Teaching MethodThe complexity of modem engineering systems calls for an integrated design approach in the industry today. A careful review of the educational approach to design indicates that there is not enough design integration in the engineering curriculum, resulting in intensive retraining of graduates once they enter the work force.i t is advantageous to start integration of design into the engineering curriculum at the freshman level, where engineering creativity can be effectively introduced. The second course of a two-semester freshmen Creative Engineering sequence is the focus of the freshmen design plans presented in thispaperThis course sequence was the result of a NSF fundedproject [ l ] on "Development of a Freshman Engineering Curriculum '' at Prairie view A&M University.A successfully tested innovative approach for teaching design at the freshmen level is discussed. The ability of freshmen to design, fabricate and test simple engineering systems is also discussed and demonstrated. The result of this strategy is that the students are able to work in teams on integratedprojects (such as the Sunrayce, Futurecar Challenge and Hybrid Vehicle projects) required in the senior yeal: This experience makes the student highly successful in the modern design environment. , Creative EngineeringCreative Engineering is a two semester freshmen design sequence developed by the authors at Prairie View A&M University. The courses have been taught since Fall of 1991 and are required of all engineering majors. The first course emphasizes solid modeling, generation of working drawings, and engineering specifications. A design project (requiring the generation of a solid model for the production of working drawings, specifications, and preparation of a bid package for the design) is assigned. The second course is a pure design course that requires the student to use the basic principles acquired in the first course to design, build and test a project assigned in the beginning of the semester.Participative learning methods are used in the second semester Creative Engineering. The instructor basically guides the students through the design process, actively involving students in the process. Students work in design teams consisting of four to six students per team. Students meet within their groups in class and out of class to apply the various stages of the design process. The students are in constant communication with the instructor, who critiques the students' design work. Group and individual assignments are given in the class. The rationale for this approach is that, even in a group project, it is importaut for individual members to think about solution methods ahead of time to enable them to offer meaningful contributions during group discussion. The final grade of the project has two principal components, the individual component and the group component. As a result of this grading scheme, members in the same group do not necessarily get the same grades. Project FormulationPrior to the beginning of the semester, t...
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