop is exactly what journalists are having to cope with in the workplace,” Dr Cokley said.
Dr Kavanagh added, “it’s exactly what engineers face when they make presentations for funding, for publicity and during community consultations, which are standard in their profession right now.”
Dr Cokley said the exercise was an enjoyable way to boost the students’ confidence and skills at the same time.
“We have succeeded in conducting a university learning experience which transported our students into real-world situations while maintaining academic integrity and classroom manageability,” he said.
“And it was a ton of fun. We hope to expand the idea next year to include more projects and more variations of media possibilities.”
Media: Dr Cokley (07 3365 3381, j.cokley@uq.edu.au) or Dr Kavanagh (07 3365 4264, l.kavanagh@uq.edu.au)
