The above IEA includes certain stages of the full innovation cycle: analysis of the current technical level, the synthesis of a new technical solution, development, production of new equipment and technologies available as commercial output, presented by intangible innovative products (IIP) in the form of documents of title for results of intellectual activity, scientific and technological documentation, as well as tangible innovative products (TIP) in the form of goods, works and services ensuring economic, social or other impact and thus being competitive [1, 2, 7]. Therefore, preparing students for the IEA should be based on their involvement, during training, in all these stages of the innovation cycle. This paper is concerned with extending bachelor training efficiency in IEA at research-intensive universities based on hands-on training i.e. obtaining TIP, in the framework of the regional summer science schools for students, postgraduates and young scholars.
In our earlier papers [6, 8, 11] we explained that for the practical training in innovative activity it is advisable to teach how to obtain tangible innovative products through summer science schools. Such schools have been held by the Chair of mechanical design of mechanisms and machines at Ogarev Mordovia State University since 2001 [11] and the accumulated experience allows us to conclude the following: “1) summer schools studies enable to fully develop competence in innovative engineering activity because this form of active study combines active recreation and intensive learning; 2) creation of academic environment for learners in summer time is efficient not only for students but also for a region in general as young people is the most open and proactive part of society and to use their potential in solving topical issues quite often allows to work out new ideas and mechanisms for putting them into practice; 3) choice of regional summer science schools for students, postgraduates and young scholars as a second (practical) stage of broadening IEA’s competences ensures the enhancement of efficiency of students’ training in IEA; 4) enhancement of efficiency of summer schools is ensured by the use of teaching methodology based on integrated pedagogical technology where cooperative pedagogy is underlying” [6, Р. 88–89].
As stated earlier and proved by the researches of E.P. Groshevoi, N.I. Naumkin and other authors [3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 14] innovative engineering activity is mainly carried out in the framework of the innovation cycle. Therefore, the most successfully development of competences through summer school will be performed if we organise the learning process in a way when students go through all stages of practical work being engaged in IEA modeling with further obtaining an innovative product in the form of industrial sample (prototype). In our opinion, such training can be conducted by using digital technologies for the fabrication of innovative products [5, 12], which began to develop rapidly approximately from 80-ies of the last century and are being widely used worldwide. Their main difference from previous technologies pertaining to creation of three-dimensional objects is that they are not based on the removal of material (lathe turning, milling, EDM etc.) or change of a rough workpiece shape (such as forging, stamping, pressing), but on the gradual growth (adding) of material or change of the phase state of matter in a given area of space.
Today these technologies are known as [5]: SFF (Solid Freeform Fabrication), FFFF (Fast Free Form Fabrication) or CARP (Computer Aided Rapid Prototyping); (STL – stereolithography); (SGC – Solid Ground Curing); (FDM – Fused Deposition Modeling); (BPM – Ballistic Particle Manufacturing); (SLS – Selective Laser Sintering); (LOM – Laminated Object Modeling); (MJM Multi Jet Modeling); immersion centres or virtual reality systems. All these technologies require the presence of a three-dimensional computer model of a workpiece being fabricated and the process of obtaining products has received a generic name – rapid prototyping.
Considering the great possibilities of the above technologies Institute of Mechanics and Power Engineering of N.P. Ogarev Mordovia State University, in complience with the development programme of a national research university has created, on the basis of the Centre for digital production, the division of rapid prototyping [12], where one of the above-mentioned technological schemes is used: 3D model – 3D printing – prototype – copying.
Of all available means of digital production for summer science school we have chosen as an innovative technology teaching aid a 3D printer BFB 3000 which represents a unique, modern model from the company Bits From Bytes. With its performance and functionality similar to full-printers, it has the advantage of a light weight and compact dimensions and can therefore be installed in a regular office, any room or premises, not mentioning the off-site nature of a science school, and is operable 24 hours a day. The device has a simple and easy-to-understand interface, in some cases, it can be used without connecting to the computer, downloading all the necessary data via removable media. The device allows you to model objects with cross dimensions of up to 30 cm and with a speed of up to 15 mm3/ sec. Important feature of this model is the capability of color printing. Due to this, it allows you to get the most complete picture of the design characteristics of the facility and to pay due attention to the experiments in this area. The models obtained in this printer, are characterised by the required quality, reasonable accuracy and the highest level of detail, conditioned that quality supplies are used. It is using this 3D printer that enabled all summer school learners to prepare models of tangible innovative products (TIP).
Teaching IEA in the above schools, as noticed in our early papers [11], is carried out in the form of a business game “Firm-2” (Figure), an upgrade of the business game Firm-1, containing the 2nd practical stage with additional teaching aids (3D printer, collection of scripts for creative competitions and sporting events) and advanced content (creation of TIP), which allows you to simulate all stages of IEA innovation cycle, engaging students. The Figure shows that in comparison with the previous business game “Firm-1”, this game is carried out in several stages:
1) team building;
2) establishment of a company, the choice of company’s activities and brand name;
3) formulation of the problem to be solved;
4) finding technical solution;
5) development of a 3D workpiece model;
6) development of the product using a 3D printer;
7) submitting applications for RIA;
8) defence of the project.
A group of students (6–7 persons) independently turns into a firm (company), which operates throughout their studies and includes an intermediate and final assessment, but, in contrast to the traditional activity, the teamwork is carried out not only during studies but also during all creative competitions, sporting and other events. Members of the group choose a leader who assigns roles (director, technical director, chief designer, patent engineer, economist, marketing manager). He/She then holds a meeting devoted to the choice of activities of the newly-formed “company”, development of a “brand name” as the object of intellectual property. For the fulfillment of the main stage of the game (obtaining intangible and tangible IP) the team independently defines a problem in the chosen field of activity, formulates a clear objective to be gained to solve a problem, synthesises technical solutions (TS).
Of all available TS the team has to choose the most eligible one for registration, submits the documentation for a RF patent to protect the obtained solution. Next assignment for the “firm” is to develop a trademark or service mark for the anticipated release of the product (product, service) and to submit applicant materials for registration and issuance of a trademark certificate. Along with the above assignments each team received another task: to develop a 3D model of one of the main work pieces based on the obtained technical solutions, print it out using a 3D printer and demonstrate it when the project is being defended. This ensures the efficient development of the students’ ability to synthesise and to design the product, to use knowledge of CAD and information storage, facilitates the development of creative imaging [15]. Obtaining the finished product, in turn, encourages the ability to commercialise the solution and to possess production technologies, the ability to follow up on to the decision. All this altogether forms a positive motivation in obtaining an IP. Defence of the project, as well as in the game “Firm-1” is carried out in the form of slide presentation prepared by each “firm” in front of a group of experts and members of other teams. Each participant has the floor in accordance with his/her position who presents the RIA, developed and fabricated IP (brand name, trademark or service mark, invention, utility model, industrial prototype), describes its potential application and the expected effect.
Attendees can ask questions and participate in discussions. Experts take the final decision based on the results of the defense (preparation of patent application, publication of scientific papers, recommendation for implementation). Additional participation of summer school learners in competitions and sporting activities was aimed at team building when solving problems, at identifying the true leaders, creating the ability to act and make decisions quickly and be responsible for them afterwards. Moreover, creative competitions contribute to the development of creative students’ potential which is the essential element of the IEA.
Throughout the game cumulative points system (individual and team) was used when each team member was responsible for his/her actions before the team and for the team as a whole, under conditions of the need for mandatory decision-making in extreme situations (stress, lack of time, responsibility and so on). To demonstrate the amount of accumulated points there was a wall-mount record of learners’ and teams’ activity to be constantly filled in. It was also one of the main motives of active, responsible and effective work. Therefore, theoretical and practical training in educational innovative engineering activity (EIEA) simulates all stages of the innovation cycle, providing effective preparedness to carry out IEA.
Apart from qualitative results of the pedagogical experiment the effectiveness of summer schools is proved by quantitative indicators:
1) learners participation resulted in over 50 publications, including peer-reviewed publications;
2) 10 patents for utility models and inventions were received and proposals for technical improvement were made;
3) from 2012 to 2014, three students from N.P. Ogarev Mordovia State University became the laureates of the Presidential programme of support for talented young people;
4) a grant totaling 2 million rubles for the competitive selection of one and two-year projects pertaining to implementation and development of programmes encouraging student design bureaus and similar public associations of students in the framework of the clause 2,4 under the Federal earmarked programme “Science and pedagogical staff of innovation Russia” was won;
5) annual victories of students in international and nation-wide student academic Olympics in Agro engineering;
6) 4 students won presidential and governmental scholarships.
Implementation diagram of a business game “Firm-2”
In view of the foregoing it can be concluded that high efficiency of summer schools is achieved by modeling all stages of innovation, a proper organisation of its operation mode, an intelligent combination of studies and recreation, a rational distribution of studies timetable aimed at fruitful creative work.