Targeted Infusion Project: Integrating Innovation in Engineering Design

历史黑人学院和大学本科项目(HBCU-UP)通过有针对性的灌输项目，支持基于证据的创新模式和方法的开发、实施和研究，以改善HBCU本科生的准备和成功，使他们能够攻读STEM研究生课程和/或职业。霍华德大学将实施一个名为：在工程设计中整合创新的有针对性的灌输项目。该项目的目标是通过将创新融入本科工程课程来加强工程教育。这是通过在工程学入门课程中加入设计思维，并通过建立一个学生积极参与创新的实验室空间来实现的。课程将从刺激性的教学模式转变为真实的学习体验。使用设计思维转向真实的参与体验，是为了缓解当前的自然减员趋势。项目努力将提高本科生工程经验的质量，促进积极的保留和成就结果，并扩大创新工程师在国家工作中的参与。创新工程设计场所专注于围绕创造力的认知过程和优化学生参与的环境背景。重新设计工科课程，将设计、构思、原型、测试的设计思维框架融入其中，并建立一个创新空间，让学生通过设计项目积极参与创新。区别于传统工程设计概念的设计思维的基本组成部分是跨学科协作、想象力和质疑。创新空间将是开放和灵活的，以促进小组工作、课堂教学以及礼堂式的演讲和研讨会，这些演讲和研讨会可以在全球范围内进行网络直播或进入。该项目的目标将通过聘请教师、行业和大学合作伙伴作为新创建的创新空间中的导师和研讨会的促进者来实现。该项目旨在让霍华德大学的所有工程学学生具备成为创新工程师所需的技能和机会，他们中的大多数人来自工程学严重不足的群体。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue STEM graduate programs and/or careers. Howard University will implement a Targeted Infusion Project entitled: Integrating Innovation in Engineering Design. The goal of the project is to strengthen engineering education by integrating innovation into the undergraduate engineering curriculum. This is accomplished by including design thinking in the introductory engineering course and through the establishment of a laboratory space where students will actively engage in innovation. The course will move from a stimulation model of instruction to authentic involvement in the learning experience. The shift to authentic involvement experiences, using design thinking, is an attempt to mitigate current attrition trends. Project efforts will enhance the quality of the undergraduate engineering experience, promote positive retention and achievement results, and broaden the participation of innovative engineers in the nation's workforce.Innovative engineering design places focus on the cognitive processes surrounding creativity and the environmental contexts that optimize student engagement. Redesign of the engineering course curriculum will incorporate a design thinking framework of designing, ideating, prototyping, and testing; as well as the establishment of an innovation space in which students can actively engage in innovation through design projects. Fundamental components of design thinking that distinguish it from conventional engineering design concepts are interdisciplinary collaboration, imagination, and questioning. The innovation space will be open and flexible so as to facilitate small group work, classroom-style instruction, and auditorium-style presentations and seminars that can be webcast out or in from global locations. The project's objectives will be accomplished by engaging faculty, industry, and university partners as mentors and as facilitators of workshops in the newly-created innovation space. This project seeks to equip all engineering students at Howard University, most of whom are from groups severely underrepresented in engineering, with the skills and opportunities needed to become innovative engineers.