Integrated 2D Design in the Curriculum: Effectiveness of Early Cross-Subject Engineering Challenges

Abstract

Multidisciplinary engineering design is difficult in the undergraduate years. It is particularly so in the early Freshman and Sophomore years, since the students have not enrolled in a breadth of subjects. Multidisciplinary problems are often left to latter years, thereby leaving the students with an incomplete picture of how course subject matters relate and fit in a larger view of engineering and design. A novel approach to multi-disciplinary engineering education was instituted in the Freshman and Sophomore years at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. During a particular term, all courses simultaneously attacked a common design problem. The courses stopped coursework for on..