Explicit development of engineering skills and characteristics in the freshman year

Abstract

This paper describes a new freshman two-course sequence designed to introduce students to engineering and to explicitly develop the cognitive skills and personal characteristics of an experienced engineer. The courses focus on engineering skills associated with design and communication and on personal characteristics associated with good teamwork and effective leadership. Small group discussion related to course readings are used to increase student understanding of abstract engineering concepts. Design projects are used to facilitate student transfer of their understanding to new contexts. The course sequence has been piloted in the Mechanical Engineering program and was shown to be quite successful with regard to student achievement and student satisfaction. Plans are being made for college-wide implementation of a similar freshman experience emphasizing skill and personal characteristic development. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2007.