Fostering Creativity and Innovation in Engineering Students

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Title:

Fostering Creativity and Innovation in Engineering Students PDF

Url:

https://www.academia.edu/4268758/Fostering_Creativity_and_Innovation_i...

Creator:

Shaw, David T.
Yu, Chang Y.

Publisher:

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Description: In a recent article in Harvard Business Review, it's argued that a country's economic compositeness is tied directly to its ability to mobilize and harness the creative energies of its people. Although America may be the land of opportunity in the 20th century, it's on the verge of losing the competitive edge in the 21st century because, in the post 9/11 era, it is confronting the possibility of a reverse brain drain i.e., the country may be losing out a host of foreign-borne creative and innovative professionals.

Among the strategies suggested to negate and rebuild the creative infrastructure, invest generously in education to tap into future professionals creative capacities is view as one of the top priority items for the higher education community. Nanotechnology and microelectromechanical systems, two courses used in teaching creativity, are excellent subjects for students to learn about the processing and fabrication of new structures at molecular/nano/micron levels and the creation of new materials and devices with fundamentally different structures and properties. The courses offer opportunities for students to exploit the physical, chemical and biological properties by gaining control of structures and devices at atomic/molecular, and nano/micron levels and to learn engineering applications of these devices. Both classes identify such application areas as information/communication electronic, optical and biological systems, medical and environmental applications, etc. Special attention is placed on the potential commercial developments and their marketing strategies.

Before the students embark on their class projects which emphasize innovative ideas, they learn about the importance of creativity in the knowledge-based economy using case study materials form the Harvard Business School. Extensive literatures on creativity and entrepreneurship are posted in the Blackboard-based course-website as references. A multi-faceted view of creative developments is presented to students. Factors generally accepted as essential to creativity are discussed in a brainstorming session. A creative problem-based learning cycle that influence intrinsic motivation for creativity dreamer, realist, critic -- is used to challenge students to integrate creative concepts into their class projects.

Presented at the 2006 International Mechanical Engineering Education Conference, Beijing, China, March 31-April 4, 2007.e

LC Classification:

Education -- Theory and practice of education -- Teaching (Principles and practice) -- Instructional systems -- Instructional systems design
Technology -- Manufactures -- Production management. Operations management -- Manufacturing engineering. Process engineering -- General works
Technology -- Mechanical engineering and machinery
Technology -- Technology (General) -- Nanotechnology

GEM Subject:

Science -- Engineering
Vocational Education -- Trade and industrial

Key Concept:

Mechanical engineering
Manufacturing -- Nanofabrication

Resource Type:

Reference Material
Instructional Material
Instructional Material -- Instructor Guide/Manual

Format:

Document -- PDF

Audience:

Educator
Learner

Education Level:

High School
Higher Education
Higher Education -- Undergraduate (Lower Division)
Higher Education -- Undergraduate (Upper Division)
Higher Education -- Technical Education (Upper Division)
Higher Education -- Technical Education (Lower Division)
Vocational/Professional Development Education

Language:

English

Access Rights:

Free access

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Source Type:

ATE Center

Source:

National Center for Manufacturing Education

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