UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For most engineering students, machining, forming, grinding, welding, assembling and testing prototypes are commonplace in their education. But the knowledge and confidence needed to run the necessary equipment to create these models isn’t always as routine.
Enter “Build Night,” an event centered around empowered building and making in Penn State’s Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory.
After experiencing apprehension and hesitation from students in her EDSGN 100: Introduction to Engineering Design course to use the equipment found in the Learning Factory and shops throughout the College of Engineering, Jessica Menold, assistant professor of engineering design and mechanical engineering, wanted to help.
“Building familiarity with tools can lead to engineering self-confidence or self-efficacy. Being able to successfully build something from scratch is empowering. When you are faced with a variety of challenging engineering courses, that might make you feel like ‘hey, I can’t do this,’ [but] having this hands-on experience might be just enough to quiet those voices up and help some of these students persist,” she said.
From this desire for all engineering students to feel comfortable and confident in shops, Menold’s brainchild, "Build Night," was born. On Jan. 14, more than 65 female engineering students attended the first spring 2019 Build Night and completed their first training for and used the machinery often needed to create design projects.
As part of a larger series of events focused on increasing female and minority student engagement with the Learning Factory, Build Nights establish and strengthen engineering skills by presenting attendees with hands-on making activities. Led by Menold, the event was also facilitated by Sarah Ritter, assistant teaching professor of engineering design; Meg Handley, associate director of engineering leadership outreach and assistant teaching professor of engineering leadership; Elizabeth Starkey, postdoctoral scholar in the School of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs; and Caitlin Grady, assistant professor of civil engineering.