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Enrollment
Application Form - 2026
Thank you so much for your
desire to enroll in ENGR110/210, Perspectives in Assistive
Technology.
Carefully read and fill
out this form so you can make an informed enrollment decision. I will review
your submission and contact you for more information or provide a permission
number which will enable you to enroll, starting on Thursday, December
4th.
--- About
You
- Name
- Email
address
- Academic Year
- Freshman
- Sophomore
- Junior
- Senior
- Co-term
- Grad
- Post-doc
- DCI
- Other
- Department / Program
- Undeclared
- ME
- CS
- EE
- STS
- LDT
- HumBio
- BioE
- Symbolic Systems
- Other
- Project Courses - Identify
all the project courses you are taking this Winter quarter
- ME170
- ME218
- ME310 - (This course meets at
the same time as ENGR110/210)
- Other
--- About the
Course
- Axess
Course Description for 2026 - Seminar and student project course that
explores the medical, social, ethical, and technical challenges surrounding the
design, development, fabrication, and use of technologies that improve the
lives of people with disabilities and older adults. Guest speakers include
engineers, designers, researchers, entrepreneurs, clinicians, and assistive
technology users. Special activities include field trips to local facilities,
an assistive technology faire, and a film screening. Students from any
discipline are welcome to enroll. 3 credit units for students (Juniors,
Seniors, and Graduate students preferred) who pursue a team-based assistive
technology project with a community partner - enrollment is limited to 27. 1
unit for seminar attendance only (CR/NC) or individual project (letter grade).
Projects can be continued as independent study in Spring Quarter. See the
course website. Designated a Cardinal Course by the
Haas Center for Public Service.
- Overview - ENGR110/210 class sessions consist of
semi-weekly guest lectures from engineers, designers, researchers,
entrepreneurs, clinicians, and assistive technology users on a variety of
interesting topics. Beyond these lectures, students can choose to engage in a
team project experience (3 credit units) that includes project selection, fully
understanding the problem, and designing, fabricating, testing, and refining a
functional prototype. These students interact with users of assistive
technology, design coaches, and community project partners. Other students can
choose to pursue individual projects (1 credit unit with letter grade) that may
not require fabrication skills or experience, including developing a CAD design
or to writing a comprehensive report on an assistive technology product, topic,
or organization that works with people with a disability or older adults.
Finally, there is a lecture-only option (1 credit unit CR/NC) for students
whose schedule does not permit working on a project.
- ENGR210 vs ENGR110 - Please note that if you are a graduate
student or need to take the course as an upper-level or upper-division course,
please enroll in ENGR210. Other than the course number, ENGR210 is identical to
ENGR110.
- Approved Elective - Please note that only the 3 credit unit
course option is an approved / recommended elective in several
disciplines.
- Course Website - If you have not already done so, please
check out the course website. There you will find: the course syllabus, the lecture
schedule, information about student team
projects (3 credit units), team projects from
2025,
2024,
2023,
2022,
2021,
information on individual projects (1
credit unit), student comments from last academic
year.
- Laptop Policy - Out of respect for the guest lecturers, the
use of laptops, smartphones, or earbuds & headphones in the classroom is
only permitted before class, during the Social Media Break, and after class.
Students may use a tablet with a stylus to take notes. The Learning Hub's
Tech Desk on the
first floor of Lathrop Library allows students to checkout iPads at no cost.
Please do not work on homework from other courses in the class
session.
- Course Classroom and Start Time - Class sessions will be
held in Lathrop Library, Room 282 starting promptly at 4:30pm on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. Classroom location and accessibility information can be found
here.
- Required Attendance - Students taking the course for 3
credit units are required to attend all class sessions, while those taking the
course for 1 credit unit are required to attend at least 15 class sessions.
Accommodations to make up missed class sessions will be provided.
- First
Class Session - Attendance is mandatory for the first class session on
Tuesday, January 6th at 4:30pm PST. I will be presenting an overview of
the course and a brief introduction to Assistive Technology including a
definition of terms, demographics, goals of rehabilitation, perceptions of
disability, the challenges of people experiencing disabilities, political
correctness, numerous examples of assistive technology devices, and prior
student projects
- Project Time Commitment - Please note that students are
expected to work on their projects outside of class time. Past teams have
reported that they have spent on average of 5 hours per week on their
team projects increasing to as much as 10 hours per week just prior to
the mid-term and end-of-term presentations and report submission deadline.
Project activities include: meeting with the project partner; designing,
fabricating, and testing prototypes; meeting with instructor; preparing for
mid-term and end-of-term project presentations; writing mid-term and
end-of-term reports; composing an Individual Reflection; and responding to
instructor's emails. There are no exams, quizzes, finals, or problem
sets.
- Shop
Skills and Fabrication Experience - Involvement in a team project will most
likely require fabrication of a prototype device. It would be good if all team
members have some shop skills such as those introduced in ME103.
- PRL
Access - Students working on team projects use the
Product Realization Lab
(PRL) facilities to fabricate their prototype devices. There is no fee for its
use.
- Special Accommodation -
Please let me know if you require a special accommodation.
--- Your
Decisons
- Select Course Number
- ENGR110 - Undergraduate
students
- ENGR210 - Graduate Students and those wishing to enroll as an
upper-level or upper-division course.
- Select Enrollment Option -
Indicate your enrollment option:
- Team project (3 credit
units)
- Individual project (1 credit
unit with a letter grade)
- Lectures only (1 credit unit CR/NC)
- Wait
List - In the event the enrollment limit for the team project (3 credit
units) option is reached (27 students), you will be asked if you would like to
be placed on a Wait List.
- Questions - I am curious 1) how you found out about the
course, 2) why you decided to enroll, 3) your fabrication
skills/experience, 4) your personal expectations for the course, and 5)
anything about yourself that you would like to share.
- Concerns - Please express any concerns or questions about
the course here and do not hesitate to contact me by email.
- Conclusions - I would also be
pleased to meet with you before the start of the Winter Quarter. I am looking
forward to seeing you in class.
Dave Jaffe
Course
Instructor
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