A Freshman Engineering Design Course

TLDR

The course aims to introduce freshman engineering students to design through a project‑based approach. Students progress through design, manufacturing, and assembly phases, learning basic engineering concepts, component procurement, assembly, testing, and entry‑level computer graphics. Students respond positively, reporting increased motivation, mastery of fundamentals, critical thinking, teamwork, and hands‑on experience.

Abstract

Abstract At the University of Maryland at College Park, a new freshman engineering design course introduces design through a project approach. This approach has three phases: design, manufacturing and assembly. First, students learn basic engineering concepts by designing a simple product. Next, they manufacture and/or procure the product's components. Finally, they assemble the components and test the finished product. Since drawings for this product are part of the project, students must also learn entry‐level computer graphics. Reaction to teaching design so early in the engineering curriculum has been extremely favorable. Students are highly motivated by the design approach and, as a result, learn engineering fundamentals, develop critical thinking skills, learn to cooperate as team members and gain practical hands‐on experience.