KITE Award 2016
KITE Award 2016
The Kite Award, a new distinction which honours the most important contributions to innovative teaching at ETH Zurich, was bestowed for the first time on 27 April 2016. Two dozen projects from 12 departments were nominated, and three of these were shortlisted and presented at the award ceremony.
Winner of the KITE Award 2016
The Kite Award 2016 went to Prof. Mirko Meboldt for his courses “Innovationsprojekt” and “Leading Engineering Projects and Coaching Design Teams”. The runners up were Prof. Renate Schubert with “Ökonomie” and Prof. Gisbert Schneider with “Computer Assisted Drug Design”. We heartily congratulate all three finalists.
Finalist videos and project descriptions
Winner of the KITE Award 2016: Prof. Mirko Meboldt
Development of mechatronic systems: Mirko Meboldt developed the project-based course “Innovationsprojekt” for up to 500 first-semester students at the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT). In 90 teams of five to six members each, students independently developed a product from idea to tested mechatronic system. The teams were supervised by 30 student coaches from higher semesters, who were simultaneously trained in the basics of leadership and coaching in the course “Leading Engineering Projects and Coaching Design Teams”.
KITE Award 2016 finalist: Prof. Gisbert Schneider
Trans-disciplinary cooperation: At the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (D-CHAB) Gisbert Schneider offers a progressive series of trans-disciplinary courses in “Computer-Assisted Drug Design” which are intended for students of the natural and life sciences. These courses cover skills such as mathematical modelling, chemical synthesis and biochemical analysis of active substances. In a two-week practical block course students then work in small groups to create “virtual companies” which develop and present a molecule with a specific pharmacological function.
KITE Award 2016 finalist: Prof. Renate Schubert
An alternative for large groups: Renate Schubert completely re-designed the “Ökonomie” course for up to 500 students at the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (D-GESS). Electronic lecture scripts, videos, interactive practice exercises and current media reports are first available for preparatory independent study. During the course, students working in small groups then develop economic arguments using authentic examples. Persons with significant previous knowledge or a preference for classical teaching may form separate groups. Students may choose what suits them best from a large selection of teaching elements, thus assuming responsibility for their own learning.