USING MASTERY LEARNING TO TEACH THE ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS

Capstone design courses are often used to teach the engineering design process. Typically, students have one opportunity to experience the design process before graduating as qualified engineers. The Design Trilogy is a capstone design “course” consisting of three stand-alone courses completed in consecutive years. In Design Trilogy I, students find a conceptual solution to a problem provided by an industry client. In Design Trilogy II, students are expected to reach the analysis stage while working on a new industry problem. Finally, Design Trilogy III students are expected to produce a detailed design, including a cost analysis and prototype (if possible), for a third industry problem. Thus, students have a better opportunity to master the engineering design process because they have three exposures to the early stages of the process.