2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

WIP: Arduino-Based PBL to Foster Entrepreneurial Mindset

Presented at FPD: WIP Papers - Engaging FYE Students Through Active and Project-Based Learning

This work-in-progress paper examines a semester-long project-based learning initiative begun in an introductory engineering course during the Fall 2025 semester. The project aims to enhance students' hands-on experience by integrating information literacy, the engineering design process (EDP), and an entrepreneurial mindset (EM) [1]. The objective is to boost student confidence in teamwork, technical problem-solving, and application of skills, preparing them for future courses in their discipline. Students in this introduction to engineering course received an Arduino Uno R3 Controller board kit and additional sensors. They were tasked to develop a device addressing engineering in the medicine challenge of their choosing. Teams are formed using Gruepr [2] software, and subsequently a team policy agreement was created with members of each group. Research questions were formulated by each team that were geared toward exploring topics related to engineering in medicine. These research questions were evaluated using literature to identify gaps and to assess the relevance of their research topic to real-world issues. This educational intervention led students to further improve their research skills, in the first half of the project, and in the second half, they further explored their making skills through the use of a makerspace to construct a prototype. They were simultaneously introduced to Arduino hardware and software through tutorials and online resources. The course culminates in technical reports and presentations demonstrating their application of the EDP and EM. This paper evaluates the feasibility and design of this course, with future plans to conduct a formal human subject's study, pending IRB approval, to assess student self-efficacy through survey responses.

Authors

Dr. Nathan Q. Holland http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2526-200X Old Dominion University [biography]

Nathan Q. Holland holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology, followed by a Master of Engineering in Acoustics from Pennsylvania State University, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Old Dominion University. With nearly a decade of experience, Dr. Holland has been an Adjunct Faculty member, Program Director, and Teaching Assistant Professor at prominent institutions, including American University, Hampton University, and Old Dominion University. He brings a wealth of experience to his current role in the Engineering Fundamentals Division at the Batten College of Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University. His dedication to engineering education continues to impact students and the academic community.
Dr. Vukica M. Jovanovic http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8626-903X Old Dominion University [biography]

Dr. Vukica Jovanovic is Chair of the Department of Engineering Technology and a Full Professor of Engineering Technology. She earned her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University, with research focused on digital manufacturing, and also holds a Magister degree in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management with specialization in production systems design, as well as a Diplom-Ingenieur (Dipl.-Ing.) degree in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management emphasizing mechatronics, robotics, and automation. Her professional background includes aerospace industry experience as an Industrial Engineer involved in the manufacturing of aircraft wings and nacelles for Embraer ERJ-145 and ERJ-147 commercial aircraft at Gamesa Aeronáutica in Vitoria/Bilbao, Spain. Prior to her university studies, she completed technical training as a master electrician, with apprenticeships in the power industry and an aluminum mill. Her early career also included work in her family’s manufacturing company, which specialized in sheet metal forming machinery and metalworking services. She later joined the faculty at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia, where she began her academic career.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 24, 2026

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