DEVELOPMENT OF ENGINEERING LABORATORY PROJECTS FOR GENERAL EDUCATION ENGINEERING COURSES

A group of laboratory projects is being developed for use in either general education engineering courses to improve technological literacy or in introduction to engineering courses. The projects each focus on the construction of a working technological device that each student takes home upon completion. Projects include building and testing devices such as an LED light, an electric motor, a working speaker, a simple radio, a transistor amplifier, and a photovoltaic battery charger. The projects were developed specifically for use in the two-year college environment. The projects use basic component parts that are easy to obtain. The target average cost is five to ten dollars each. No special tools are required for construction and the projects can be conducted in virtually any room equipped with tables. The projects are robust and durable and provide an unmistakable indication of proper operation. The projects can be taught by a faculty member from any engineering discipline. All necessary supplies fit in a box which can be readily shipped. This allows colleges to borrow, rent, or lease rather than own the equipment. Laboratory procedures and questions can be modified to better suit the needs of either and introduction to engineering or a technological literacy course for non-engineers. Testing was based on subject matter content tests administered to the students before and after completing the projects. Students completing the projects show statistically significant increases in content knowledge related to the project topics. A method of assessments is also being explored that involves having each student design and construct his or her own simple version of some of the technological devices studied. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under award: DUE-0633277.