Title :
Engineers invent and innovate
Author :
Carlson, Lawrence E. ; Sullivan, Jacquelyn F.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Colorado Univ., Boulder, CO, USA
Abstract :
First-year students at CU gain a hands-on introduction to engineering through a design and build projects course. In fall 1998, a course with an emphasis on entrepreneurship was piloted to provide advanced and transfer students with similar hands-on opportunities. This paper summarizes course components and lessons learned, and describes some of the products invented. Students design and build an invention of their choice, and explore entrepreneurial topics including profitability, marketing, raising venture capital, angel investors and patenting. Creating mini-business plans forces teams to estimate the manufacturing cost of their product and forecast potential sales revenues. A two-week introductory design project provides an early opportunity for creativity, as well as insight into individual strengths and weaknesses in a team environment. Assessment results are presented as learned from student focus group interviews and pre- and post-course innovation skills assessment surveys. In spring 2000, two student teams received funding from NCIIA to continue development of their products
Keywords :
educational courses; engineering education; teaching; business plans; educational course; engineering design; engineering education; first-year engineering students; innovation; manufacturing cost; product design; teaching; team environment; Costs; Design engineering; Economic forecasting; Innovation management; Manufacturing; Marketing and sales; Profitability; Springs; Technological innovation; Venture capital;
Conference_Titel :
Frontiers in Education Conference, 2000. FIE 2000. 30th Annual
Conference_Location :
Kansas City, MO
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-6424-4
DOI :
10.1109/FIE.2000.896562