A practice-then-apply scaffolding approach to engineering design education

Engineering students in a project-based curriculum are expected to learn and apply the engineering design process to their course embedded projects. Practice of embedded skills typically occurs through embarking on a new project context provided by an instructor. It is a rare occurrence for students to participate in experiences that break-up the process into smaller chunks providing low-pressure instances to practice. The following work-in-progress describes a practice-then-apply scaffolding approach to teaching engineering design. The engineering design process was broken down into three phases: (1) discovery and ideation, (2) concept development and selection, and (3) realization and experimentation. Each phase was presented to students via a mini-project that inserted students into the design process at various stages of the design. The mini-projects afforded students with opportunities to practice and expand their understanding without always having to start at the beginning. A final project embedded throughout the course provided students with the opportunity to apply what they had learned in the mini-projects. This scaffolded approach methodically slowed the process providing a unique design learning experience with explicit design activities.