Research Collection

Other Conference Item

Product Innov@tion – a blended learning environment forproduct design

Author(s): Elspass, Wilfried J.

Publication Date: 2003

Permanent Link: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-010090688

Rights / License: In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted

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ETH Library

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Product Innov@tion –a blended learning environment for productdesign

PD Dr. Wilfried J. Elspass

eKnowledge in Engineering Research GroupCentre of Product DesignSwiss Federal Institute of Technology - Zürich

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Presentation Structure

• Introduction

• Background: Product Innovation

• Background: Universities‘ Collaboration

• Background: Universities & Industry

• Aims

• Concept: Pedagogical Model

• Concept: Interaction Model

• Content

• Structure & Functionalities

• Summary & outlook

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Background: Product Innovation Process (PIP)

Market launch

Initiation

Initiation

Initiation

Idea findingProcess

Idea findingProcess

Colle

cted I

nitiat

ions

Selec

ted In

itiatio

ns

Cons

ilidate

d Ide

as

Pre S

tudy

Assig

nmen

t

Prel. Business PlanProduct

DigitalProduct

Data generation

Product DevelopmentProcess

Product DevelopmentProcess

Pre StudyProcess

Pre StudyProcess

ConceptualDesign System Layout

Realisation

Filter

1: in

itiatio

n filte

r

Filter

3: pr

oject-

filter

JointCreativity

andAlignment Fil

ter 2:

new

ideas

Dra

ft Bus

iness

Plan

Deve

lopme

nt As

signm

ent

Design

Information, knowledge transfer

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Background: Diversity of disciplines in product innovation (ME)

Conception Design Implementation Operation

Production

Methods Tools

Processes Engineering

Management

Elements

Metadata

Technology

Environment

Marketdemand

Innovation process –product development process

Marketsupply

.....

Digitalproduct

Production

Methods Tools

Processes Engineering

Management

Elements

Metadata

Technology

Environment

Marketdemand

Innovation process –product development process

Marketsupply

.....Production

Methods Tools

Processes Engineering

Management

Elements

Metadata

Technology

Environment

Marketdemand

Innovation process –product development process

Marketsupply

.....

Digitalproduct

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

The global view

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Background: Universities‘ Collaboration

• Specific knowledge extremely distributed among thedifferent universities

• Different curricula with distinct focuses regarding specificsubjects and themes

• Difficulties in students‘ exchange & collaborative work

• Potential for rich & creative collaboration

Need for collaboration among universities

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Background: Universities & Industry

• Difficulties in keeping up with rapid technologicaldevelopment at universities & industry

• Need for constant knowledge updating on newly availabletechnologies

• Creative cross-fertilization: presentation of products tostudents & access to new ideas

• New requirements for degree completion and continuingeducation

• Need for facilitation & efficiency in accessing information

• Need for improvement in learning quality

Need for a better integration betweenuniversities & industry

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

• Identify new requirements for degree earning and continuingeducation.

• Increase speed and flexibility of access to relevant information(filtering and compression).

• Reduce costs (reusability of content).

• Improve learning quality.

• Provide better support to the learning process (via differentmedia).

Aims

With this approach the following topics will be addressed:

The environment shall be the result of the alliance of technicaluniversities and enterprises, aiming to establish an network ofcompetence in the field of product development and innovation.

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Aims

• Generate a knowledge pool in Product Innovation.

• Promote collaboration & exchange of experience and informationamong users.

• Collect users‘ experience.

• Collect results of users‘ interactions with the environment(content & tools) & with other users (collaborative activities).

• Allow for individualised views of the environment & content.

• Promote collaboration among universities, supporting commonresearch & courses.

• Promote integration between European unniversities & industry,supporting research, development, and courses.

• Promote continuous professional development opportunities forprofessionals in industry and universities.

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Objectives of the knowledge pool

• structuring knowledge topics into content-related anddidactic knowledge units,

• providing a knowledge pool and its correspondingknowledge units for the individual and flexible use,

• considering the requirements and individual restrictions ofeach site -> reusability of learning objects (university,curriculum),

• integrating state-of-the-art tools of knowledgemanagement and transfer for teaching and learning.

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Knowledge pool and learning space

The knowledge pool and learning space

• assembles the work of various authors (structuring,modularization!),

• improves quality of the knowledge,

• enables an individual and flexible use of the knowledge(reusable units),

• creates additional value for research and practical use.

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Specification of the environment

• teachers: combine the knowledge elements flexibly intoindividual courses or employ the own, individual knowledgeelements in their lectures.

• diversity of media: classical scripts, videos, handouts or awebbased course system are generated by the cross-mediapublishing functionality.

• modern learning methodologies and pedagogy (didactics),complemented with e-learning environments, which enablethe students to work flexibly and individually on thematerial at their own pace.

• besides degree-earning education at technical universitiesthe learning-concept of «product innov@tion» also allowsfor continuing education of engineers.

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Vision of education for ME

• Education of future engineers (ME)*:

which stresses the fundamentals, set in the context ofConception, Design, Implementation and Operation of systemsand products.

featuring active, experimental and group learning.

with disciplines interwoven and mutually supporting.

rich with student projects complemented by internships inindustry.

set in both the classroom and a modern learning space,networked with the outside world.

constantly improved through continuous evaluation andassessment process.

* (source: MIT- CDIO-program, Prof. E. Crawley et. al)

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Overall framework

knowledge pool

online

script, notes

presentations

stream. video

eLearning space

Content Communication

Collaboration

User management

• D. Library

• Courses

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Learning process (CPD)

Preparation

• Content, basics

e-learning

Individual, (group)

Application

• Seminar

Innovation cases

Class

Consolidation

• Exercises, Projects

supp. by e-learning

Team

Learning process

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

3. and 4. Semester:development of a product:from the market demandto the fully functionalprototype

Innovation project

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Innovation project

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Innovation project

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

System structure for content

The system has three basic levels:

• content definition and identification of invariant units

• compilation of knowledge units into courses

• utilization of the knowledge -> e-learning

Script (*.fma, *.pdf)

Handout (*.pdf)

Presentation (*.ppt)

Web (*.html, *.xml)

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

OverviewMain chapter

ChapterSub-Chapter

Summary References

Learning targetsMotivation elements

Test questionsInnovation-CasesPresentations

Section

Course:

Course structure and didactical elements

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

• learner-oriented approach

• development of individualcognition, active and independentlearning - via metacognition &reflective practice

• development of systems ofcognitive activity: socialinteraction & collaborativelearning

• critical & collaborative reflection

• flexibly structured learningenvironments

• situated learning

Critical Socio-Constructivist Pedagogical Model

Concept: Pedagogical Model

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Future Concept: Interaction Model

content

tools

others

interface

user interaction

author learner

PIdatabase

authors learners

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Content in the future

• Generated by users, via individual and collaborativeinteractions

• Organised into a database (validated & non-validated)

• Modularised and structured according to worldwideaccepted standards and managed via a contentmanagement system

• Available in different media formats (e.g.XML, PDF, SVG,video)

• Easily accessible by members of the online community via aweb-based interface & mobile devices (e.g. mobile phones)

• Easily uploaded and downloaded by members of the onlinecommunity via a web-based interface

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Content - 2

• Descriptive process models for product development

• Innovation cases leading to learning targets

• Check lists

• Interactive formulas

• Multimedia format (e.g. videos of real-life situation)

• Exercises

• Generated by discussion

• Links to complementary information and selectedcompanies

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Structure & Functionalities

• Knowledge pool – containing shareable resources, in a well-structured and reusable format (RLOs), organised into adatabase or distributed databases.

• Collection of tools for individual and collective use (e.g.portfolio, conceptual map, whiteboard, forum).

• Collaborative online community composed by universityand industry participants.

collectionof tools

knowledgepool + +

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

Some evaluation results

Functionality of LMS

Page design

Content

Pre Processing

Post Processing

Information lookup

Offline working

Usefull for LP

Communication

Teaching concept

bad, low, rare, false excellent, high, often, true

0% 100%50%

reference: 400 students

W.J. Elspass 1st SCIL Congress eLearning St. Gallen, 8-9 October 2003

productinnov@tion

• Facilitate the development of collaborativeresearch projects among universities themselvesand with the industry

• Formation of professionals, who are moresuitable to the industry demands

• Students have direct access to real-life casestudies provided by industry

• Reduction of the gap between academicengineering and industry

Conclusion and outlook - main benefits