Difficulties of Evolution from Imitation to Creativity in Engineering Education

This paper presents a study regarding an attempt at developing electrical and electronic engineering students' creativity through elective homework (non-mandatory assignments) and thematic contests. The small number of students participating in these activities showed the difficulties of transition from imitation-based learning to creativity-based learning. In order to evaluate the causes of these difficulties, an adequate questionnaire has been devised. The questionnaire was filled out by 110 students both at the beginning as well as after completing some of the authors' taught courses. The questionnaires were intended mainly to measure motivation, attitude towards taught courses and the organized extracurricular activities. The study allowed a hierarchization of the first 5 reasons invoked by the students who completed their assignment as well as the same number of reasons stated by those who didn't. The students' responses have ascertained that their attitude towards creativity arises from earlier educational experience and should be encouraged during childhood, otherwise only a few would be willing to perform additional activities and to show openness towards innovative tasks. Several possible curricular upgrades were identified, aiming at a gradual increase of creativity and better student motivation.