Principal Investigator
Prof. Joel Schindall, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Fund:
Alumni Class Funds
Funding Period:
AY2013
Department/Lab/Center:
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
In 2009, the Gordon/MIT Engineering Leadership Program (GELP) developed a very successful 9 unit course on Engineering Innovation and Design that focuses on "design thinking" and is based on inputs from over 30 successful and creative engineers from a variety of industries. Ratings are high, and self/efficacy is enhanced. We propose to tailor this course for freshmen and to incorporate talks by faculty from various departments to illustrate "mechanical design thinking," chemical engineering design thinking, etc. The goal is to help freshmen to (1) understand the fundamental design thinking of the various engineering disciplines, (2) work more effectively in groups, (3) select their major and (4) synthesize their technical courses into an overall domain of design.