In the world of academia, it's not uncommon for professors to host reunions for their former students. But what makes this particular event unique is the focus on engineering and the creative use of real-world problems to teach concepts. Senior Lecturer Gim Hom, from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at MIT, organized a special reunion for his classmates from the Class of 1971. The reunion wasn't just about nostalgia; it was a chance for Hom to teach a 'last class' using the Engineering Design Studio as his classroom. The studio, a staffed makerspace and classroom, is open to the EECS community from morning until nearly midnight throughout the school year. Hom's reunion activity involved two projects: a simplified electrocardiogram (ECG) and an audio amplifier. The first project involved refreshing soldering skills by assembling a printed circuit board (PCB) that approximated the design of an ECG. Hom explains that this project serves as a platform for teaching signal acquisition, filtering, and display. The second project involved learning to surface mount solder, a skill that wasn't popularized during their time as undergraduates at MIT. The audio amplifier project, designed by Hom, is a small USB-powered amplifier that can play music from phones. The reunion wasn't just about learning new skills; it was also about nostalgia. Hom's classmates left with working boards and big smiles on their faces, a reminder that technical skills can last a lifetime. This event highlights the importance of hands-on learning and the value of real-world problems in teaching engineering concepts. Personally, I think this reunion is a testament to the power of education and the impact it can have on individuals and communities. What makes this particularly fascinating is the creative use of real-world problems to teach concepts. In my opinion, this reunion is a great example of how education can be both fun and meaningful. From my perspective, the Engineering Design Studio is a valuable resource for the EECS community, and events like this reunion can help to showcase its potential. One thing that immediately stands out is the emphasis on hands-on learning. What many people don't realize is that this type of learning can be just as effective as traditional classroom learning. If you take a step back and think about it, it's clear that hands-on learning can help students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This raises a deeper question: how can we make hands-on learning more accessible to students? A detail that I find especially interesting is the use of real-world problems to teach concepts. What this really suggests is that education can be more effective when it's tied to real-life applications. In the future, I expect to see more events like this reunion, as they can help to foster a sense of community and encourage students to explore their technical interests. Overall, this reunion is a great example of how education can be both fun and meaningful. It's a reminder that technical skills can last a lifetime and that hands-on learning can be just as effective as traditional classroom learning.
