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Session 3225

Design in the Rowan University Freshman Engineering Clinic A. J. Marchese, R. P. Hesketh, K. Jahan T. R. Chandrupatla, R. A. Dusseau, C. S. Slater, J. L. Schmalzel School of Engineering Rowan University Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701 Session 3225, Paper No. 4 1997 Annual Conference of the American Society of Engineering Education Milwaukee, WI, June 15-18, 1997

ABSTRACT Freshman engineering students at Rowan University are introduced to engineering design through a series of hands-on engineering laboratories and design projects. The objective is to involve them in incrementally progressive design experiences. For example, students design a modified flashlight switch, a complete flashlight, undertake the design of proof-of-concept experiments, and finish with a system-level design of an environmentally friendly coffee machine. Thus, the freshman design experience at Rowan specifically avoids “gimmicky” competitions and focuses instead on the design of real engineering devices such as flashlights and coffee machines. In order to achieve this focus, freshman students must be exposed to a variety of engineering principles, experimental methods, and design tools not typically encountered at the freshman level. The challenge is to achieve this ambitious focus while maintaining an atmosphere conducive to retention.

INTRODUCTION

Rowan University is developing an innovative and forward looking engineering curriculum that will produce engineers who can serve as innovators and entrepreneurs in a highly competitive marketplace.1,2 Key program features3 include: (i) inter- and multi-disciplinary education created through collaborative laboratory and coursework; (ii) stressing teamwork as the necessary framework for solving complex problems; (iii) incorporation of state-of-the-art technologies throughout the curricula; (iv) and creation of continuous opportunities for technical communication. To best meet these objectives, the four engineering programs of Chemical, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering include a common engineering clinic throughout all eight semesters of their programs of study. We believe that the clinic is a major hallmark of the Rowan engineering programs. The clinics present a broad-based approach to engineering starting at the freshman level, progressing in depth and industrial relevance as students advance. The nature of the clinics allows students and faculty to work together in a hands-on, project environment that promotes teamwork to find solutions to complex multidisciplinary problems.

The Freshman Engineering Clinic sequence, taught in the Fall and Spring semesters, has laboratory components dealing with the four disciplines. These areas are used as the basis for delivering instructional goals in the principal engineering science and engineering design topics, and provide an environment for treating a variety of supporting issues such as ethics, safety,

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Marchese, A. J., & Hesketh, R. P., & Chandrupatla, T. R., & Dusseau, R. A., & Schmalzel, J. L., & Jahan, K., & Slater, C. S. (1997, June), Design In The Rowan University Freshman Engineering Clinic Paper presented at 1997 Annual Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 10.18260/1-2--6495