0nline+Onsite (O+O) Course

0nline+Onsite (O+O) Course <Innovative Design Theory and Methods>

It was in January 2015 that The O+O course “Innovative Design Theory and Methods>”designed and lectured by Professor Yan Jin from University of South California went live. More than 30 professional teachers from 10 partnered universities engaged in the onsite instructor training held in December 2014 and June 2015 (as shown in the figure below). The course has started the pilot run since May 2015, and more than 270 students from 12 classes from 8 universities have used, are using or are about to use the course including Tsinghua University, Peking University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Communication University of China, Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, Donghua University, Dalian University of Technology and Nanjing Tech University.


Group photo of Professor Yan Jin and teachers taking the O+O instructor training session in June 2015


O+O Onsite instruction in Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts in May 2015– group discussion


O+O Onsite instruction in Communication University of China in March 2016 – evaluation by onsite instructor


It hasn’t been long since the mode of O+O was introduced to China while it has won support and appreciation by related universities and institutions home and abroad.
Sir John Daniel, former Assistant Director-General for Education of UNESCO, former president of the UK Open University and distance learning professional thinks the O+O courses are very interesting.
Professor Stamenka Uvalic-Trumbic, former Chief of the Revolution, Innovation and Quality Assurance Section at UNESCO and International Higher Education Quality Evaluation Professional thinks that the O+O is a great achievement. Teachers from various universities engaging in the teaching practice of the O+O courses has a deep understanding: (as is shown in the figure below)


Feedback from teachers engaging in the O+O onsite teaching


Compared to past teaching experience, the level of profession and teaching ability of the teachers has improved to different extent through the O+O onsite instructor training and the teaching practice. Meanwhile, according to the research conducted on the students, they have an overall satisfaction towards the course. Above 80% of the students believe that the course has helped them a lot and same percentage of the students have actively engaged in onsite classroom discussion. Till May 2016, the O+O course <Innovative Design Theory and Methods> has run for a year, and DeTao has hold its first Innovation and Creativity Competition among the students gaining benefit from which. These students handed in their innovative design for competition and after two rounds of online evaluation, there are six student groups from universities including Peking University, Beijing Institute of Technology and Donghua University made it to the finale. Works including fire escape device, intelligent wheelchair and intelligent underwater sampling instrument won a good grade.


Group photo of Winning Students of the First DeTao Education Innovation and Creativity Competition held in May 2016


Group photo of the crew of the First DeTao Education Innovation and Creativity Competition held in May 2016


Master Introduction
Yan Jin
Fellow of ASME, Associate Chair at University of Southern California


Dr. Yan Jin received his Ph.D. degree in Naval Engineering from The University of Tokyo and did his PostDoc research at Stanford University. Dr. Jin has done research on design theory & methodology, knowledge-based systems, distributed and multiagent systems, organization modeling, project management, and collaborative engineering. His current research interests include design cognition and methods, collaborative engineering, enterprise modeling, complex systems & complexity. Dr. Jin is a recipient of many awards including National Science Foundation CAREER Award (1998), TRW Excellence in Teaching Award (2001). Besides, he is also a Fellow of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).