Learning through service: wood in design and engineering.

摘要

"Wood in Design and Engineering" is a new course at Mississippi State University that is specifically designed to demonstrate how the philosophies and functions of all three departments in the College of Forest Resources interact with regard to the resource, material, and utilization of wood and forest products, while making a tangible contribution to both the university and the community. The course brings together undergraduate and graduate students from all three departments and uses hands-on methods of teaching concepts and interrelationships, ideas often discussed but rarely encountered in the overall context of forestry, wood science, and wildlife biology. A recent group project was to design and construct a cutaway of a 19th century joiner shop and two display cases based upon variations of the trestle table to showcase antique woodworking tools for the "Treasures from the Vault" exhibition at Mississippi State. Personal projects included tables, bows, settles, desks, memorial crosses, and turkey calls, among others. The students gained a greater appreciation about forestry, forest products, markets, wood, woodworking, teamwork, safety, and themselves.