Creativity in an Introductory Engineering Course

Abstract

A two credit hour introductory electrical and computer engineering (ECE) course is the forumfor this research project. The course introduces ECE majors to the profession with a lecturecomponent that emphasizes circuit analysis, simulation software, lifelong learning, and ethics.The laboratory component consists of five laboratories where students analyze an automobilelighting system to reinforce fundamental principles, use a breadboard to create a circuit with anoperational amplifier, and assemble a radio from a kit. In addition, a laboratory where studentsdesign and build a functional product with attention to aesthetics has been introduced to exercisetheir creativity. The creative process is marked by progression through various stages such asbrainstorming, forming a construction plan, drawing schematic representations of the product,and implementation of the design. This project is motivated by the need for creative thought inengineering undergraduate students to enable enhanced product design. Each semester theproduct changes and to date, three laboratory modules have been developed. The threevariations include: designing a lamp from musical instruments, designing the housing for a lowpower computer, and designing a solar powered wind chime. The students are tasked to designand build the products within a three week time period. The major components for each productare supplied with budgets in the range of $25-50 per group for additional items. Assessmentresults show that the majority of students enjoy the several aspects of the “creative” laboratory.At the same time, they consider it to be one of the most difficult laboratories. This project wasfunded by NSF from the CCLI program.