Integrating creative design experiences and ethics into materials science

Abstract

Western Washington University (USA) has integrated creative design experiences into the freshman and senior level experiences for three years. The next step in integrating design throughout the curriculum is focused at the sophomore and junior levels. This paper begins with an overview of the design integration process and then describes the specific new creative design projects in the sophomore level materials science course. Introductory materials science courses prove challenging for students because of the large variety of subjects that must be explored and because it is often the first course in which students synthesize knowledge gained in basic science courses to formulate solutions. Integrating creative design experiences into the laboratories help students connect these abstract concepts with the real world design choices engineers make when choosing materials for specific applications. The ethical considerations in making engineering design choices can be integrated into lectures and laboratories if both are taught from a design perspective.