Intercollegiate design competitions and Middle Tennessee State University's machine shop: Kindling engineering technology-student creativity & confidence

Abstract

Educators often face the daunting task of finding ways to encourage creativity and confidence in students. Limited time and pre-defined course objectives can further burden this task. Handson activities in the laboratory courses that often supplement basic science classes are, inarguably, beneficial as they can reinforce classroom concepts and instill students with confidence in both their knowledge and abilities. However, that confidence is often limited to the constructs of the textbooks used in the specific courses, and laboratory work may not always challenge or excite students. Engineering educators face additional challenges in creating hands-on experiences for their students. The nature of engineering endeavors in terms of cost and development-time can limit abilities to create meaningful engineering- laboratory courses. Additionally, faculty-led and course-driven laboratory experiences are often designed around textbook concepts that do not necessarily expose students to challenges similar to those they may encounter in their future professional endeavors. This may leave students questioning the relevance of their education to "the real world" at the end of their courses. At Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), the Engineering Technology (ET) Department has overcome these issues through the partnership of its student-led, extracurricular Engineering Vehicle Program (EVP) and the student-managed campus machine-shop laboratory. Students, excited by their participation in EVP projects and by their access to state-of-the-art engineering tools, enthusiastically participate in machine shop activities. The machine shop provides a learning environment similar to that found in traditional science-based laboratories without the similar structure that can, potentially, stifle creativity. Students are naturally motivated to perform well at EVP design competitions, and the machine shop provides means for them to develop unique solutions for design and manufacturing challenges. This paper will explain MTSU's approach to inspiring engineering creativity and confidence in its engineering technology students through utilization of an on-campus machine shop and participation in national intercollegiate design competitions. The success of this program has been realized through both increased enrollment and graduation rates in its Engineering Technology Department. © 2011 American Society for Engineering Education.