Continuous Outcomes Assessment in an Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Course

Program outcomes are the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students should be able to demonstrate at the end of a degree program. ABET requires that accredited engineering departments must define a set of program outcomes, and then put into place a continuous process to assess the achievement of these outcomes by their students. This assessment can be performed both at the whole program level, as well as at the individual course level. Our group is responsible for the "Introduction to Mechanical Engineering" course in our department. Since Spring 2004, ME outcomes have been promoted in the course, and various classroom assignments and projects have been developed to address specific ME outcomes. Three times during the course (pre, mid, post) an outcomes assessment survey is completed by the students. At the end of the course the students submit a team design project report. This paper presents the class assignments and projects that address specific ME program outcomes. Results of this continuous outcomes assessment process are presented, showing the general trend of outcomes achievement in the course over several years