Enhancing a Freshman level engineering design course through project based learning

Sohail Anwar, Eric Granlund

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The use of engineering design projects provides students with a broad context related to the material presented in the lectures. Through the use of project based learning, students are encouraged to assume responsibility for their learning experience and to shift from passive to more active learning pattern. This is likely to improve the knowledge retention as well as the ability to integrate material from several different courses. Engineering Design and Graphics 100 (ED&G 100) is an introduction to engineering design course for all freshman baccalaureate engineering students at the Altoona College of the Pennsylvania State University. In this three credit-hour course, engineering design process is taught through team oriented design projects supported by communication skills: graphical and written. Implementation of project-based learning in ED&G 100 course is achieved by assigning a comprehensive project designed to encompass all the fundamental engineering principles covered in the course and to complement the projects conducted in the associated design laboratory. The capstone project requires students to design a product to be mass produced. To solve this design challenge, students learn about manufacturing methods. They evaluate design options and make decisions based on information regarding engineering design process, manufacturing methods, and various economic considerations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9545-9554
Number of pages10
JournalASEE Annual Conference Proceedings
StatePublished - 2003
Event2003 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: Staying in Tune with Engineering Education - Nashville, TN, United States
Duration: Jun 22 2003Jun 25 2003

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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