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Session 2653

Enhancing a Freshman Level Engineering Design Course Through Project Based Learning

Sohail Anwar and Eric Granlund

The Pennsylvania State University, Altoona College

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.

Introduction

In recent years, the engineering education community has shown increasing interest in project-based learning approaches. The benefits of project-based learning include enhanced student participation in the learning process, enhanced communication skills, addressing of a wider set of learning styles, and promotion of critical thinking.1 The use of engineering design projects provides students with a broad context to the material presented in the lectures. A thorough literature survey provides information regarding implementation of project-based instruction into several freshman engineering/engineering technology courses. 2,3,4,5,6

Engineering Design and Graphics (ED&G 100) is an introduction to engineering design course for all freshman baccalaureate-engineering students at the Altoona College of the

Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2003, American Society for Engineering Education

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Anwar, S., & Granlund, E. (2003, June), Enhancing A Freshman Level Engineering Design Course Through Project Based Learning Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--11803