About MUSE

MUSE or multi-university systems education is a coalition of universities. We have proposed a learning model that develops important skills not addressed in the contemporary engineering curricula. Known as systems thinking, this skill enables students to envision the architectures of complex, multi-layered engineering systems.

In this project, an undergraduate track in wireless sensor networks will be developed as a vehicle for studying these systems, featuring (1) junior-year tutorials, (2) an online, systems-centric, senior technical elective, and (3) a culminating Capstone Design course emphasizing inter-university collaboration.


View our introduction video here

This track will be buttressed by expanding existing and planned programs to include motivation and recruitment of high school students in summer programs and exposure in freshman-year introductory engineering classes.


EXPERIENCE THE MUSE!

The Microwave Theory and Techniques Society Education Committee is sponsoring a new MUSE initiative focused on the development of systems-thinking skills in engineering undergraduates. The MTT-sponsored activities will include development and distribution of wireless sensor network development boards and a world-wide student video competition. As part of "Experience the MUSE" the wireless development boards will be provided at no-cost to participating universities along with hands-on projects that are suitable for entry-level engineering courses. The program will be beta-tested in fall 2009 at selected universities, with broader distribution planned for spring 2010. The video competition "MTT Alive!" will feature short, student-generated videos of their wireless systems-oriented design projects. The aim of the contest is to encourage more students to undertake design projects with microwave/wireless content and to attract more students to the engineering profession.

VIDEO COMPETITION: MTT Alive!
HANDS-ON PROJECTS

MUSE TEAM

The curriculum will be developed in the three-year program by collaborating faculty at Northern Arizona University (NAU), University of South Florida (USF), and University of Vermont (UVM). To test portability, the curriculum will be implemented in the third year at the University of Hawaii (UH).

Team

  • Dr Jeff Frolik (UVM)
  • Dr Tom Weller (USF)
  • Dr Paul Flikkeman (NAU)
  • Dr Wayne Shiroma (UH)

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0717326.
Interested in adopting this content? Please contact muse@uvm.edu

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

©2008 University of Vermont, University of South Florida, Northern Arizona University, University of Hawaii