What is Make to Innovate?
Students working on the Mars Rover MAVRIC
Make to Innovate is a program in the Aerospace Engineering Department that uses Project-Based Learning (PBL) and a hands-on approach to teach students a number of skills. These skills include engineering skills across multiple disciplines. Students will need to utilize what they have learned in the classroom in a more real-world environment. In addition, soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and ethics are also taught and acquired through working in a team environment.
The program is a course that is under the AerE 294 and AerE 494 course designations. However, this course is taught in a “flipped classroom” approach, in which there are no set lectures, and the instructor, along with faculty and technical advisors, help guide students in working through engineering problems they are trying to solve. Students submit weekly reports, milestone reports, and conduct design reviews to check the student’s progress.
How long has Make to Innovate been running?
M:2:I Students working on their projects in the M:2:I Lab
Make to Innovate began in the Fall 2011 semester. Before Make to Innovate there were other hands-on projects but they were disjointed and were not operating under any type of curriculum. It was decided to consolidate these programs into one program that could be managed and to move it under the Aerospace Engineering curriculum. The program has had steady growth ever since. For more information about some of the numbers behind Make to Innovate, please see our statistical information page.
How is Make to Innovate funded?
Make to Innovate is supported and sponsored by multiple sources. We have corporate sponsorship from Boeing and Rockwell Collins. The program is also supported through the Aerospace Engineering department at Iowa State University. Finally, additional support has come from the Iowa Space Grant Consortium. If you are interested in supporting the Make to Innovate program, please contact Matthew Nelson at mnelson@iastate.edu
How do I join Make to Innovate?
We have a page dedicated to helping students that are interested in joining Make to Innovate. Please visit this page.
Who runs the Make to Innovate program?
Make to Innovate is administrated through the Aerospace Engineering department at Iowa State University. Make to Innovate is successful because of the talented faculty and staff involved with the program. Please visit our directory page for a listing of those that help make Make to Innovate a success.