College of Engineering Dean Michelle Scherer has selected Shane Oberloier, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, for this spring’s Deans’ Teaching Showcase.
Oberloier will be recognized at an end-of-term event with other spring showcase members and is a candidate for the CTL Instructional Award Series.
“Dr. Oberloier’s focus on establishing a maker culture for his students, the campus community, and beyond, has encouraged students to tinker with their ideas and create innovative solutions, making them better engineers and entrepreneurs,” said Scherer.
Oberloier is the advisor for the Open Source Hardware Enterprise, where he shares his ethos of making tools, devices, and products that are easy and inexpensive for others to replicate. The enterprise specializes in building low-cost alternatives to expensive hardware and software systems, and then openly shares the designs. This open-source process is all about collaboration so improvements can more rapidly be made. Some notable successes to come out of the enterprise include prototypes for an audible bird deterrent system, which has spun off into a startup in partnership with researcher Jared Wolfe, from Michigan Tech’s College of Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences, and a fully functioning ATX power supply sponsored by Plexus Corp.
This maker culture extends to other classes Oberloier teaches, where he uses things he has built to demonstrate important points. For example, he brings 3D-printed test pieces to be broken in class, countless custom circuit boards both professionally and self-manufactured, and even a musical lava lamp to demonstrate sensors and measurement. In this way, he encourages his students to experiment with their own circuits to make their own creations.
All students and the campus community are able to take advantage of Oberloier’s enthusiasm for making by visiting The Alley Makerspace, where he is the director. He works to engage students on a broader scale, helping them bring their ideas from sketches to functioning prototypes.
“He has a passion for innovative approaches to solving problems,” said Darnishia Morris, assistant dean of the Pavlis Honors College, “and he has made The Alley a place where everyone has the opportunity to explore, create and prototype their ideas in a collaborative working environment.”
And his work with the maker community does not stop at the campus’ boundary. He is the co-founder of Superior Fab Lab, which has put on MakerFest, an event for the local community. The objective is to inspire people to go build something, to try something new, and to ask questions and learn from the exhibitors at the festival.
“Dr. Oberloier has a remarkable ability to inspire students, especially those in the early stages of their academic journey,” said Jin Choi, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “He transforms complex concepts into exciting opportunities for discovery. He builds a strong foundation of knowledge while igniting a passion for engineering in his students.”
About the College of Engineering
Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering offers over fifteen bachelor of science degrees in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil, environmental and geospatial engineering, electrical and computer engineering, engineering fundamentals, geological and mining engineering and sciences, manufacturing and mechanical engineering and technology, materials science and engineering, and mechanical and aerospace engineering. Our engineering graduate degree options include master’s and PhD programs, along with robust online certificate programs for busy professionals.
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