NSF CAREER: Towards a framework for engineering student innovation

Abstract

The ability to innovate is essential in the rapidly evolving technological landscape. Many efforts have been made in engineering education to support student innovation (e.g., innovation and entrepreneurship programs and targeted courses). Yet, research on how engineering students approach and experience innovation has been limited. In this CAREER project we conducted a series of empirical studies using interviews, think-aloud protocols, and surveys to examine engineering students' innovation skills, views of the innovation process, and experiences that supporedt their development of innovative competencies. Informed by these studies, as well as the broader body of literature, we developed a framework for engineering student innovation that can guide instructional practices to support student innovation. In this paper, we present this framework with supporting evidence from recent and ongoing studies.