About Our Educator Downloads

Learn more about our Educator Downloads or read our FAQ below.

What the downloads include

Instructors can choose from two different formats to support their needs: a Facilitated Learning Package for live or synchronous learning and an Independent Learning Package for asynchronous learning.

Each Facilitated Learning Package contains everything needed to run a 50-80 minute class:

• An instructor orientation guide explaining goals, structure, and timing
• Learner prework, where applicable
• Slide deck with detailed speaker notes
• Learner questions, handouts ,and activities
• Extensive annotations with discussion suggestions, debrief ideas, and a bibliography
• A text-only narrative version of the session, where available

Each Independent Learning Package contains:

• An instructor orientation guide
• A reading for instructors to use in their own preparation or to distribute to students as asynchronous reading in lieu of an instructor-led class
• Activities and questions for learners to complete independently

Slides and notes are modular and editable, so instructors can adapt pacing or emphasis to their course context.

Who they’re for

This content is designed for:

• Instructors in higher education, including faculty, lecturers, and graduate student instructors
• Instructors and trainers in industry and professional engineering settings
• Instructors teaching technical content who want to integrate comprehensive (i.e., social, contextual, environmental, ethical, professional) real-world problem solving without redesigning their entire course
• A wide range of class sizes, from small seminars to large lecture courses; the sessions have been tested in classes of up to 400 students

Instructors have used our materials in courses like:

• Mechanical engineering (e.g., vibrations, mechanics, design)
• Biomedical engineering (e.g., medical devices, biomechanics, design)
• Electrical engineering / computer science (e.g., systems, accessibility, professional practice)
• First-year engineering and introductory design courses
• Capstone and project-based courses
• Professional responsibility / ethics / leadership seminars

How instructors typically use these resources

Instructors most often use C-SED resources to:

• Insert a single, high-impact module into a core technical course or 2-3 modules at key points, such as before and after a project
• Ground abstract technical concepts in concrete, real-world examples
• Support accreditation or program goals related to leadership, problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, ethics, or societal impact
• Give students structured practice discussing risk, uncertainty, and tradeoffs in engineering problem solving

Each session is designed to stand alone, but will be most successful when you guide the students in making connections between the session and the content in your specific course both before and after the session – the annotations provided in the downloadable materials offer suggestions for how to do this.

Ready to download? Click here to create an account!

Still have questions? Read our FAQ below.

Educator Downloads – FAQ 

Are the downloads free?

Yes. All Educator Downloads are freely available for non-commercial use, and you are free to adapt and remix the material. We ask that you honor the Creative Commons use of materials and cite the source. 

Why do I have to make an account?

We’d like to get a sense for who’s using the materials and how they might be useful to you. 

If you’d like to receive our monthly newsletter for updates on new sessions and other resources for educators passionate about socially engaged engineering and design, you can opt in. 

We’ll never sell your data and we’re not here to advertise – this is for our own internal use to help build a community around socially engaged engineering and design. We may periodically reach out to understand instructors’ experience with the materials and learn more about where and how they’re being used so we can make improvements, but we won’t spam you or use your data without your consent.

What’s included in a download?

For each topic, you’ll find a variety of separate documents to download. Different resources have different materials, so each resource will clarify what’s included. The Facilitated Learning Package is for instructors teaching a synchronous class, and is based on slides, while the Independent Learning Package is a text-based option for students to complete independently.

Each Facilitated Learning Package includes:

• An instructor orientation guide
• Learner prework (where applicable)
• Slides with detailed speaker notes
• Learner questions, activities, and suggestions for discusssion
• Learner handouts (where applicable)
• Assessment questions
• References and suggestions for further reading

Each Independent Learning Package includes:

• An instructor orientation guide
• A reading for instructors to use in their own preparation or to distribute to students as asynchronous reading in lieu of an instructor-led class
• Activities and questions for learners to complete independently
• Assessment questions
• References and suggestions for further reading

What’s the difference between the Facilitated Learning Package and the Independent Learning Package?

They’re complementary, with different formats for different uses. We’ve heard from the community that flexibility and simple implementation across a variety of class sizes, synchronous/asynchronous formats, and institutional contexts is a high priority so we’ve adapted materials with this in mind.

The Facilitated format is intended for classroom use, and contains slides, prework where applicable, handouts, speaker notes, and supporting materials for instructors. The Independent Learning format is a reading with embedded activities and questions for students to complete independently.

In some cases, elements from the Facilitated Package such as activities or extended discussions have been replaced with complementary text-based alternatives in the Independent Learning Package, and so the two formats may be quite distinct. In other cases, the two formats are nearly identical.  We will clearly indicate when the two formats differ substantially.

We recommend that instructors teaching the Facilitated Package not make the Independent Package readings available to students before the session; in all cases, it contains similar material as the Classroom Slides and may reduce engagement if students are repeating the same content they’ve read.

Do instructors need a background in socially engaged engineering or active learning?

No. The sessions are designed to walk instructors through the session step-by-step. Prompts, timing, and transitions are structured to support confident facilitation in technical courses.

What kinds of courses are these for?

The learning materials are designed to support learning across a variety of engineering disciplines and contexts, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Different topics will have more or less relevance for particular disciplines, and as our library grows we will add topics with a variety of emphases.

Our resources are commonly used in core technical courses, electives, and capstone or project-based classes. Some examples include:

• Mechanical engineering (e.g., vibrations, mechanics, design)
• Biomedical engineering (e.g., medical devices, biomechanics, design)
• Electrical engineering / computer science (e.g., systems, accessibility, professional practice)
• First-year engineering and introductory design courses
• Capstone and project-based courses
• Professional responsibility / ethics / leadership seminars

How much class time do they take?

Most sessions are designed for a single 50–80 minute class period. Materials are modular and can be shortened or extended depending on course needs.

Will this work in a large lecture course?

Yes, though most topics ask the students to work in groups so you may need to use pairs or trios if seating is auditorium-style, and you may need to coordinate with volunteers or teaching assistants to circulate among groups or distribute materials. Occasionally, you may consider a raised-hand or electronic clicker poll in lieu of more informal share-outs.

These sessions have been tested in classes ranging from small seminars to large lectures with up to 400 students. Activities can be run using pairs, small groups, or polling tools.

How much preparation is required?

1-3 hours. Most instructors review the pre-reading, slides, speaker notes, activities, and orientation guide before class. No additional readings or materials are required beyond what’s provided in the packet, though instructors may wish to read some of the suggested bibliography related to specific aspects of each session that might have relevance for their course.

Instructors may need to print handouts or gather supplies such as tape, sticky notes, or scissors for hands-on activities. Any requirements before the session are clearly noted.

Are these aligned with accreditation or professional standards?

The sessions support learning goals applicable to many accreditation standards, especially those related to professional responsibility, ethical reasoning, and societal impact.

Can the materials be adapted?

Yes. Slides, activities, and pacing can be modified to fit different disciplines, course levels, or institutional contexts. They are offered under a  Creative Commons remixable, non-commercial, with-credit license to allow instructors to adapt the material to their needs.

If you use the material, please cite as: Center for Socially Engaged Engineering & Design (2024). Socially Engaged Design Process Model. Available at: https://csed.engin.umich.edu/socially-engaged-design-process-model.

Can I work with C-SED directly if I have a specific need?

We always welcome inquiries and opportunities to collaborate. If you have a specific need we might be able to help with, you can schedule a consultation with C-SED at https://csed.as.me/partnership or email us anytime at c-sed-info@umich.edu.

I have a question not answered here – how do I get in touch?

For questions about content and implementation, you’re welcome to schedule a a consultation with C-SED staff at https://csed.as.me/partnership. You can also always reach us as c-sed-info@umich.edu.