As a result of recent curriculum revisions, the mechanical engineering faculty at the United States Military Academy teaches the formal design process “just in time” for students to apply the process to their capstone design projects. The design process consists of several phases and incorporates many engineering tools. During the initial offering of the course, Mechanical Engineering Design, instructors assigned students to capstone design teams early in the course. As the instructor taught the design process, team members applied the concepts to their capstone project. Based on instructors’ and students’ feedback, faculty revised the course structure to teach the design process in the context of a simple, in-class design project (design a portable illumination device) during the first half-semester. All in-class exercises were collaborative, hands-on experiences based on the project. To reinforce topics introduced in class and ensure all students develop a firm foundation in the design process, a separate common customer need (a device to store a West Point class ring) was the focus of all individual homework. Each student developed a design, built a prototype, and wrote an individual design report. Subsequent to formal design process instruction, students formed capstone teams and began their one and one-half semester capstone design projects. Results indicate that students more thoroughly understood the design process and its associated engineering tools allowing capstone teams to progress more efficiently through conceptual design; order parts, build prototypes, and test prototypes much earlier than the previous year; and enjoy a successful capstone experience.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2008 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
October 31–November 6, 2008
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- ASME
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4870-8
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Teaching Design in Context
Daisie Boettner,
Daisie Boettner
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Lynn K. Byers,
Lynn K. Byers
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Bobby G. Crawford,
Bobby G. Crawford
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Gunnar Tamm,
Gunnar Tamm
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
John Rogers,
John Rogers
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Tony Jones,
Tony Jones
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Michael Rounds
Michael Rounds
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Daisie Boettner
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Lynn K. Byers
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Bobby G. Crawford
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Gunnar Tamm
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
John Rogers
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Tony Jones
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Michael Rounds
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Paper No:
IMECE2008-69214, pp. 89-96; 8 pages
Published Online:
August 26, 2009
Citation
Boettner, D, Byers, LK, Crawford, BG, Tamm, G, Rogers, J, Jones, T, & Rounds, M. "Teaching Design in Context." Proceedings of the ASME 2008 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 9: Engineering Education and Professional Development. Boston, Massachusetts, USA. October 31–November 6, 2008. pp. 89-96. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2008-69214
Download citation file:
7
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
Articulating a Learning Objective
J. Mech. Des (July,2007)
First Author
J. Mech. Des (July,2009)
Design Integrated in the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum: Assessment of the Engineering Clinics
J. Mech. Des (July,2007)
Related Chapters
The Cluster Analysis on the Type of Experimental Courses by SPSS
International Conference on Electronics, Information and Communication Engineering (EICE 2012)
Digital Human in Engineering and Bioengineering Applications
Advances in Computers and Information in Engineering Research, Volume 1
Cultivation Path of Clothing Pattern Maker with Digital Technology
International Symposium on Information Engineering and Electronic Commerce, 3rd (IEEC 2011)