Work in progress - developing skills through projects in introduction to engineering

Abstract

Each Introduction to Engineering student at USM experiences what it is like to be an engineering student and to do engineering-like work. Under development for five years, the course is always an experiment in process, focused on increased student competence and confidence in 28 areas of USM's EC2000 outcomes. Our most recent interventions have focused on the wide range of student preparation and on facilitating electronic exchange of materials. These include: (i) engaging proficient students as coaches for less proficient students, (ii) introducing short-duration, in-class assessments of specific knowledge and skills, and (iii) using the departmental server and HTML templates to exchange course documents and work products. Results? Coaching developed, once trust and course norms were established. Simple assessments of competence produced provocative comparisons with students' self-assessments. And despite start-up challenges, straightforward filesystem concepts and homegrown HTML templates proved at least as useful as proprietary class management software. Find all course materials at www.ee.usm.maine.edu/courses/egn100