Emulsion Inversion of Technical &

Communication Elements in a

Product Design Class

Dave Custer FIE 2011

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The Metaphor: An Emulsion Inversion

Cream is to butter

as

a product design class is to

a communication class situated in product design

Both require a combination of

technical, communication, and teamwork skills.

They differ in the emphasis.

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College Curriculum

Problem: Where does the good stuff fit?

Good stuff includes:

situated, hands-on, active,

interactive, collaborative,

constructive, project-based,

team-based, interdisciplinary,

communication intensive,

design introduction,

engineering introduction

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Solution: Put the inverted emulsion in the

freshman composition slot

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Context: The coral reef I inhabit

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The curriculum: Projects x 3, team taught,

communication instruction, + reflection

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Resources:

• Teachers

• Art

• Science

• Tools

• Materials

• Lawyers

• Guns

• Money

Alternative ways of

getting things done

require:

The Warren Zevon

school of management

suggests sending:

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My epiphany: The product is evidence of

thought

OR

http://ocw2.mit.edu/courses/writing-and-humanistic-studies/21w-732-science-writing-and-new-media-fall-2010/projects/MIT21W_732F10_coffeekeep1.pdf

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Conclusion: Do you wish you’d taken this course

when you were a 1st year student?