1. John Marshall

2. SmartSurfaces provides University of Michigan students with an integrative,
hands-on learning experience where cross-disciplinary teams design, build,
program, and test interactive surfaces.
It is team taught by professors from different University of Michigan units (Art &
Design, Materials Science & Engineering and Architecture).

3. Design Lab 1

5. 3 Units
3 Professors
24 Students
4 Teams

6. Phase 1 (skill-building )
For the first six weeks the teams build specific skills in:
• microcontroller programming (Arduino),
• parametric modeling (Digital Project),
• digital fabrication,
• cross-disciplinary collaboration.

7. Resources.

8. 2009 2009, 2010, 2011 2009
Julian Bleecker - Nokia Design Strategic Eugene Shteyn - Ambature & Stanford Michelle Addington - Yale School of
Projects & NearFutureLaboratory.com University Architecture
Lots of resources.
2011 2011
2010
Thorsten Klooster - TASK Architekten Sabrina Raaf – University of Illinois, Chicago David Bruemmer - 5d Robotics

9. Phase 2 (the project)
Each team is required to design, build, program and test an ‘X-SmartSurface’
where “X” is a changing modifier.
“X” = “Heliotropic” (Fall 2009), “Biomimetic” (Fall 2010) and “Off-grid” (Fall 2011).
Each team is responsible for a budget:
($3,000 2009-10 and $2,000 2011).

10. The Shy Solar Array Simon
Fall 2009 Projects
Exposure
The iWall Modular Light-Filtration System

11. Neural Window Reef Wall of Leaves
Fall 2010 Projects
Ferro-field Firefly Cloud

12. Lightapus
Open ‘NEST’ Thermostat
Fall 2011 Projects
Smartfence
Water[Lilly]

13. 100%
120%
20%
40%
60%
80%
0%
Drawing on multiple perspectives in
addressing problems or issues
Making connections between major
concepts from different fields of study
Identifying the components of a
problem or issue
Identifying the data needed to solve a
problem or answer a question
Investigating complex systems
Formulating good questions
Choosing the appropriate method (or
mixture of methods) to solve a
Development of Critical Skills
problem
MLTT & SmartSurfaces Comparison
Clarifying an unstructured problem
Considering a broader context when
decision-making and problem-solving
‘Student Assessment of Learning in Multidisciplinary Learning and Team Teaching (MLTT) Courses’
Bierwert, Kirsten Olds, and James Barber Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT). 2 August 2010.
SS
MLTT
Report of a Survey of Students in Fourteen MLTT-Funded Courses to the MLTT Steering Committee, Ben van der Pluijm, Chair. Prepared by Crisca

14. Development of Oral Communication Skills
MLTT & SmartSurfaces Comparison
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20% MLTT
0% SS
Participating effectively in
backgrounds different from
perspectives when listening
Listening to audio or video
Conveying your ideas
understand others' thoughts
thoughts are understood
Checking to see if your
Relating to people with
or working with a group
Checking to see if you
Identifying multiple
group discussion
effectively
media critically
yours
‘Student Assessment of Learning in Multidisciplinary Learning and Team Teaching (MLTT) Courses’
Report of a Survey of Students in Fourteen MLTT-Funded Courses to the MLTT Steering Committee, Ben van der Pluijm, Chair. Prepared by Crisca
Bierwert, Kirsten Olds, and James Barber Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT). 2 August 2010.

15. Development of Creative Thinking Skills
MLTT & SmartSurfaces Comparison
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
MLTT
0%
SS
Producing work of your
feedback and criticism
Being open to others'
Analyzing problems in a
Being able to critique
Planning
Willing to change your
Working through
Being able to receive
unusual alternatives
way that considers
points of view
obstacles
own design
others
mind
‘Student Assessment of Learning in Multidisciplinary Learning and Team Teaching (MLTT) Courses’
Report of a Survey of Students in Fourteen MLTT-Funded Courses to the MLTT Steering Committee, Ben van der Pluijm, Chair. Prepared by Crisca
Bierwert, Kirsten Olds, and James Barber Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT). 2 August 2010.

17. About John Marshall:
– Institution: University of Michigan
– Tel: (734) 615-8062
– Email: johnjm@umich.edu