IRE Trailer Shelf Build

Here is a link to view the pictures we took of IRE students making shelves for the ICC trailer and the IRE trailer.

2009-09-30 trailer shelf

Requirements for IRE

Requirements of IRE admission

Mankato:

5 Physics 1 (with lab)
5 Physics 2 (with lab)
16 Calculus throughDifferential Equations
Calculus 1
Calculus 2
Mulivariable Calculus
Differential Equations
2 Introduction to Engineering
3 Statics
3 Dynamics
4 Circuits 1 (with lab)
5 Chemistry 1 (with lab)
2 Introduction to Problem Solving and Engineering Design
7 Technical or Expository Writing and Public Speech
6 Humanities
9 Social Sciences (which must include either micro/macro economics)
Either Physics 3 with lab, General Biology, or Chemistry 2



Iron Range Engineering

3 out of the following list:
Mechanics of Materials
Thermodynamics
Fluids
Digital Logic
Circuits 2
Organic Chemistry
ProE/Graphics

Daily Journal

Last week the IRE footprint was large. With a few at our home location assisting in preparations for Camp Rankine and carrying on our typical daily work, another group located at Camp Rankine in Bigfork leading activities and supervising, and the remaining at the North Shore volunteering at state parks, our week was anything but ordinary. I was included in the group that explored the more costal like region of this great state. With a deficient supply of red rock, the North Shore proved to be quite a different landscape. Though most of us have been there before, the scenery is always a pleasant reminder of what is right out our back door. Our main focus of the week was building a board walk, trimming trails, and excavating steps into the steeper parts of the trails. Our ability to work together in a business like setting reflected into the woods. Everyone knew what needed to be done and had no problem helping out anywhere needed. Mid way through the week our DNR supervisors left us, realizing that we lacked the need of someone watching over our shoulder. For myself one of the best parts of this trip was being with my classmates in a different setting. I feel that it strengthened the bond between us. We also got a chance to explore some of the natural attractions of the area, but by the end of the week I believe that we were all ready to leave the cliffs, waterfalls, and occasional hy-brid to be home on the range

Daily Journal

This week has been a complicated one so far. The majority of the IRE students went on a camping trip to volunteer at the North Shore. The few of us who decided not to go continued our daily work and found volunteer projects of our own. On Monday afternoon the four of us who remained cleaned the Mesabi campus and I must say it needed it. In no time at all we had four garbage bags full of loose trash. Tuesday and Wednesday we were asked to help ICC prepare for their first camping trip to Camp Rankine. The four of us did virtually all of the food and equipment preparation. It was a learning experience trying to plan an event for a group of 70 people. Two days of running was barely enough time to get the essentials figured out. I’m sure next year will have fewer issues because everyone will have a better idea of what is going on and the school will have most of the equipment they need. One of the worst parts is being told we needed to get the registration for 18 canoes/kayaks. Well, first of all, the DMV doesn’t like it when you bring in 18 registrations and say we need these done in under two hours, and we don’t know how to pay for them, and we don’t have the right info, and half are used half are new, and some had previously been registered incorrectly. We did get it ironed out in time and the only major problem was finding enough lifejackets so all of the watercraft could be used at once. It was all hard work and was stressful, but to be honest I did learn a lot about organizing and delegating, and it was still fun.

Daily Journal

Last week, as a whole group of 14 students we went through the areas of study that we had issues with. One issue that I thought was important to address was about the assessment design process. We (the 14 students) had been having trouble making a decision because we are all equals and no one wanted to overstep their boundaries. When someone did make a decision, it could be seen as putting themselves above everyone else and could give the illusion they have higher authority. To combat this, we have team leaders (four to be exact) that are representing the assessment design sub-groups. If a conflict arises, then the team leaders get together and come up with what they believe would be the correct decision.

Daily Journal

For the past two days we have really been trying to buckle down and get everything we need completed for this week. We have been working as a team of 14 to try and get our assessm. ent design project headed in the right direction. I think that working in such a big team instead of splitting up into smaller ones is beneficial for us because we have a lot of input. The only problem with this is that there are 14 different opionions that come into play and not everyone is always made happy. So yesterday when there was some dispute, the parties involved realized that they needed to come to a compromise, otherwise nothing was going to get completed. After we got everything settled, we just flew through the material that we wanted to cover.

Daily Journal 9-17-09

Yesterday, the group of us spent the day at ICC. Alex and Richie went with Nick to scope out Camp Rankine. The rest of us spent the day accomplishing random things that we needed to get done. One of the questions that came up was "what does IRE really mean to you?" To me, IRE is an opportunity. It's an opportunity with endless possibilities. All 14 of us have an amazing chance to show ourselves, each other, all the contributors and every one to follow our lead (both new IRE students and new programs that will start to arise) what we are truly capable of. I believe that we are incredibly lucky to be afforded this chance, and it already seems that we have a lot of potential and a lot of drive to really make this brand new program a success; to give this engineering program a face and a personality just by, not only living up to everyone's expectations, but by far surpassing them and doing things beyond what even the biggest dreamers dreamed we could do. I have faith in all 14 of us to achieve this. I have faith that throughout the two and a half years that we will be spending in this program together, we will grow immensely and we will prove ourselves to everyone involved.

Daily Journal

Yesterday Alex, Andrew and I taught Mechanics of Materials to Erin and Christy. Along with that we gave example problems to the whole class, as a good review. In FE review our group started to break apart the main parts of Chemistry. Other groups made use of the smartboard to teach what they were covering.
After coming back from lunch the whole group did an example FE math problem. Most everyone got it done with ease which is a good sign to see. In our Assessment Design groups we found out that it is going to be a bit of a challenge to come up with an accurate way to judge all of the things needed to be an Engineer. We started with the ABET criteria as a baseline. After that we met in our Student Life group. We had a list of things we wanted to do already, so we began finding numbers and calling around to line trips up. The group met briefly at the end to set goals for today and we were dismissed.

Daily Journal : 9-14-09

Last friday was the first opportunity we had to use the daily schedule that had been set up for the Iron range engineering program. I think that it was well planned and went fairly well last friday. We will get better at sticking to to the schedule and feel more comfortable with it as we continue to follow this as a daily plan. I beleve it will become a very useful tool for us during our engineering education. the schedule is as follows.
8:00-8:15 -Journal
8:15-8:30 -Check E-mail/Online news
8:30-9:30 -Teaching team prep/Learning team practice
9:30-10:30 -Teaching team introduces new material
10:30-11:30 -Fundamentals of engineering preparation
11:30-12:15 -Lunch
12:15-12:30 -Daily FE problem
12:30-2:15 -Assessment design
2:30-3:30 -Committee mtgs/Personal development
3:30-3:45 -Group wrap up
3:45-4:00 -E-mail/Online news

Ron's Speech

This is a very good speech everyone should listen to it again... This speech was presented to everyone at the signing ceremony on Thursday.

Daily Journal

Friday, Sept 11, 2009

Yesterday was the official signing day that involved University of Minnesota Mankato represented by Dr. Davenport and Northeast Higher Education District represented by Dr. Collins. This signing made the Iron Range Engineering program official and was an important day for many people. Many organizations were represented including University of Minnesota Duluth, Arrowhead University Consortium, Bahr Engineering, Cliffs Natural Resources and many others.