Assessing communication modes in design project teams

Abstract

This paper reports an assessment study of communication modes and content used by engineering students in a special project-course. The course topic, Robotics for Theater, focused on the planning and construction of a robot from scratch, to support theatric production as actor and prop. Our intention was to challenge teaming and innovative design skills, identified as key areas for engineering education by industry and the National Science Foundation, and analyze communication modes and content.