Hands-on, Discovery, Critical Thinking, and Freshman Engineering
Date
2012-06-10
Authors
Pritchard, John W.
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American Society for Engineering Education
Abstract
Hands-on, discovery, critical thinking, and freshman engineering A systems level approach to learning and discovery. One of the most difficult tasks when teaching freshman engineering classes is to induce a paradigm shiftfrom the high school experience to the adjustment of the open, dynamic, exciting, and ever growinguniversity environment. In these classes, we also need to train students to be advanced in criticalthinking, engineering fundamentals, basics of engineering principle and design, computer programming,and hands-on laboratories. All of the above must be presented in a context that is not overwhelming,and not too threatening. All of that will help students be ready for the years to come in the engineering discipline. Much effort has been put into designing a practical and conceptual approach on what, why,and how to do the freshman engineering classes to be more productive and effective. The true systems level approach needs to be included in all aspects of the class. The class and the approach should show enough repetition, creative feedbacks, and interesting subjects to engage students. This paper presents a framework whose unique systems level, critical thinking, and hands-on discovery methodologies that suit students of the current generation. The paper introduces and discusses some of the successful implementations versus some of the traditional goals. The paper will also provide some practical and key questions regarding the goals of the freshman engineering class in the engineering programs.
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ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: Pritchard, J. W., & Mina, M. (2012, June), Hands-on, Discovery, Critical Thinking, and Freshman Engineering Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--21445.
Copyright 2012 American Society for Engineering Education.
Posted with permission.