hello everyone today I want to tell you about my plot twist
about my plot twist
about my plot twist every story has one its what a wrench is
every story has one its what a wrench is
every story has one its what a wrench is thrown the story and suddenly all the
thrown the story and suddenly all the
thrown the story and suddenly all the characters have to suddenly scramble
characters have to suddenly scramble
characters have to suddenly scramble around and figure out a way to resolve
around and figure out a way to resolve
around and figure out a way to resolve with a happy ending I had one of those
with a happy ending I had one of those
with a happy ending I had one of those moments it was very subtle more of a
moments it was very subtle more of a
moments it was very subtle more of a string of events but it all began when I
string of events but it all began when I
string of events but it all began when I just took the intro to engineering
just took the intro to engineering
just took the intro to engineering design class here at uw-madison this
design class here at uw-madison this
design class here at uw-madison this class was the reason that I became an
class was the reason that I became an
class was the reason that I became an engineer we were given a design project
engineer we were given a design project
engineer we were given a design project and ours was to create a bone-breaking
and ours was to create a bone-breaking
and ours was to create a bone-breaking machine so this machine was supposed to
machine so this machine was supposed to
machine so this machine was supposed to break chicken bones in certain ways to
break chicken bones in certain ways to
break chicken bones in certain ways to simulate actual bone breaks in humans to
simulate actual bone breaks in humans to
simulate actual bone breaks in humans to get elementary and middle school
get elementary and middle school
get elementary and middle school students excited about biomedical
students excited about biomedical
students excited about biomedical engineering careers although this
engineering careers although this
engineering careers although this project was phenomenal it was more than
project was phenomenal it was more than
project was phenomenal it was more than Eureka moments of actually working on
Eureka moments of actually working on
Eureka moments of actually working on the team the team communication skills I
the team the team communication skills I
the team the team communication skills I cultivated and the actual act of
cultivated and the actual act of
cultivated and the actual act of engineering that stuck with me however
engineering that stuck with me however
engineering that stuck with me however about a year after I took this class it
about a year after I took this class it
about a year after I took this class it was phased out by budget cuts this was
was phased out by budget cuts this was
was phased out by budget cuts this was my plot twist while looking forward at
my plot twist while looking forward at
my plot twist while looking forward at the opportunities that lay before me I
the opportunities that lay before me I
the opportunities that lay before me I realized that none of them incorporated
realized that none of them incorporated
realized that none of them incorporated themes of interdisciplinary students
themes of interdisciplinary students
themes of interdisciplinary students working on actual design projects at
working on actual design projects at
working on actual design projects at this point I realized that project based
this point I realized that project based
this point I realized that project based interdisciplinary learning needs to be
interdisciplinary learning needs to be
interdisciplinary learning needs to be an integral aspect of our educational
an integral aspect of our educational
an integral aspect of our educational system so at this realization I found a
system so at this realization I found a
system so at this realization I found a team of passionate individuals that
team of passionate individuals that
team of passionate individuals that thought likewise and created the premier
thought likewise and created the premier
thought likewise and created the premier organization for student ventures on
organization for student ventures on
organization for student ventures on campus inside Wisconsin very vague name
campus inside Wisconsin very vague name
campus inside Wisconsin very vague name Wright tells a lot about us you know
Wright tells a lot about us you know
Wright tells a lot about us you know that sound a little better than the
that sound a little better than the
that sound a little better than the students that create some really cool
students that create some really cool
students that create some really cool stuff but anyways we give the
stuff but anyways we give the
stuff but anyways we give the opportunity for our members to work on
opportunity for our members to work on
opportunity for our members to work on interdisciplinary teams with
interdisciplinary teams with
interdisciplinary teams with representation from almost every single
representation from almost every single
representation from almost every single College on campus to work on structure
College on campus to work on structure
College on campus to work on structure design projects these projects are
design projects these projects are
design projects these projects are proposed by researchers on campus
proposed by researchers on campus
proposed by researchers on campus companies in the area and even members
companies in the area and even members
companies in the area and even members themselves can pitch their own ideas for
themselves can pitch their own ideas for
themselves can pitch their own ideas for projects by implementing a series of
projects by implementing a series of
projects by implementing a series of deadlines design reviews and
deadlines design reviews and
deadlines design reviews and presentations we help these teams go
presentations we help these teams go
presentations we help these teams go from idea to prototype within a semester
from idea to prototype within a semester
from idea to prototype within a semester or a year
or a year
or a year so just give a little background of
so just give a little background of
so just give a little background of where we’re at right now we have over 40
where we’re at right now we have over 40
where we’re at right now we have over 40 active members working on eight
active members working on eight
active members working on eight different project teams these projects
different project teams these projects
different project teams these projects spend all different disciplines here at
spend all different disciplines here at
spend all different disciplines here at UW we have one team working with a
UW we have one team working with a
UW we have one team working with a botany professor on campus to create a
botany professor on campus to create a
botany professor on campus to create a device that would simulate zero gravity
device that would simulate zero gravity
device that would simulate zero gravity for plants another team is working on a
for plants another team is working on a
for plants another team is working on a member pitch project to create a
member pitch project to create a
member pitch project to create a supermarket app that would be able to
supermarket app that would be able to
supermarket app that would be able to take your input of groceries and spit
take your input of groceries and spit
take your input of groceries and spit out the cheapest supermarket in your
out the cheapest supermarket in your
out the cheapest supermarket in your area we also have teams working with
area we also have teams working with
area we also have teams working with companies like StudyBlue which is kind
companies like StudyBlue which is kind
companies like StudyBlue which is kind of like Chag you know what that is to
of like Chag you know what that is to
of like Chag you know what that is to create a web platform that would be able
create a web platform that would be able
create a web platform that would be able to condense multiple students notes in
to condense multiple students notes in
to condense multiple students notes in the one comprehensive study guide above
the one comprehensive study guide above
the one comprehensive study guide above all else though we wish to showcase the
all else though we wish to showcase the
all else though we wish to showcase the innovative potential of these
innovative potential of these
innovative potential of these undergraduates and prove the necessity
undergraduates and prove the necessity
undergraduates and prove the necessity for project-based learning in our
for project-based learning in our
for project-based learning in our educational system when starting a
educational system when starting a
educational system when starting a business or organization
business or organization
business or organization I heard the saying don’t do it just to
I heard the saying don’t do it just to
I heard the saying don’t do it just to do it do it because no one else will and
do it do it because no one else will and
do it do it because no one else will and because of insight Wisconsin there will
because of insight Wisconsin there will
because of insight Wisconsin there will be a model for product based
be a model for product based
be a model for product based interdisciplinary learning that can be
interdisciplinary learning that can be
interdisciplinary learning that can be tested iterated and solidified to be
tested iterated and solidified to be
tested iterated and solidified to be used to be used in a university
used to be used in a university
used to be used in a university classroom setting so I’m not pretending
classroom setting so I’m not pretending
classroom setting so I’m not pretending that I somehow stumbled upon this great
that I somehow stumbled upon this great
that I somehow stumbled upon this great idea for project-based learning this
idea for project-based learning this
idea for project-based learning this idea has been tested implemented and
idea has been tested implemented and
idea has been tested implemented and succeeded with even at our own
succeeded with even at our own
succeeded with even at our own University one of the model programs
University one of the model programs
University one of the model programs here at UW is the beamy design program
here at UW is the beamy design program
here at UW is the beamy design program the biomedical engineering department
the biomedical engineering department
the biomedical engineering department this curriculum utilizes a four phase
this curriculum utilizes a four phase
this curriculum utilizes a four phase design curriculum going through peer
design curriculum going through peer
design curriculum going through peer mentoring guided design fundamentals
mentoring guided design fundamentals
mentoring guided design fundamentals independent learning and it’s senior
independent learning and it’s senior
independent learning and it’s senior capstone design phase the biomedical
capstone design phase the biomedical
capstone design phase the biomedical engineers that go through the six class
engineers that go through the six class
engineers that go through the six class series are effectively primed for
series are effectively primed for
series are effectively primed for careers in their respective fields not
careers in their respective fields not
careers in their respective fields not only are these students actually
only are these students actually
only are these students actually creating viable solutions to their
creating viable solutions to their
creating viable solutions to their clients problems and creating actual
clients problems and creating actual
clients problems and creating actual intellectual property but they’re also
intellectual property but they’re also
intellectual property but they’re also cultivating skills that they wouldn’t
cultivating skills that they wouldn’t
cultivating skills that they wouldn’t otherwise in the conventional classroom
otherwise in the conventional classroom
otherwise in the conventional classroom setting I mean these students are
setting I mean these students are
setting I mean these students are actually learning team collaboration
actually learning team collaboration
actually learning team collaboration skills they’re learning how to relay
skills they’re learning how to relay
skills they’re learning how to relay technical information to other members
technical information to other members
technical information to other members of their group and they’re actually
of their group and they’re actually
of their group and they’re actually learning how to end
learning how to end
learning how to end here so why am i up here if I think that
here so why am i up here if I think that
here so why am i up here if I think that this already exists even at our own
this already exists even at our own
this already exists even at our own university the only problem with
university the only problem with
university the only problem with curricula that revolve around a single
curricula that revolve around a single
curricula that revolve around a single major biomedical engineering for example
major biomedical engineering for example
major biomedical engineering for example is that every team consists of strictly
is that every team consists of strictly
is that every team consists of strictly biomedical engineers biomedical
biomedical engineers biomedical
biomedical engineers biomedical engineers they had the same pursuits in
engineers they had the same pursuits in
engineers they had the same pursuits in their careers biomedical engineers that
their careers biomedical engineers that
their careers biomedical engineers that take the same classes learn the same
take the same classes learn the same
take the same classes learn the same content and are tested on the same
content and are tested on the same
content and are tested on the same material biomedical engineers that think
material biomedical engineers that think
material biomedical engineers that think the same way because that’s how they’re
the same way because that’s how they’re
the same way because that’s how they’re taught this is not a viable way of
taught this is not a viable way of
taught this is not a viable way of creating truly innovative solutions you
creating truly innovative solutions you
creating truly innovative solutions you need to be able to have as many
need to be able to have as many
need to be able to have as many different backgrounds and perspectives
different backgrounds and perspectives
different backgrounds and perspectives as possible on each of these teams to
as possible on each of these teams to
as possible on each of these teams to create a truly diverse team
create a truly diverse team
create a truly diverse team so let’s look an example when diverse
so let’s look an example when diverse
so let’s look an example when diverse teams were successful imagine for a
teams were successful imagine for a
teams were successful imagine for a second that Steve Jobs attempted to
second that Steve Jobs attempted to
second that Steve Jobs attempted to create Apple one from scratch or that
create Apple one from scratch or that
create Apple one from scratch or that Steve Wozniak decided to create Apple
Steve Wozniak decided to create Apple
Steve Wozniak decided to create Apple computers on his own do you think we’d
computers on his own do you think we’d
computers on his own do you think we’d be walking around with I phones in our
be walking around with I phones in our
be walking around with I phones in our pockets right now I mean could you
pockets right now I mean could you
pockets right now I mean could you imagine a world where you couldn’t use
imagine a world where you couldn’t use
imagine a world where you couldn’t use snapchat on your iPhone I mean I
snapchat on your iPhone I mean I
snapchat on your iPhone I mean I couldn’t imagine a world without my mom
couldn’t imagine a world without my mom
couldn’t imagine a world without my mom snapchatting me all the time kind of
snapchatting me all the time kind of
snapchatting me all the time kind of weird but you know but anyways I mean
weird but you know but anyways I mean
weird but you know but anyways I mean Jobs was a literature poetry and physics
Jobs was a literature poetry and physics
Jobs was a literature poetry and physics major well as niak was a technical guru
major well as niak was a technical guru
major well as niak was a technical guru no wonder they were so successful when
no wonder they were so successful when
no wonder they were so successful when they have such superb individual skill
they have such superb individual skill
they have such superb individual skill sets interestingly though in the book
sets interestingly though in the book
sets interestingly though in the book founders at work
founders at work
founders at work Wozniak mentions that him and Jobs
Wozniak mentions that him and Jobs
Wozniak mentions that him and Jobs weren’t even similar personalities so
weren’t even similar personalities so
weren’t even similar personalities so how can two people that such different
how can two people that such different
how can two people that such different personalities create one of the most
personalities create one of the most
personalities create one of the most innovative products of all time the
innovative products of all time the
innovative products of all time the Apple 2 it was not their individual
Apple 2 it was not their individual
Apple 2 it was not their individual skill sets that allowed them to that
skill sets that allowed them to that
skill sets that allowed them to that allowed them to succeed is their ability
allowed them to succeed is their ability
allowed them to succeed is their ability to collaborate that shine bright the
to collaborate that shine bright the
to collaborate that shine bright the hole was greater than the sum of the
hole was greater than the sum of the
hole was greater than the sum of the parts when it came to Apple so let’s
parts when it came to Apple so let’s
parts when it came to Apple so let’s fast forward 40 years and see what sort
fast forward 40 years and see what sort
fast forward 40 years and see what sort of progress the small Silicon Valley
of progress the small Silicon Valley
of progress the small Silicon Valley startup has created for itself they must
startup has created for itself they must
startup has created for itself they must be doing something differently right to
be doing something differently right to
be doing something differently right to be so successful in an article by animal
be so successful in an article by animal
be so successful in an article by animal efficiency and fortune he noted that
efficiency and fortune he noted that
efficiency and fortune he noted that specialization
specialization
specialization is the norm at Apple with each roll
is the norm at Apple with each roll
is the norm at Apple with each roll having no authority over any other
having no authority over any other
having no authority over any other aspect of their project Jennifer Bailey
aspect of their project Jennifer Bailey
aspect of their project Jennifer Bailey the executive behind Apple’s online
the executive behind Apple’s online
the executive behind Apple’s online store has absolutely no authority over
store has absolutely no authority over
store has absolutely no authority over any of the photographs on her own site
any of the photographs on her own site
any of the photographs on her own site that’s handled by the graphics art
that’s handled by the graphics art
that’s handled by the graphics art department at Apple this specialization
department at Apple this specialization
department at Apple this specialization allows for the brightest minds that work
allows for the brightest minds that work
allows for the brightest minds that work at Apple to devote all of their time and
at Apple to devote all of their time and
at Apple to devote all of their time and energy to what they’re best at and this
energy to what they’re best at and this
energy to what they’re best at and this is a stellar model for Apple I mean
is a stellar model for Apple I mean
is a stellar model for Apple I mean they’re they’re able to create truly
they’re they’re able to create truly
they’re they’re able to create truly impressive intricate and successful
impressive intricate and successful
impressive intricate and successful products but what happens when one
products but what happens when one
products but what happens when one member of these teams cannot adequately
member of these teams cannot adequately
member of these teams cannot adequately communicate their technical information
communicate their technical information
communicate their technical information to other members of their group I mean
to other members of their group I mean
to other members of their group I mean you can have the brightest minds working
you can have the brightest minds working
you can have the brightest minds working on the latest and greatest iPhone design
on the latest and greatest iPhone design
on the latest and greatest iPhone design which I’m sure that they are but if you
which I’m sure that they are but if you
which I’m sure that they are but if you cannot accurately relay your information
cannot accurately relay your information
cannot accurately relay your information to other members of your group then
to other members of your group then
to other members of your group then there will be no product within insite
there will be no product within insite
there will be no product within insite Wisconsin we want to be able to
Wisconsin we want to be able to
Wisconsin we want to be able to cultivate these teamwork and collaborate
cultivate these teamwork and collaborate
cultivate these teamwork and collaborate and communication skills at the earliest
and communication skills at the earliest
and communication skills at the earliest age possible so we don’t distribute
age possible so we don’t distribute
age possible so we don’t distribute teams based on their majors their majors
teams based on their majors their majors
teams based on their majors their majors don’t take into account their
don’t take into account their
don’t take into account their backgrounds and skill sets instead we
backgrounds and skill sets instead we
backgrounds and skill sets instead we need tribute teams based on their
need tribute teams based on their
need tribute teams based on their interest number one and their
interest number one and their
interest number one and their self-proclaimed skill sets number two we
self-proclaimed skill sets number two we
self-proclaimed skill sets number two we have members rank themselves on a scale
have members rank themselves on a scale
have members rank themselves on a scale of one to five and for different
of one to five and for different
of one to five and for different categories the tinkers the hackers the
categories the tinkers the hackers the
categories the tinkers the hackers the business tycoons and the leaders by
business tycoons and the leaders by
business tycoons and the leaders by ensuring that each of our teams has even
ensuring that each of our teams has even
ensuring that each of our teams has even numbers in each of these skill sets we
numbers in each of these skill sets we
numbers in each of these skill sets we can make sure that there is many
can make sure that there is many
can make sure that there is many different backgrounds and perspectives
different backgrounds and perspectives
different backgrounds and perspectives as possible on each of these teams this
as possible on each of these teams this
as possible on each of these teams this type this dispersion of backgrounds and
type this dispersion of backgrounds and
type this dispersion of backgrounds and skill sets on each team allows for our
skill sets on each team allows for our
skill sets on each team allows for our members to practice in a controlled
members to practice in a controlled
members to practice in a controlled setting working with people of differing
setting working with people of differing
setting working with people of differing opinions so let’s look for example at
opinions so let’s look for example at
opinions so let’s look for example at our solar lamps team this team is
our solar lamps team this team is
our solar lamps team this team is working with a human ecology professor
working with a human ecology professor
working with a human ecology professor on campus that goes to this community in
on campus that goes to this community in
on campus that goes to this community in Kenya and once be able to create cheap
Kenya and once be able to create cheap
Kenya and once be able to create cheap solar lamps out of materials that they
solar lamps out of materials that they
solar lamps out of materials that they already have in their communities a
tinkerer personality may try to solve
tinkerer personality may try to solve this
this
this with concrete laws of physics and
with concrete laws of physics and
with concrete laws of physics and fabrication techniques a hacker they try
fabrication techniques a hacker they try
fabrication techniques a hacker they try to solve this problem with Arduino ‘z
to solve this problem with Arduino ‘z
to solve this problem with Arduino ‘z raspberry PI’s and lots and lots of
raspberry PI’s and lots and lots of
raspberry PI’s and lots and lots of coding a business tycoon may focus on
coding a business tycoon may focus on
coding a business tycoon may focus on the monetary limitations associated with
the monetary limitations associated with
the monetary limitations associated with the project while leader personality we
the project while leader personality we
the project while leader personality we try to outsource for technical expertise
try to outsource for technical expertise
try to outsource for technical expertise that the team does not already possess
each of these skill sets runs a
each of these skill sets runs a different hand to the project and
different hand to the project and
different hand to the project and creates truly diverse and creative
creates truly diverse and creative
creates truly diverse and creative solutions that have not already been
solutions that have not already been
solutions that have not already been created so let’s look at this problem
created so let’s look at this problem
created so let’s look at this problem from a university perspective
from a university perspective
from a university perspective incorporating project-based learning in
incorporating project-based learning in
incorporating project-based learning in our educational system it’s extremely
our educational system it’s extremely
our educational system it’s extremely beneficial for furthering research on
beneficial for furthering research on
beneficial for furthering research on campus within inside Wisconsin most of
campus within inside Wisconsin most of
campus within inside Wisconsin most of our clients are already researchers and
our clients are already researchers and
our clients are already researchers and faculty members here at UW and are
faculty members here at UW and are
faculty members here at UW and are willing to fund their own projects this
willing to fund their own projects this
willing to fund their own projects this from this fact we know that there’s a
from this fact we know that there’s a
from this fact we know that there’s a market for innovative ideas and
market for innovative ideas and
market for innovative ideas and solutions even at a university level
solutions even at a university level
solutions even at a university level imagine if every single college on
imagine if every single college on
imagine if every single college on campus could submit ideas for teams of
campus could submit ideas for teams of
campus could submit ideas for teams of students to work on biological science
students to work on biological science
students to work on biological science labs could submit ideas for new sampling
labs could submit ideas for new sampling
labs could submit ideas for new sampling technologies or proteins the school for
technologies or proteins the school for
technologies or proteins the school for education could submit challenges for
education could submit challenges for
education could submit challenges for students to create new innovative STEM
students to create new innovative STEM
students to create new innovative STEM assessments that would better test
assessments that would better test
assessments that would better test students abilities and the sciences the
students abilities and the sciences the
students abilities and the sciences the human ecology Department could ask
human ecology Department could ask
human ecology Department could ask students to create biomass briquettes
students to create biomass briquettes
students to create biomass briquettes out of materials in third-world
out of materials in third-world
out of materials in third-world countries like we already have a team
countries like we already have a team
countries like we already have a team working on while investing in a
working on while investing in a
working on while investing in a student’s skills the university would
student’s skills the university would
student’s skills the university would also be furthering the mentality that
also be furthering the mentality that
also be furthering the mentality that they are one of the greatest research
they are one of the greatest research
they are one of the greatest research institutions in the world ultimately
institutions in the world ultimately
institutions in the world ultimately though we will not achieve what would
though we will not achieve what would
though we will not achieve what would you not attempt and we cannot fear
you not attempt and we cannot fear
you not attempt and we cannot fear thinking different about how we educate
thinking different about how we educate
thinking different about how we educate our students and organize our teams
our students and organize our teams
our students and organize our teams regardless of what organization were
regardless of what organization were
regardless of what organization were working with I came across my plot twist
working with I came across my plot twist
working with I came across my plot twist pretty early on in life however I’m sure
pretty early on in life however I’m sure
pretty early on in life however I’m sure everyone in this room will come we’ll
everyone in this room will come we’ll
everyone in this room will come we’ll come across their own and more after
come across their own and more after
come across their own and more after that and what I’ve learned for mine is
that and what I’ve learned for mine is
that and what I’ve learned for mine is that it’s not what you do when it hits
that it’s not what you do when it hits
that it’s not what you do when it hits it’s what you do in the wake of your
it’s what you do in the wake of your
it’s what you do in the wake of your plot twist that matters and I hope that
plot twist that matters and I hope that
plot twist that matters and I hope that everyone this room can handle with grace
everyone this room can handle with grace
everyone this room can handle with grace and truly make a difference by thinking
and truly make a difference by thinking
and truly make a difference by thinking differently
differently
differently thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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