1. Designing for the Next Generation of Engineers
Allison Godwin
Assistant Professor
Engineering Education
Purdue University
Keywords: first-year engineering, design, community outreach, educating at scale

2. Learning Objectives Related to Design
Why?
Project for First-year Engineering students to design and build exhibits that are engaging as well as educational for elementary and middle school students on STEM-related topics for a local science center, Imagination Station. This context does not require significant technical expertise, but provides a community-centered design opportunity.
Learning Objectives Related to Design
Hands-on design experience for a real client
Learning objectives are tied to the design cycle
Final deliverable includes written and oral communication

3. When? Project developed with a focus on upcycling
School was founded in 2004 by combining Freshman Engineering and the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies .while also including a new PhD in Engineering Education
First in the world FYE, first doctoral program
Research to practice cycle
When?
Project developed with a focus on upcycling
Final projects evaluated
Second round of project implementation in First-year Engineering
Fall 2015
Fall 2016
Data collected via survey and CATME tool to assess project
Debrief with Imagination Station director. Focus of project shifted to take-home activity and scale up exhibit
Timeline for the past two years of First-year Engineering (Fall 2015 and Fall 2016). This community-project has been implemented into the 2-credit studio style course. The design portion of the course is approximately 40% of the focus of this class. The first time it was implemented, the project focused on developing exhibits from upcycled materials. In the current form, based on feedback from the project direct, the focus is on teaching children ages 9-12 about space as a theme.

4. Where? 2 sections 120 students 30 teams of four
School was founded in 2004 by combining Freshman Engineering and the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies .while also including a new PhD in Engineering Education
First in the world FYE, first doctoral program
Research to practice cycle
Where?
This project is embedded into two concurrent sections of ENGR 131 (the first required engineering course of First-year Engineering) at Purdue University. Each semester 120 students in each section (240 total) are placed into teams of 4 for the entire semester to work on various projects. Students spend 9 classes (4.5 weeks in the semester) working on this project. Winning designs are built at Imagination Station through volunteer help.
2 sections
120 students
30 teams of four

5. School was founded in 2004 by combining Freshman Engineering and the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies .while also including a new PhD in Engineering Education
First in the world FYE, first doctoral program
Research to practice cycle
What?
Students navigate through seven design milestones to document their progress. During class, students receive real-time feedback on their work using rubrics I designed from the instructor and teaching assistants to ensure that students are on the right track and have guidance on what is and is not feasible in their design process. The project culminates in a Shark Tank-style pitch to the client presenting the features of the exhibit, evidence to support how it meets the design criteria, and a value proposition for the design to be included in the science center. The best projects are constructed in the science center and provide ways to improve both the student experience in ENGR 131 at Purdue as well as local elementary and middle school students who may learn about engineering for the first time at this science center.
Our offer is unique because it not only explains how trains work, a common interest of children, but how the way that trains work has evolved with scientific discoveries within mechanical engineering over time.

6. Prognosis? Impact Challenges Your Help
School was founded in 2004 by combining Freshman Engineering and the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies .while also including a new PhD in Engineering Education
First in the world FYE, first doctoral program
Research to practice cycle
Prognosis?
Impact
Five question survey on student interest and engagement with an open-ended reflection prompt on their interest in the class each day to track which activities are engaging for students and which activities could be improved - systematic reduction of design concepts using weighted benchmarking and gathering evidence for the quality of the final design
Comprehensive Assessment of Team Member Effectiveness tool to understand how well the team is functioning throughout this process and intervene in teams with conflict early on in the project
Challenges
Your Help
Giving real-time feedback to 120 students
Providing authentic as well as safe prototyping
Imagination Station director is looking for students to “think bigger” in design.
Time burden for instructor and director is high
Finding children to test prototypes
How do you do educational innovation “at scale?”
Are there tools to improve feedback mechanisms?
How can I make problematic activities from data collected more engaging and of high quality?