EXPERIENCES FROM THE TRANSFORMATION OF AN ENGINEERING EDUCATION INTRODUCTORY PROJECT DESIGN COURSE INTO A PROJECT DESIGN-BUILD-TEST COURSE
DS 49: Proceedings of NordDesign 2004 Conference, Tampere, Finland, 18.-20.08.2004
Year: 2004
Editor: Lehtonen, Timo; Pulkkinen, Antti and Riitahuhta, Asko
Page(s): 325 - 334
Abstract
This paper describes the changes made to an introductory course in Mechanical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology to transform it from a project design course into a project design-build-test (DBT) course. The aim is to inspire engineering educators to introduce practical hands-on build (manufacture) elements in their curricula through an account of the positive experiences gained. The introduction of a build element already in the introductory course rather than towards the end other curriculum is a novelty which seems, in their own opinion, to improve the students general understanding of the theory of product development and its tools and the necessity to plan ahead in the design process to consider factors related to the production and use of their designs. The opportunities to combine theoretical and practical work and to get to see the final result of a product development process have also generally been very appreciated by the students.
Keywords: CDIO, DBT, design-build-test, workspace(s)