2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Work in Progress: Igniting Engineering Fundamentals—A Holistic Approach to First-Year Engineering with Entrepreneurial-Minded Learning and a Project-Based Exploration of Mars

Presented at First-Year Programs Division WIPS 1: Projects, Teams, and Portfolios

This paper describes the work in progress of the ongoing development of a revamped first-year seminar, "Engineering Fundamentals," with a deliberate emphasis on integrating entrepreneurial-minded learning. The aim is to enhance the course's effectiveness and relevance by incorporating the principles of the 3Cs—Curiosity, Connections, and Creating Value. The course transformation focuses on practical elements, including innovative activities, a dynamic course structure, and an ambitious "Living on Mars" project.

The course, divided into eight sections and led by a collaborative team of six instructors and six teaching assistants, covers fundamental engineering concepts: Estimation in Engineering, Professional Responsibility, and Algorithmic Thinking. The course begins with a unique six-week rotation of “Major Days”, exposing students to the six engineering majors offered in the School of Science and Engineering at Saint Louis University, offering tailored experiential learning activities. For example: in the Mechanical Engineering Major Day, students prototype Airborne Wind Energy Systems, emphasizing the importance of the iterative nature of process design in engineering.

The pinnacle of the course is the six-week "Living on Mars" project, challenging students to address real-world problems across six modules. Three preparatory assignments guide students in module selection, library research, and understanding Mars conditions. The project undergoes evaluation through the Engineering Student Entrepreneurial Mindset Assessment (ESEMA) survey, administered at the project's initiation and conclusion, contributing to the broader objectives of deepening understanding, fostering collaboration, and promoting entrepreneurial-minded thinking.

This paper provides a study assessing the impact of practical applications, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative problem-solving skills within the context of the Engineering Fundamentals course. Aligned with the ASEE theme of transformative pedagogy, the work aims to offer insights into the effectiveness of these changes, highlighting a holistic and immersive educational experience for first-year engineering students.

This effort is based on the entrepreneurial mindset framework developed by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN).

Authors

Dr. Danahe Marmolejo http://orcid.org/0009-0008-5365-9366 Saint Louis University [biography]

Dr. Dana Marmolejo has been an assistant professor of practice in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department at the School of Science and Engineering since 2022. With a background in Chemical Engineering, her expertise lies in Thermodynamics and Process Systems Engineering.
Dr. Marmolejo's primary focus is teaching engineering courses, mostly for first- and second-year students. At SLU, she teaches courses such as Engineering Fundamentals, Statics, Dynamics, Thermodynamics, and Heat Transfer. She has also taught other subjects, including Fluid Dynamics, University Physics, Introduction to Chemistry, and Process Design, at different institutions of higher education in the past.
Originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, Dr. Marmolejo obtained her Undergraduate Degree from the University of Guanajuato before pursuing her Graduate Degree at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway.
Currently, her research interests revolve around enhancing engineering education and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in learning environments.
Dr. Chris Carroll P.E. http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9250-8503 Saint Louis University [biography]

Dr. Carroll is an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering at Saint Louis University. His experimental research interests focus on reinforced and prestressed concrete, while his educational research interests focus primarily on the use of experiential learning techniques.
Dr. Michael A. Swartwout Saint Louis University [biography]

Dr. Swartwout is director of the Space Systems Research Laboratory. His research and teaching interests focus on systems engineering, design and CubeSat mission assurance.
Dr. Kyle Mitchell Saint Louis University
Raymond LeBeau Saint Louis University
Dr. Gary Bledsoe Saint Louis University
Susheel Singh Saint Louis University
Dr. Huliyar S. Mallikarjuna Saint Louis University [biography]

H. S. Mallikarjuna is presently an the Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Parks College of Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Mo. He obtained his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering with distinction in 1980 from Ba
Dr. Scott A. Sell http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-6785-3193 Saint Louis University [biography]

Scott A. Sell, Ph.D. is currently a Professor in Biomedical Engineering and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the School of Science and Engineering at Saint Louis University. Prior to joining SLU in August of 2012, Dr. Sell received his

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