scholarly journals Biomimetics as problem-solving, creativity and innovation tool in a first year engineering design and communication course

Author(s):  
M. J. Eggermont

Author(s):  
Marjan Eggermont

Engineering sketching, as taught in our first-year design course, exists somewhere between writing and formal drawing as a means of formulating ideas. In our third year of teaching engineering sketching assignments were given several additional components: the visualization of engineering concepts, sustainable product design and biomimetics. This was done for a number of reasons: Students were given the opportunity to integrate knowledge from other first year engineering courses; Students were challenged to think spatially, socially and philosophically (but not always in that order); Students who were not necessarily strong artists felt they could make up for this in the ‘additional component’ category;  First year students seem to have a great interest in the study of structural biology as it applies to engineering design. Now in our fifth year, this paper discusses biomimetics, the abstraction of good design from nature, the transfer of technological ideas from nature to artificial applications, and the resulting student projects.



Author(s):  
Sean Maw ◽  
Janice Miller Young ◽  
Alexis Morris

Most Canadian engineering students take a computing course in their first year that introduces them to digital computation. The Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board does not specify the language(s) that can or should be used for instruction. As a result, a variety of languages are used across Canada. This study examines which languages are used in degree-granting institutions, currently and in the recent past. It also examines why institutions have chosen the languages that they currently use. In addition to the language used in instruction, the types and hours of instruction are also analyzed. Methods of instruction and evaluation are compared, as well as the pedagogical philosophies of the different programs with respect to introductory computing. Finally, a comparison of the expected value of this course to graduates is also presented. We found a more diverse landscape for introductory computing courses than anticipated, in most respects. The guiding ethos at most institutions is skill and knowledge development, especially around problem solving in an engineering context. The methods to achieve this are quite varied, and so are the languages employed in such courses. Most programs currently use C/C++, Matlab, VB and/or Python.





2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 422-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas J. Hefty

Applying mathematics during engineering design challenges can help children develop critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills.





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