Ship Dynamics

Teacher's name: Anna Mujal Colilles

Timing: Transformation of the entire subject

Methodology: Classroom exercises, Laboratory or simulator exercises, Review of the syllabus

Class-group size: Between 15 and 30 students

Level of studies: Master's

Degree, semester within the degree and subject: Master in Naval and Oceanic Engineering, Q1, Ship Dynamics.

Possible adaptation of the activity to other subjects: Easily extrapolated to other subjects (except the practice itself)

Activity description:

The syllabus of the subject was structured in such a way that the beginning was very theoretical and until after the first half of the subject they did not see applied cases. I divided a topic that was initially at the end of the course on practical applications of boat design (specifically rudder sizing) and incorporated it at the beginning of the course. I also started the course with a subject related to numerical modeling and physical modeling with a guided visit to an experimental laboratory on the North Campus.At the same time I expanded the collection of problems, the resolution of which I posted openly on the digital campus.

The reorganization of the subject has allowed me to design some evaluable activities to be developed in groups that have continuity throughout the course and must be delivered a week after finishing the subject.

Some one-off sessions are also dedicated to the resolution of exercises from the collection in the classroom, having done the theory beforehand and warning with a session in advance of the exercises that will be solved. Random organization in the classroom and rearrangement of the furniture is allowed (although they don't end up doing it). Who wants to solve them individually and who wants to solve them in a group. After a certain time, the exercise on the board is solved. The teacher solves and helps during the solving time.

In addition, a laboratory practice has been incorporated. Due to the lack of a laboratory at the FNB, the sailboat Barcelona is used to carry out a ship stability study. With this practice, students learn to estimate the ship's inertia, as well as the period of balance. They do this by analyzing the signal from an Inertial Motion Unit that is placed on the boat during practice. They must use matlab or python.

Team work:

For the group work that must be handed in at the end of each subject, the teams are made up of three/four people. For practice, groups of up to 4 people are made. All groups are organized autonomously by the students. The work of individual team members is not monitored.

For the exercises to be done in the classroom, the students decide whether they want to do them individually or in groups.

Activity evaluation system and impact on the evaluation of the subject:

The group work represents 30% of the subject grade and the work itself and the final presentation of the analysis of the dynamics of a ship chosen by the group at the beginning of the year are assessed.

The exercises that the students do independently in the classroom have no impact on the evaluation of the subject.

It respects the laboratory practice, the final report as well as the presentation are assessed. There is a risk that when we repeat it again this year, the learning will be partly based on the assignments completed in the first year.

Promotion of attendance in the classroom:

Presence in the classroom is promoted through the inclusion of problem solving in the classroom, laboratory practice and dynamic classes. It is observed that by solving exercises in the classroom attendance is fairly constant.

The students' perception of the subject has improved

Evidence of student assessment:

Oral evaluations by students are positive.

Proportion of hours dedicated by the teaching staff to the hours dedicated by the students:

The calculation is teacher hours / student hours. Faculty hours include preparation, execution and evaluation. Studentship hours include both in-classroom and out-of-classroom work.

The time spent preparing the collection of exercises, once done, is amortized. I'd say 1/1 overall.

As for laboratory practice, the dedication is 2.5/1.