Integration of project based learning into a freshman engineering design course

Engineering Design and Graphics 100 (ED&G 100) is a project-based 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, an engineering approach to problem solving is taught with an emphasis on team work, communication (graphical, oral, and written), creativity, ingenuity, and computer-aided design tools. The instructional approach used in this course involves freshman engineering students as active participants in the learning process. Several inter-related but separate mini-projects have been developed in support of the design component of ED&G 100. These mini-projects are designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of electrical and electro-mechanical engineering. In addition to the mini-projects, there are several team presentations, lectures, exercises, and case studies presented throughout the semester. This paper provides a complete description of the project-based design-driven learning process used in the design component of ED&G 100 course. This paper also describes students' comments regarding the quality of instruction delivered in support of the design component of ED&G 100.