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Course Tabs

Overview

Course Overview

An introduction to workshop safety, troubleshooting, and several modern tools for prototyping physical objects. This course increases students' comfort with various fabrication tools used in the faculty and in industry. Students are introduced to several tools (laser cutter, 3D printer, soldering tools, hand tools, basic machine tools) and how to use them safely, then use the tools to construct, troubleshoot, and test their own brushless DC electric motor to take home after the course.

Course components:

  • Introduction and pre-inductions: Introduction to the course, the project, and the workshop spaces and staff are conducted online via Canvas. Pre-induction modules must be completed before attending the in-person induction for each workshop space (as below).
  • Digital Tools sessions: Students learn 3D printing, laser cutting, and circuit board soldering during in-person induction sessions in each of the relevant MDLS workshop spaces (on City campus). They must then use what they've learned to produce components for their electric motor.
  • Mechanical Tools sessions: Additional workshop safety topics and mechanical prototyping methods are presented in extended (1/2-day) sessions at the Newmarket Student Workshop. Students then construct, troubleshoot, and test their motors.

299 Workshop Practice is a required piece of the Part II engineering curriculum. If you do not attend your enrolled 299 course you may be charged a resit fee in the following year.


Workload Expectations

Students can expect 2 hours of online content and room inductions, 6 hours of Digital Tools sessions and project work on City campus, and 14 hours of Mechanical Tools sessions and project work on Newmarket campus.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Restriction

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

As a hands-on workshop practice course, attendance is required at scheduled sessions to complete components of the course. The course will not include live online events including group discussions or tutorials. There is no test or exam.

  • An intro video, pre-induction material, and tool/space introductions will be available as recordings and slideshows on Canvas. 
  • Digital Tools sessions are booked into students' schedules via SSO and attended on City campus.
  • A Mechanical Tools induction session is booked into students' schedules via SSO. Subsequent project work is done on a self-scheduled basis. All Mechanical Tools work is carried out in the Newmarket Student Workshop.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

An intro video, pre-induction material, and tool/space introductions are available as recordings and slideshows in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas.

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

Health & Safety is a core part of  299: Workshop Practice. Safe tool use and situational awareness in workshops will be taught, and appropriate supervision will be provided during all workshop sessions. Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook and any relevant workshop inductions.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

Completion of the course requires a running motor; course staff closely support all students to complete their projects. There is no test or exam.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Feedback has indicated low engagement with particular parts of the project, frustration with others, and struggles with scheduling. Delivery for 2025 has been modified to provide more background on laser cutting, make instructions clearer in the more frustration-prone parts of motor assembly, and keep students better informed of their deadlines and deliverables.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.