students receives initial training in cybersecurity togenerate awareness and include it as part of the considerations for all projects. Then, one of thestudent teams is selected to develop a project with a central security problem. We surveyed thestudents at the end of the capstone design sequence and used qualitative analysis methods to obtaininsights into the interventions' impact. This study intends to evaluate the impact of cybersecurityinterventions in capstone design projects, aiming at student learning outcomes and the efficacy ofan academic-military alliance. The two research questions we intended to respond to are: 1. How much would you estimate you knew about cybersecurity before starting your Capstone Project Labs I & II
success inengineering.Examining the impact of the student's self-efficacy factors on first-year engineering students willhelp increase success in engineering design curriculum. As students start University, it has becomemore apparent that education has evolved in the last few years, primarily due to the COVID-19pandemic [1]. To better understand these changes, educators need to evaluate incoming studentprofiles and track their success across their degree programs. Factors such as studentdemographics, self-efficacy, and prior experiences related to their degree field can produce anincreased understanding of the impact of cornerstone courses. Each student enters the Universitywith different backgrounds and experiences, and we want to evaluate if
entertainment video games with engineering-relevant gameplay into the curriculumcan engage students and enhance proficiency in machine design. 1. IntroductionStudent motivation refers to the internal drive, enthusiasm, and determination that compelstudents to engage in learning activities, achieve their academic goals, and overcome challenges.Among college students, motivation plays a critical role in shaping their academic performance,persistence, and overall success in their educational journey [1], [2].Motivation plays a pivotal role in the academic journey of engineering students, significantlyinfluencing their learning outcomes, performance, and graduation rates [3]. Intrinsic motivation,characterized by a genuine interest in engineering
instructor's or student's interests, ultimately neglecting the development ofintegrated engineering design problem-solving skills.This study adopts a design-based research (DBR) [1] approach to investigate barriers to teachingand learning integrated design practice in engineering education, redesigning a target course totest for improved effectiveness. Initial course observations revealed that developing reflectivepractice is critical yet often overlooked in cultivating intentional engineering designers. Activereflection is essential for both technical and creative applications throughout the design process,enabling students to uncover opportunities, evaluate decisions, anticipate challenges, and adaptapproaches. The study sought to embed formative
3D printer modeled with lessefficiency (more overall CAD features to achieve the same final model) compared to the ControlCondition. In addition, correlations exist between prior manufacturing experience and theirmodeling behaviors overall, regardless of condition. This work demonstrates how exposure tomanufacturing processes early in an undergraduate engineering program can impact students’CAD behaviors and design efficiency.1. INTRODUCTIONComputer-Aided Design (CAD), as well as Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), areessential skills for the modern engineer. Within an undergraduate degree program, theseprinciples and applied knowledge are skills every graduating engineer should possess. As such,CAD and CAM courses are built into the core
has become increasingly essential. This work-in-progressstudy investigates how senior engineering students leverage AI-based learning tools, such asChatGPT, in design projects and explores the need for integrating formal AI training into engineeringcurricula. The study is guided by two central research questions: (1) How does AI enhancestudents’ ability to navigate complex design processes and improve outcomes? (2) What are theperceived impacts of AI on students’ learning, skill development, and ethical considerations inengineering design?Eighteen senior capstone students from three design project groups at a land-grant university inthe western United States were selected and recruited through convenience sampling toparticipate in the study
resistance to design thinking principles, resourceconstraints, industry collaboration barriers, and assessment complexities. The findings highlighthow these challenges interact and compound each other, particularly in how resource limitationsaffect both teaching quality and industry engagement.The findings suggest that the inconsistent integration of design into engineering programs posessignificant challenges for developing well-rounded engineers. This study contributes tounderstanding design thinking implementation in engineering education and suggests the needfor systematic changes in curriculum development, educator support, and resource allocation tobetter prepare engineers for complex, interdisciplinary problems.1. INTRODUCTIONThe integration
technological demands, thus ensuring thatstudents are better prepared for professional challenges upon graduation. UIC models includeguest lectures, field visits, internships, and industry-sponsored capstone projects, and researchsponsorships [1]. These partnerships are mutually beneficial, providing students with real-worldapplications of theoretical concepts and helping industries recruit and retain skilled engineers infields such as power and renewable energy.This paper builds on this premise by showcasing a successful example of UIC-drivenexperiential learning. At the heart of the 2024 Exploring Renewable Energy EngineeringSummer Camp held at George Mason University was a dynamic partnership between academiaand leading energy companies. Through
-based capstone design project. This two-semester, four course, 11 credit hoursequence includes both engineering and technical communication courses and is co-taught byengineering and communications instructors. Each student invests nearly 500 hours in a team-based project. Each team of six to nine (or more) students completes the design, fabrication andflight testing of an unmanned aerial vehicle. Students document their work through four writtenreports and eight oral presentations (i.e., design reviews and test readiness reviews). While eachteam member has a distinct technical role, all work is completed collaboratively [1], [2].The intensity of the project and its collaborative nature present unique challenges for bothcapstone students and
engineering, undergraduate engineering, industrypartnerships1 IntroductionRetention and graduation of students are key goals of undergraduate engineering education.Design education and hands-on experiences play a critical role in supporting engineeringretention because they encourage sense of community through team-based learning, exposestudents to real-world applications of engineering, and support creativity and sense of “fun” [1],[2]. More specifically, first-year engineering design courses can provide positive foundationsthat support building a student’s engineering identity and sense of belonging in STEM. Whenstudents are provided hands-on learning opportunities that support their development of technicalskills, their confidence builds [3
empathy-focused instruction by investigating (1) how instructors define, view, and valueempathy, and (2) advantages and challenges to teaching empathy in engineering courses. A surveywas distributed to instructors teaching engineering courses at one institution. This paper presentsa qualitative analysis of open-ended questions. Instructors described different understandings ofempathy and opinions regarding empathy-focused instruction. Some described teaching empathyas essential, while others considered it “ridiculous.” Key advantages were interpersonal skills,improved professionalism and ethics, and improved learning environment. A lack of knowledgebase, practical challenges, and confronting traditional practices were identified as key barriers
priming did not correlate with designperformance. Ultimately, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge onbiologically inspired design in engineering education, emphasizing its potential to improve studentdesign while identifying key areas for further study and improvement.1 INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUNDBiologically inspired design (BID), which draws on nature’s principles to inspire innovativeengineering solutions, has gained attention across various disciplines due to its ability to harnessthe efficiency, adaptability, and resilience found in biological systems. By studying naturalphenomena, engineers and designers can develop solutions that are innovative, sustainable, andecologically responsible. For instance, BID has been
degree was called Cybersecurity Engineering 1 .Similarly, the Melbourne Institute of Technology (MIT) began offering a major in cybersecurityfor both its bachelor’s and master’s programs in networking. This major enables students toacquire basic skills in the use of security tools, mitigation mechanisms, and business contingencyplanning for companies 2 . Professors from the University of Miami and the University of NorthCarolina Wilmington defined best practices for including cybersecurity courses in ComputerScience, Information Science, and Engineering programs. The goal is to help institutions seekingdesignation by the National Security Agency (NSA) as a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE)in Cyber Operations (CO). Some of these best practices
Engineering Design Mapping Tool to Inform ABET Accreditation for an Existing Engineering Design ProgramIntroductionIntegrating human-centered design (HCD) in engineering, such as through a “human-centereddesign and engineering” major, has gained ground in recent years. Select universities across thenation offer some form of human-centered engineering design (HCED) or closely related fieldssuch as human-centered engineering or human-computer interaction. For example, the Universityof Michigan-Dearborn has a human-centered engineering design major [1] and the University ofWashington has a human-centered design and engineering program [2], both for undergraduatestudents. Similarly, Dartmouth Engineering offers a human-centered design minor [3
, the research ofdesign cognition offers observational studies and develops models to describe human-centereddesign processes. Common topics of design cognition include design fixation [1-7], problem-solution co-evolution [8-11], and design metacognition [12].As a capstone course instructor, the results of design cognition are interesting because they canexplain why students think or behave in certain ways in capstone projects. For example, thephenomenon of problem-solution co-evolution tells us that it is common for designers to usetentative design solutions to improve their understanding of design problems. With this idea, wemay not insist on having a “perfect” problem statement from a design team before they can startproposing design
design process, from conceptualization to testing and evaluation.Results from the ISE measurement instrument show significant increases in six of eight ISEfactors exclusively in the research group. Reflective responses support these results and highlightthat active and experiential learning with integrated design elements can be augmented byleveraging technology, leading to a challenging and yet fulfilling and meaningful learningexperience.IntroductionEngineering education is undergoing a critical shift to integrate experiential and design-basedlearning into traditionally analytical curricula [1–3]. Although first-year engineering courses andsenior capstone projects often emphasize creativity and innovation, second- and third-yearcourses
engineering challenges.IntroductionParticipating in project-based courses is a common experience across many engineeringprograms from first year design courses to capstone and more. The Canadian EngineeringAccreditation Board (CEAB) includes project management as one of the twelve graduateattributes engineering students must develop and demonstrate throughout their degree [1]. Oftenthis attribute is embedded within project-based courses, such as final year capstone courses, andfirst year and upper year engineering design courses [2]. Many of these projects are team-based,teaching engineering students important attributes, such as, individual and teamwork,communication, professionalism in addition to technical skills related to their disciplines
toolswere adapted and integrated in third and fourth year design courses in two Engineering programsat the University of Waterloo. 1. IntroductionSustainability is a broad term that can refer to a wide range of concepts, includingenvironmental, social, and economic sustainability dimensions, United Nations SustainableDevelopment Goals (UN SDGs), and circularity principles or life cycle thinking, among others.It has been a topic of discussion in multiple contexts and disciplines, including politics,engineering, economics, and policy-making - since the 1990s. The growing importance ofsustainability is also associated with the development of technologies aimed at addressingcomplex societal problems and transitioning to a more sustainable future.The
EM student leadership series andcapstone course intervention is also discussed. Video data from legacy hackathons will becompared with the new data extracted from the first full run of the EM-infused competition.Finally, the paper will discuss lessons learned from the initial implementation of theinterventions that can be applied to future competition trials.1. IntroductionHackathons have emerged as a beneficial platform for fostering innovation and practicalproblem-solving skills among students. These events encourage participants to prototypesolutions to complex problems rapidly and promote personal and professional growth. As onepart of a grant effort, it was proposed to study how students reflect upon, articulate, and exhibitthe
engineering, the role of engineers, and global health. Bycombining technical training with critical reflection on systemic inequities, this course equipsstudents with the skills and mindsets necessary for inclusive, impactful engineering practice. Thefindings underscore the potential of integrating AOP into engineering education to cultivatesocially conscious, globally engaged engineers capable of co-creating equitable solutions withdiverse communities.1. IntroductionAs global connectivity and communication networks continue to grow, so too does awareness ofthe disparities in health, resources, and opportunities across different regions of the world. Thisheightened awareness has spurred a shift among engineering students, who are
, simulation and subsystem prototyping,while the second semester focuses on system integration, fabrication, testing, and optimization.The whole course is structured to meet all seven ABET student outcomes in multiple formatsover the two semesters. A guide for implementing this method of engineering capstoneinstruction is available in [8], an open educational resource. Course milestones are shown inTable II.1: Table II.1: Capstone Sequence Milestones Milestone 1 Detailed design Semester 1 midterm Milestone 2 Prototyped subsystems Semester 1 final Milestone 3 Integrated subsystems Semester 2 midterm Milestone
in engineering education. A digital twin is a detailed virtualmodel of a physical system, constantly updated using real-time data, advanced computing, and visualmodeling [1]. Unlike static models, digital twins allow two-way interaction between the physical anddigital worlds. This makes it possible to run simulations, monitor systems in real time, and predict futureperformance. For instance, a mechanical engineering student could use a digital twin to test how stressaffects a structure, while an electrical engineering student might explore how circuits behave underdifferent loads. These examples show how digital twins can make complex engineering principles easierto understand and apply. Using digital twins in classrooms has the
Justice principles into a multidisciplinaryengineering curriculum, specifically focusing on a capstone project course sequence. Per [1],“Design justice rethinks design processes, centers people who are normally marginalized bydesign, and uses collaborative, creative practices to address the deepest challenges ourcommunities face.”Currently, the undergraduate curriculum at Elizabethtown College features significant designcoursework in 6 out of 8 semesters, starting with Introduction to Engineering and culminatingwith a three-semester entrepreneurially-minded capstone sequence. While the infusion of DesignJustice into our curriculum involves multiple stages, this paper is focused specifically on thecapstone sequence [2].In previous versions of the
andrepercussions of engineering endeavors, encompassing ethical, environmental, and culturaldimensions [1].Students often struggle to recognize the importance of non-technical aspects, such as stakeholderinvolvement and ethical considerations, which can result in simplistic views of complexproblems [2]. As such, experiences with stakeholders and communities need to be scaffolded andcurricular intentions need to be explicit. Bilow and DeWaters [2] suggest incorporating socio-technical thinking into existing engineering courses, ensuring that students engage with real-world problems that require consideration of social, ethical, and environmental factors. Thisintegration can help students see the relevance of non-technical aspects in their work and
helped their learning andcontributed to the success of their projects. These results are supported by student surveyresponses, student assessments of learning gains and teamwork evaluations.IntroductionAs the world becomes increasingly global, complex, and intertwined, engineering careers havebecome ever more collaborative and multidisciplinary. The grand challenges facing our planetrequire interdisciplinary approaches, and therefore so should undergraduate engineering projects[1]. To this end, beginning in the summer of 2022, faculty teaching senior capstone design at TheCooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art implemented an interdisciplinaryapproach to their courses. Previously, interdisciplinarity was allowed, but not
stakeholders. With confirmation or adjustmentbased on conference feedback, this capstone classification will be available for use by thecapstone community, which will facilitate exchange between capstone practitioners, and supportfuture Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) work into capstones by providing acommon language to compare these complex courses.IntroductionEngineering capstone design courses are a critical component of modern engineering education,serving as a bridge between academic learning and professional practice [1]. These coursesprovide a culminating experience where students apply theoretical knowledge and technicalskills to address real-world engineering challenges. By engaging in practical, hands-on projects,students
, this project aims to provide insight into student preferences, demographics,challenges, and success in a multi-disciplinary classroom environment.IntroductionEngineering education typically comprises of a combination of theory and design [1]. A soundtheoretical foundation is essential for practical application [2, 3]. One of the primary purposes ofengineering education is to equip students with the ability to synthesize theory and transform itinto practical design solutions. In doing so, students must be trained to define and solve problemswith the constraints of cost, time, and performance [4, 5]. While there may exist theoreticalsolutions that are state of the art, practical application demands an understanding for translationinto adoptable
confidence instrument, during aggregate evaluation, showed statistical significance. Overall the majority of students rated their abilities, as defined in ABET 5 and ABET 7, as somewhat or much better following the assignment. Improvements to the method are discussed. Future research should include data analysis by race as well as gender.I ntroduction There are certain criteria every accredited engineering program must meet in order to maintain their accreditation with ABET. Among the criteria is that students complete a culminating major engineering design experience[1]. At the Thayer Schoolof Engineering at Dartmouth, the culminating experience, also referred to as the capstone course, counts toward the
Real- World Integration1 IntroductionThe World Economic Forum (WEF) has highlighted the importance of complex problem-solvingin its Future of Jobs reports of 2020, 2023 and 2025, consistently ranking it among the top skillsneeded for the future workforce [1], [2], [3]. Further, WEF emphasized that skills requiringnuanced understanding, like complex problem-solving, show a limited current risk ofreplacement by GenAI [1], which highlights its critical importance in current and future jobsregardless of discipline. In engineering, the International Engineering Alliance (IEA), supportedby the World Federation of Engineering Organization and the United Nations Educational,Scientific, and Cultural Organization, released
developing solutions forpeople requires making value-laden judgments. These judgements are often against ill-defined,ambiguous, and competing social and/or technical criteria and constraints. For example, inaviation, engineers make decisions based on various sources of information. However, thesources of information accessible to aviation engineers can shape their judgements and decisions,such as the decision to continue flying or ground aircraft with faults [1]. Existing researchsuggests engineers and managers base these critical decisions on their assumptions, limitedavailable knowledge, operational urgency, and their perceptions of risks [1]. These studiessuggest the need to understand how engineers navigate information-rich environments to