Toward a Strategy for Teaching Engineering Design

Abstract

Design is behavior. Therefore, it can best be understood by means of behavioral theory and must be taught in a way consistent with the theory of behavior modification. This simple fact appears to have been overlooked by most, if not all, engineering educators who teach design courses or write textbooks on engineering design. This article examines this thesis and its relationship to engineering heuristics by considering specific examples taken from current practice in engineering design education.

Integrating innovation skills in an introductory engineering design-build course

“…Fig. 1 (Grote and Antonson 2009;Voland 2004;Lumsdaine et al 1999;Fogler and LeBlanc 2008;Koen 1994;Cross 2002;Rubinstein 1975;Dym 1994):…”

A Method for Assessing the Design Competency Profile (DCP)

“…Because a design engineer needs teamwork skills, it is coherent to include it in the definition of the design competency. According to the report titled "Towards a Blueprint for Educating Design Engineers: Design Competency" and written by NSERC Chairs in Design Engineering [3], the design competency roughly integrates the twelve attributes identified by the CEAB. Since a competency is a bundle of skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours required for effective performance of a real-world task or activity, it is logical to include all the components in the design competency.…”

“…As suggested in [3], we adopted a general and broad definition of the design competency. Table 1 illustrates a simplified overview of our design competency frame of reference.…”

“…Design is a multifaceted and cross-disciplinary competency [2]. Since it is acquired with experience [3], based on methodologies, techniques and tools [4], it is advisable to provide students with the opportunity to gain a variety of experiences throughout the full extent of their curriculum. During their curriculum, engineering students need to face significant design experiences based on the knowledge and skills acquired in other courses and involving team work.…”

A Review of Practical Design Integration Methods for Existing Engineering Curriculum

“…Engineering faculty desiring to integrate the design process throughout their curriculum must develop innovative and insightful ways to do so without drastically changing existing curriculum. Slightly modifying the content of an engineering course is perhaps the most realistic approach 11,12 . Several examples of practical design integration methods are provided to meet this need.…”