The Web-Based Learning Environment for Creative Design Course

1. The Web-Based Learning Environment for Creative Design Course S. S. Hsiau, J. C. Wu, T. L. Yeh and S. J. Tsai Department of Mechanical Engineering National Central University Chung-Li, Taiwan 32054, R.O.C. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

2. Technological Creativity • The importance of the technological creativity. • Creativity cognition can be trained and learned. • An interdisciplinary research team in NCU developed to cultivate the technological creativity in engineering students: - A set of learning modules. - A web-based learning environment. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

3. Objectives • Introducing creativity skills. • Encourage students to think in depth and bring in the connotation of technological innovation. • Develop students' self-confidence in implementing their creative ideas. • Through the functions of computer and network, establish a collection of integrative courseware to empower the students with creative design capabilities. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

4. Structure 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

5. Creative Activity Bulletin Board • The main interface for all creative activities. • Discussing creative design project ideas among students and teachers in multimedia fashion on Web-BBS. • Announcing hot messages and team project status on the big board to inspire intra-team supports and a sense of accomplishments. • Two-way FTP function for communicating ideas via the computer network. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

6. Hot message announcement Managers Titles Project status • Help wanted • Resource acquiring • Demo to come 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

7. Creativity Supporting Tools • MindManager as a PC-Web software in Chinese. • Sorting and categorization of creative ideas. • Orientation of creative brain storming. • Supporting tools for creative problem solving process. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

8. MindManager 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

9. Engineering Courseware of Domain Knowledge • The creative activity cannot be successful without domain knowledge at its foundation. • Working on their design projects, students need to integrate their previously learned knowledge while acquiring the new. • Knowledge delivery just-in-time through full text web search. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

10. Integrated Courses • The Machine Design Courses • The Electric Circuits and Electronics with Laboratory • The Innovative Application of Engineering Software • The Creative Mechanical Design 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

11. The Machine Design Courses • An integrative course on the basic knowledge of machine parts, mechanism, design process, engineering analysis and engineering synthesis. • Lecture notes, reference materials and quizzes provided on the web. • Data-base of the utilities of physical effects, design tools and design examples provided on the web. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

12. The Electric Circuits and Electronics with Laboratory • Establish mechatronic design and implementation capability in ME students. • Fundamental, integrative and application oriented. • Contain pop quizzes, which require trials, on-site observations, comparisons and self-examinations. • Action research on teaching performance and learning difficulties. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

13. The Innovative Application of Engineering Software • Integrate fundamental engineering software into the project design. • Apply CPS process in the class: target → search → check → action, enhancing the creative thinking and problem-solving skills early in the freshman year. • Construct a multimedia learning environment to enhance the teaching and learning effectiveness. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

14. The Creative Mechanical Design - 1 : Purposes • Inspiring creativity. • Provide students with an industrial working environment. - cooperative learning. • Training students to solve open-ended industrial problems. - project-based learning. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

15. The Creative Mechanical Design - 2 : 1st semester - A • The introduction and incubation of creativity. • The process of creative-problem-solving (CPS). • The creativity techniques. • The engineering design process. • The methodology in engineering invention. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

16. The Creative Mechanical Design - 3 : 1st semester - B The creativity contests: • Parachute contest • Conquering the water (ship design) • Vehicle with rubber bands as power. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

17. The Creative Mechanical Design - 4 : Design Project • Topic selection. • Necessity assessment. • Information gathering. • Proposal generation. • Product drafting, design, and layout. • Product pilot-testing. • Product fine-tuning. • Report and presentation. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

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19. The Creative Mechanical Design - 5 : WWW • Establish excellent on-line cooperative learning environment, to encourage students to discuss their ideas creatively. • Complete multimedia lecture notes with discussions and exercises in and after class. • The procedures of the creative project design. • The video records and reports of students’ creativity contests. • The video records and reports of students’ final design projects. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

20. Search Engine • Students may encounter many difficulties throughout their design projects - lack of initial stimulation - lack of know-how knowledge • Stimulating ideas and domain knowledge exist in the on-line courseware and in the discussion contents in the creativity activity board. • Students can retrieve relevant information easily using appropriate key words. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

21. Future Works • Further development of creative supporting tools. • The web activity recording and analysis facilities to evaluate individual student's creative problem solving process. • The implementation of network classroom. • Further expansion of courseware contents on domain knowledge. 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education

22. Let’s Show! http://lisant.src.ncu.edu.tw/cedesign/ migrating to a linux based version http://creative.me.ncu.edu.tw/ 2000 International Conference on Engineering Education