Asee peer logo

Incorporating an Entrepreneurial Mindset, Bio-Inspired Design, and STEAM Approach to Enhance Learning in a Computer Aided Design and Modeling Class

Download Paper |

Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

June 26, 2024

Conference Session

Industrial Engineering Division (IND) Technical Session 1

Tagged Division

Industrial Engineering Division (IND)

Page Count

16

DOI

10.18260/1-2--47604

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/47604

Download Count

72

Paper Authors

biography

Thomas Aming'a Omwando Simpson University

visit author page

Dr. Thomas Omwando holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. He is an Assistant Professor and Director of Engineering program at Simpson University. His teaching interests are in statistical quality control, manufacturing processes, engineering/project management, engineering economy and production and operations analysis. His research interests are in sustainable manufacturing, entrepreneurially minded learning and project based learning approaches in education

visit author page

biography

Bhavana Kotla Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Programs Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-5163-7664

visit author page

Ph.D. Candidate at the Department of Technology, Leadership & Innovation, Purdue Polytechnic, Purdue University, Indiana, USA

visit author page

biography

Adel Alhalawani Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

visit author page

Dr. Adel Alhalawani’s teaching interests include engineering design, biomechanics, statics and mechanics of materials, biomaterials and design of manufacturing. His research has focused on bio-glass based adhesives for orthopedic applications and dental-based adhesives.

visit author page

biography

Lisa Bosman Purdue University at West Lafayette (PPI)

visit author page

Dr. Bosman holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering. Her engineering education research interests include entrepreneurially minded learning, energy education, interdisciplinary education, and faculty professional development.

visit author page

biography

Ashutosh Khandha University of Delaware Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0001-6003-3881

visit author page

Ashutosh Khandha is an Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Delaware, with work experience both in Industry and Academia, and with interests in Engineering Education and Accreditation, Forensic Engineering Analysis and Biomedical Research.

visit author page

Download Paper |

Abstract

Traditionally, an introductory Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Modeling course involves students learning by drafting models and exercises primarily from textbooks. Whereas this method has been used for a long time and has been very effective in its intended purpose, it does not provide students with entrepreneurial and other professional skills that are increasingly becoming essential for engineers in industry. An interdisciplinary approach that integrates an entrepreneurial mindset, bio-inspired design, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) could potentially provide students with skills they need to face the challenges in the job market and become creative thinkers and problem solvers upon graduation. In this study, an interdisciplinary approach was incorporated in the curriculum that involved students identifying problems in existing products to create new solutions. This involved dissection of an existing product, carrying out functional decomposition to understand the functional relationships between component parts, identifying gaps in the design, and bridging gaps in the designs by either improving the design or coming up with a new design. Given that students carried out these activities in groups, they developed teamwork skills, improved their communication skills, and enhanced their critical thinking skills. A photovoice reflection survey and a set of open-ended questions were used to evaluate the outcomes. Results showed that students were more motivated to learn the course and became more engaged with the projects they were involved in. These results also showed that employing an interdisciplinary approach to teaching an introductory CAD modeling course can have a positive impact on the students’ learning experience.

Omwando, T. A., & Kotla, B., & Alhalawani, A., & Bosman, L., & Khandha, A. (2024, June), Incorporating an Entrepreneurial Mindset, Bio-Inspired Design, and STEAM Approach to Enhance Learning in a Computer Aided Design and Modeling Class Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--47604

ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2024 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015