The Rube Goldberg Three Minute Timer: A Design Based Learning Tool For Engineering Freshman

Rube Goldberg: a man whose name has become synonymous with using convoluted, complicated machines to perform simple tasks. Engineer: among other things, one who designs machines and systems to make difficult, complicated tasks simple. Although the goal of Rube Goldberg’s machines and the goal of the engineer’s machines may seem quite at odds, the two fit quite well together as a design project in an introduction to engineering class. In fact, freshman engineering students at Youngstown State University are given their first exposure to the design process via a four-week Rube Goldberg project. The project requires the students to design a machine, Rube Goldberg style, which will time three minutes as close as possible without going over. The original intent of this Rube Goldberg machine was to time the hard-boiling of an egg.