Educational Innovations in an Introductory Materials Course

As students’ pre-college experiences and approaches to learning change, finding effective new ways to deliver their instruction plays an increasingly important role in engineering technology education. The core question of how to best connect innovation in teaching with the creation of value in learning is a challenging one to all educators. The introductory materials course for the manufacturing and mechanical engineering technology degree programs at the campuses of Purdue University gives an overview of properties, processing, and applications of polymers, composites, and non-traditional materials commonly used in industry. Students develop problem solving skills through practice in the areas of materials selection, evaluation, measurement, testing and processing. Beginning in 2014, multiple innovations have been applied to this materials course at different campuses to address the needs of learners ranging from traditional full-time residential students coming directly from high school to mature, part-time commuter learners with careers. This paper presents the approaches taken to develop this course from existing learning objectives for delivery in two very different settings, to diverse learners in mechanical engineering technology. Learning outcomes resulting from lecture and laboratory innovations are considered.