Introduction To Engineering At The University Of Wyoming

The University of Wyoming, College of Engineering developed a one hour introduction to engineering course that integrates teamwork and problem solving into a design challenge. The course is required of all incoming freshmen. This paper explores the pedagogical impetus for the design challenge and explains how the program qualified for the larger Universities Study general education requirements for intellectual community and information literacy. The design challenge is now in its fifth year. It is one of the more popular aspects of the first semester freshman experience. It has evolved from a “fun activity” to an engineering design endeavor. The paper explores the history of the design challenge and how the challenges are developed. The philosophy of creative problem solving and development of skills associated with engineering design are discussed. There are over a dozen sections of the class and teams are made of students from all disciplines in the college plus non engineering majors. Therefore, students are introduced to multidisciplinary activities early in their career. Assessment activities that are used to judge the effectiveness of the program are presented and the role of undergraduate peer assistants is explained.