Biomimetical approach in training students of technical institutes in graphic disciplines with aim of developing creativity and formation of professional culture of the engineer

Abstract

The article describes the experiment held among junior engineering students of technical college with purpose of developing creative potential and formation of professional engineering culture. The biomimetic approach in training of future engineers based on that way to creating technical devices when the main ideas are adopted from wildlife. Search of the ideas gives student the chance to feel as the engineer-inventor which is very important for generating professional culture at initial courses of higher education institution. The creative component of professional culture of the engineer implies ability to an invention and realization of something new in the equipment or technology. The first- and second-year students were offered to fulfill the following creative task: to study a biological object and to develop mechanical unit similar to this object or to develop a polysurface, to create virtual model in CAD package they are studying and to present their design. This creative task involves cross-disciplinary knowledge in biology, the theory of mechanisms, descriptive geometry, and engineering and computer graphics. The article also gives description of results of a research, how much the performance of creative task promoted the solution of the assigned educational tasks. The pilot experiment has shown that creative works have significantly increased the interest of students in self-reliant obtaining of information—additional in relation to course of engineering graphics. Performance of creative work with application of biomimetic approach, has led to increase in interest in engineering graphics and the involvement into designing, development of creative potential.