Using Prototyping Workshops to develop a broad skill set in our students – Software, Electronics, and Mechanical Tools and Training for First-Year Engineering Students

This application is to support the development of a series of two-hour Prototyping Workshops in electronics, software, and mechanical prototyping. The intent of these workshops is to give students experience in prototyping, physical problem-solving, and instrumentation earlier in their academic programs, developing greater student interest in developing skills necessary for inventive prototyping, and to develop greater engagement in a core first-year engineering course. Selection of tools and resources for the workshops will be focused on those which students can access after the workshops are completed (free or open-source software, low-cost hardware easily available from online vendors), allowing students to develop skills on their own. Initial TLEF funding will provide resources for two two-hour workshops for all 700+ first-year Engineering Students through APSC 150. Initially these modules will be integrated with one of the four existing modules for the course, with the potential to tie into all four modules with future workshop topics.

Jonathan Nakane, Engineering Physics, Faculty of Applied Science
Noboru Yonemitsu, Civil Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Bernhard Zender, Engineering Physics, Faculty of Applied Science