AC 2011-1481: CREATIVITY IN AN INTRODUCTORY ENGINEERING COURSE

A two credit hour introductory electrical and computer engineering (ECE) course is the forum for this research project. The course introduces ECE majors to the profession with a lecture component that emphasizes circuit analysis, simulation software, lifelong learning, and ethics. The laboratory component consists of five laboratories where students analyze an automobile lighting system to reinforce fundamental principles, use a breadboard to create a circuit with an operational amplifier, and assemble a radio from a kit. In addition, a laboratory where students design and build a functional product with attention to aesthetics has been introduced to exercise their creativity. The creative process is marked by progression through various stages such as brainstorming, 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 in engineering undergraduate students to enable enhanced product design. Each semester the product changes and to date, three laboratory modules have been developed. The three variations include: designing a lamp from musical instruments, designing the housing for a low power computer, and designing a solar powered wind chime. The students are tasked to design and build the products within a three week time period. The major components for each product are supplied with budgets in the range of $25-50 per group for additional items. Assessment results show that the majority of students enjoy several aspects of the "creative" laboratory. At the same time, they consider it to be one of the most difficult laboratories.