Rice University in Houston has turned five open-air tents into classrooms. Each accommodates 25 to 30 students with space to social distance, and cameras record the classes for students learning at home. The school’s positivity rate has been 0.1% since August.
Continue readingNew technology TA positions empower students to partner with professors
Based on his experience transitioning to dual-delivery classes when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the spring, Tom Phalen — a Professor in the Practice in the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) — knew the juggling act that hybrid courses demand: delivering quality material in class while also managing the technical aspects of online learning tools like Canvas and Zoom.
Continue readingEthical Decisions: The Engineer’s Responsibility Panel Discussion
This year, the RCEL Ethics Panel is going virtual! Panelists from Houston and across the country will come together to discuss the role of of ethics and ethical decision making in their respective experiences and industries. JOIN THE CONVERSATION – Register and join here: https://rb.gy/udmx2f
Continue readingRice University incorporates outdoor classrooms into in-person teaching amid COVID-19
When Rice University decided months ago students and professors would return to in-class instruction in the fall, the university built four outdoor classrooms to adhere to coronavirus-related health precautions. So far students and professors are giving the hi-tech fabric structures a passing grade.
Continue readingAn inside look at Rice’s outdoor classrooms for in-person classes
“Our goal at the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) was to create an environment where students can learn technical and leadership skills at an elite, Rice-like, online engineering camp, one with a low student-teacher ratio,” said C. Fred Higgs III, RCEL faculty director, vice provost for academic affairs and John and Ann Doerr Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Continue readingFrom the Student Director: RCEL shows you how to develop the leader in YOU.
There isn’t just one type of leader, and RCEL teaches you that from the beginning. In RCEL classes, you’ll learn a lot about your personal attributes, and you’ll use that information as you develop into the kind of engineering leader that works best for you. Furthermore, whether your goal is to enter industry, academia, entrepreneurship, or research, RCEL can support you and will give you the tools to succeed in those pathways.
Continue readingRCEL’s online camp offers high school students technical, leadership skills
“Our goal at the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) was to create an environment where students can learn technical and leadership skills at an elite, Rice-like, online engineering camp, one with a low student-teacher ratio,” said C. Fred Higgs III, RCEL faculty director, vice provost for academic affairs and John and Ann Doerr Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Continue readingRCEL Tip Tuesday: What’s Next? Exploring your next job, Part 2
In Part I of this article, we discussed two core principles of networking and two specific tools you can use to connect directly to specific people, even while traditional networking events are on hold. Today we review a few online tools that will help you broaden and deepen your network while building your personal brand.
Continue readingRCEL Tip Tuesday: What’s Next? Exploring your next job, Part 1
In Part I of this article, we discussed two core principles of networking and two specific tools you can use to connect directly to specific people, even while traditional networking events are on hold. Today we review a few online tools that will help you broaden and deepen your network while building your personal brand.
Continue reading“A dream worth giving oxygen to…”
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was pinned down by two Minneapolis, Minnesota police officers, as a third one kneeled on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds until he was dead. The victim was African American, handcuffed and unarmed, and the police officers were White. A fourth police officer stood guard to prevent interference from pleading civilian onlookers. Although safely tucked away for days in my home due to COVID-19, one can imagine that it still did not take long for me to feel the existential threat here because when they called in Mr. Floyd’s description – Black, 6-4, around 220 pounds – they were calling in my same description.
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