4. Conclusions
Service learning integrated into introductory engineering courses and supported by technology, such as team blogs, instills the essential traits of reflection and collaboration in the academic growth of future engineers. In addition, the students relate classroom content to engineering problems in the community and comprehend the constraints of engineering projects and requirements in practice. They develop valuable communication and leadership skills through team work, establish contact with the community to gain a better understanding of its needs, and use the experiences to strengthen their preparation toward successful careers in engineering.
This practice relates closely to the following pillars.
Learning effectiveness, student satisfaction
Web access - ability to create and maintain a team blog
Bill of materials for different community projects ranging from $100 to $150 per team.