Course Materials and Description

"What is Engineering" Course Materials

Two types of lecture materials have been developed for this course: PowerPoint presentations and lecture notes. In both cases, the materials are only outlines of the subject matter that we deem important, i.e., they do not necessarily represent everything that the lectures will contain. Additional topics, embellishments, and relevant examples will be added. (In some cases, particularly in the notes on Uncertainty and Dimensions, the outlines extend beyond the scope of the course.) One PowerPoint presentation “What is Engineering_intro” is quite extensive. It serves as an introduction to engineering (slides 1-22), an introduction to the philosophy of learning (slides 23-26), and an introduction to the course from different points of view (slides 27-31).

• PowerPoint presentations
• Lecture notes
• Miscellaneous materials
• Student learn sheets
• Lab Experiments
• Projects
• 2008 Sites (photos)

"What is Engineering?" Course Description

• For a more detailed course description, click here.
• View the "What is Engineering" website, complete with online virtual laboratories.
  

"What is Engineering?" provides a challenging and rewarding academic experience for rising high school juniors and seniors and incoming college freshmen who have an interest in, and a talent for, math and science and want to explore engineering disciplines while receiving college credit.

In the four-week class, teams of students take part in simulations and laboratory experiments, attend college-level lectures, carry out team projects, go on field visits, and learn from professional engineers about careers, internship opportunities, and college choices.

The “What is Engineering?” curriculum links math, science, and engineering concepts to real-world practice, teaching students how to think and problem solve like engineers.

Suggested prerequisites for students applying to Engieering Innovation include algebra, some trigonometry, a lab science, and familiarity with a spreadsheet program, such as Excel.

Class Projects Include:

The Spaghetti Bridge. Before students design and construct a load-bearing bridge made only of spaghetti and epoxy they must first determine the behavior of spaghetti when it is bent, stretched, and compressed. Next, they use computer simulations to design the bridge and analyze its weaknesses. Finally, the students begin the actual bridge construction — and then take part in a lively competition to determine which team’s bridge bears the most weight.

Building a Better Mousetrap. These student-designed mousetraps (which actually catch ping pong balls) are evaluated not according to how well they work, but how well the inventors’ construction plans enable another team of students to implement the design.