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Introduction to Engineering Program at the University of Wyoming

Charles W. Dolan, David L. Whitman, Thomas V. Edgar University of Wyoming

Abstract:

The University of Wyoming, College of Engineering developed a one hour introduction to engineering course that integrates teamwork and problem solving into a design challenge. The course is required of all incoming freshmen. This paper explores the pedagogical impetus for the design challenge and explains how the program qualified for the larger Universities Study general education requirements for intellectual community and information literacy.

The design challenge is now in its fifth year. It is one of the more popular aspects of the first semester freshman experience. It has evolved from a “fun activity” to an engineering design endeavor. The paper explores the history of the design challenge and how the challenges are developed. The philosophy of creative problem solving and development of skills associated with engineering design are discussed. There are over a dozen sections of the class and teams are made of students from all disciplines in the college plus non engineering majors. Therefore, students are introduced to multidisciplinary activities early in their career. Assessment activities that are used to judge the effectiveness of the program are presented and the role of undergraduate peer assistants is explained.

Introduction

The College of Engineering, like many other engineering programs, is impacted by the general education requirements of the University. In 2003, the University of Wyoming established a new University Studies Program (USP). The program requires students to not only satisfy general education requirements in humanities, social sciences and the arts, but also students must develop oral communications skills, fundamentals of information literacy and learn to work in team environments, identified as “intellectual communities.” These objectives are similar to the continuing ABET a-k requirements as adopted by the departments within the College of Engineering. Therefore, to avoid additional pressure on the number of credit hours required to satisfy the University Studies Program, the college of engineering adopted the University Studies

“Proceedings of the 2005 American Society of Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright ©2005, American Society of Engineering Education”

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Dolan, C. (2005, June), Introduction To Engineering At The University Of Wyoming Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--15220