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Development of Teaching Materials for an Introductory Freshman Courses in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Technology

Abstract

This paper describes the content of two new introductory freshman courses used both the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Technology programs at Penn State. These introductory courses are required in the first semester for both programs as part of a new curriculum composing of a “common freshman year” for both the Electrical and Mechanical Technology programs. 1 The rationale for creating these courses was to provide students with a better broad overview of both respective fields resulting in students making a more informed choice in selecting to pursue either an EET or MET degree. Additionally these courses will help inspire students for future concentrated study by recognizing the end result applications of both disciplines by studying systems comprising of electrical and mechanical elements.

1. Introduction

Especially in the freshmen year, students in the departments of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Technology have not much idea about Engineering Technologies and what kinds of professions they can pursue. Moreover, they do not know the scope of the various fields that each of these disciplines contain and which fields they may be interested in. Of course students will explore their entire selected major as they become junior and senior students and they will find and concentrate on their favorite fields.

By introducing introduce the freshmen students to a broad knowledge of each venue of both majors, students will develop an early interest and it will directly affect their motivations of knowledge achievement, and tracking down of their careers. Obviously, it is not possible to introduce all aspects of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Technology, but it is feasible able to excerpt the basic and fundamental subjects which form the back bone of these disciplines, such as circuits, electricity, electronics, power and control in Electrical Engineering Technology; rigid bodies, kinematics, and fluid dynamics in Mechanical Engineering Technology. All of these sub-topics can also be shown to be interconnected and working together in a functional electrical or mechanical system.

Additionally, it is crucial to stress the importance of studying math by showing the use of math skills currently used in Engineering Technology and how they are applied. If students can appreciate why they learn math and how they apply the math skills to solve engineering-oriented

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Choi, J., & Grebski, W., & Dudeck, K. (2009, June), The Development Of Teaching Materials For An Introductory Course In Electrical And Mechanical Engineering Technology Paper presented at 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition, Austin, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--4619