Using freshman design to introduce multiple EC2000 criteria

The Introduction to Engineering Course at University of Southern Maine is evolving into a creative introductory design and construction experience that provides students opportunities to acquire knowledge and practice needed skills, while fulfilling multiple EC2000 criteria. The design problem, "The AAA Challenge," challenges students to design and construct a wheeled vehicle that can move up an interior building ramp using only the power of a single AAA battery. The design project must include sufficient science, mathematics and design principles so that it is not simply a build-and-try effort. A challenge for the faculty is to provide sufficient background so that students can analyze and predict device performance with understanding of concepts. Pre- and post-course self-assessment of students\´ skills are collected.