Design principle reinforcement using the "just build it" method

The "just build it" process is the method of choice for many freshmen engineering students when confronted with their first design project posing a barrier to learning a systematic approach to engineering design. Even when provided sufficient time and resources to methodically develop a design, students will typically procrastinate and "just build it" creating the requisite documentation to justify their designs after the fact. Rather than profess the limitations of the "build-document" process, it is proposed that this method be embraced as an active learning activity and integrated into a competitive, freshman, group-based design project. This integration should allow the students to discover the merits of applying a design methodology while simultaneously satisfying their craving to "just build it." This approach to freshman design is being tested in the Mechanical Engineering I course offered at The University of Texas at Tyler during the Spring 2002 semester. This "work-in-progress" paper presents an overview of the proposed project and preliminary data on the viability of using an impromptu competitive design exercise to reinforce learning the principles of a systematic design methodology.