How a guest lecturer enhances education

News - 02 November 2020 - Webredactie 3ME

Many former students return to TU Delft later in their careers as guest lecturers. Anton Paardekooper is managing director and founder of the start-up BBBLS. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 1992 and has been a guest lecturer at 3mE (Mechanical, Maritime & Materials Engineering) for six years.

Over that time, he has seen groups of first-year mechanical engineering students every week. He graduated on the same programme in 3mE himself in 1992, is an entrepreneur and has a start-up specialising in energy-saving greenhouses with incubator Yes!Delft. Paardekooper is a guest lecturer in first-year design classes, the source of some amazing mechanical products every year: climbing delivery dogs, coffee cup grabbers or walking beer crates.

“One afternoon a week, I see groups of seven or eight students every half hour. Having prepared myself on the details of their designs, I give them feedback so they can progress. It’s intensive, but very energising”, he said.

Paardekooper became a guest lecturer when he heard there was a shortage of lecturers for projects in 3mE. Every year, hundreds of first-year students in the faculty have to do a design project. After two smaller group assignments in the first six months, this culminates in a media event where students show their designs to the public and their lecturers.

As an alumnus, he helps students by teaching them to be critical about their own designs and to plan effectively. “An important learning objective involves confronting students with the feasibility of their own plans. We help them to realise that it can often be much simpler.” In his start-up, things actually work in a similar way, explains Paardekooper. “There are so many similarities, but it always involves coming up with ideas that you were not previously aware of.”

Paardekooper acquired the teaching skills needed to convey these insights to students during his career in industry and later as an entrepreneur. “I’ve always had graduates and young people around me. They challenge you to find things out with the help of the laws of nature. The students are incredibly intelligent. They have an open attitude, take criticism seriously and achieve some surprising results. It’s great to watch how they develop.”

What changes have there been in the faculty where Paardekooper studied 30 years ago? “There’s such an upbeat atmosphere in the faculty and whole university: so many more students, more contact and support. I’m totally jealous of today’s first-year students.”

Education in times of corona
All education at TU Delft is directly affected by the corona measures, also the courses of guest teachers. Anton Paardekooper sees the first year students mechanical engineering physically. They are all allowed to come to the faculty four hours per week. Splash guards are placed and is there is enough space made to keep distance.

An important learning objective involves confronting students with the feasibility of their own plans.

This article was previously published in Delft Outlook
Text: Saskia Bonger
Photo: Sam Rentmeester
Okt 2020