Instructor: Jana Milford, Mechanical Engineering

ECME 214, 492-5542

Jana.Milford@colorado.edu

TAs: Melissa Preble

Shannon Atencio

Office Hours: TBD

Meeting Times: Lectures: 10:00 - 10:50 PM F

Laboratories: 10:00 - 11:50 PM M W

The purpose of this course is to provide you an introduction to engineering through a series of projects done in interdisciplinary teams. You will learn in a hands-on way a series of valuable engineering skills including communication skills, how to function in teams, and a variety of computer tools as appropriate to your projects, such as spreadsheets, dynamic modeling software, or computer-aided design.

The course grade will be based on a combination of group work and individual accomplishment:

• The textbook for this course, "Introductory Engineering Design: A Projects-Based Approach," will be available for purchase beginning the second week of classes for $20, payable by personal check or cashiers check made out to The University of Colorado at Boulder. To purchase the book, stop by the ITLL administrative office (ITLL 1B40); it is not available at the bookstores.

• Students are expected to purchase their own blank lab notebook to use as a journal to record their class and project activities.

• In addition, each student will be expected to pay up to a total of $50 towards supplies and expenses for the projects.

The Foam Core Project is a fast-paced introduction to creativity, prototyping and testing in the design process.

Team Dynamics Exercises are fun, moderately physical activities and problem-solving games in which we work together to solve a variety of interesting challenges.

The Design Project for this section involves designing and building interactive educational exhibits for children's museums and middle school classrooms. A major focus of the course, the design project will give you experience in working with a client, and in all of the stages of design: problem specification, brainstorming solutions, critical evaluation of alternatives, engineering analysis, fabrication, testing and communication of your finished design.

A Design Expo will be held on Saturday, December 9th.

The Green Reverse Engineering Project provides you the opportunity to learn about how engineering products are designed and manufactured, by "dissecting" a product that you select. In addition, you will learn about the objectives of green design, including minimizing materials and energy use.

Guest Lectures throughout the course will be presented by faculty members from a sampling of engineering departments. They will describe to you a research and/or design project they are working on to give you a flavor of the various engineering disciplines.

Several workshops throughout the semester will introduce you to some of the hands-on skills you will need to work on your projects, such as CAD, basic electrical circuits and safety and use of tools.