2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Cultivating Innovators—Unveiling the Hidden Potential of "Innovation Through Making" in Engineering Education

Presented at Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation Division Technical Session 2

Many recent studies in Engineering Education underscores the necessity for engineers who can not only innovate amidst challenges but also transcend technical mastery to embrace essential skills in critical thinking, complex problem-solving, and articulate communication [1-4]. These competencies, coupled with the ability to generate real-world value, are pivotal in sculpting the next generation of engineers [5].

A predominant hurdle in preparing engineers for this dynamic future is the prevalent risk-averse educational paradigm, significantly influenced by students' apprehension of failure [6]. This fear often confines them within their academic silos, preventing the exploration of interdisciplinary realms and hindering departure from their technological comfort zones during their educational journey. In response, we introduced "Innovation Through Making," a multidisciplinary, project-based course designed to encourage quick learning, resilience, and the development of durable, adaptable skills. This course integrates Innovation and Entrepreneurship into the Engineering Sciences curriculum, providing students with practical experience in digital fabrication and engineering design. Through iterative design and prototyping, students tackle environmental or societal issues, using human-centered design and value creation principles.

This paper builds upon a previous work-in-progress report and offers a comprehensive analysis of the course's impact on students' engineering and entrepreneurial skill development. We present our findings through both quantitative measures and qualitative feedback, including student learning gains assessed via a tailored SALG instrument [7]. The paper also outlines our approach to creating a supportive, interdisciplinary learning environment that encourages collaborative innovation.

Authors

Mitra Varun Anand http://orcid.org/0009-0000-3081-6367 Worcester Polytechnic Institute [biography]

Mitra Anand serves as the Associate Director of Makerspace, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in addition to being an Adjunct Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Anand's research interests lie in combining hands-on Maker skills with an entrepreneurial mindset and value creation, aiming to develop practical solutions for real-world problems. He is enthusiastic about innovation in engineering education, design thinking, prototyping, program development, crafting interactive curricula, and bringing ideas to fruition.

With over 8 years of experience in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Anand possesses a solid background in Innovation and Entrepreneurship education, Additive Manufacturing, and Digital Fabrication technologies. His academic credentials include an M.S. in Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering from New York University and a B.E in Mechanical Engineering from Anna University.
Dr. Curtis Abel http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4061-5467 Worcester Polytechnic Institute [biography]

Curtis Abel, PhD, MBA is the Executive Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (I&E) at WPI. He is responsible for the I&E eco-system, Value Creation Initiative, Maker Space & Rapid Prototyping Lab, and Massachusetts Digital Games Institute. He joined WPI in 2015 as a Professor of Practice through the support of the Kern Family Foundation to create a vibrant entrepreneurial mindset culture on campus with both faculty & students. Prior to WPI, Curtis has 20+ years of experience in leadership positions at large corporations, including American Express, MasterCard, United Retail, and Bethlehem Steel. He’s held full “Profit and Loss” responsibility for several multi-million-dollar businesses, generating double-digit annual growth for each. He also held positions in new business development, marketing, strategic alliances, and R&D implementing new technology into manufacturing facilities. Curtis holds a Ph.D., ME and BS from Carnegie Mellon University in Materials Science & Engineering and Chemical Engineering, respectively, and an MBA from Cornell University. He also held international Postdoctoral Fellowships at Cambridge University and Technische Universität Wien.
Prof. Ahmet Can Sabuncu http://orcid.org/https://0000-0001-7905-421X Worcester Polytechnic Institute [biography]

Dr. Sabuncu holds a Ph. D. in Aerospace Engineering from Old Dominion University. Dr. Sabuncu's professional interests spans from engineering education research, history of science and engineering, thermo-fluids engineering, and microfluidic technology.

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