The One-Hour Design of Experiments Course

Abstract

As teachers, the authors are eager to confirm that what they teach is correct and that their topics are both fun and worth studying further. How they make their propositions attractive is, of course, context dependent. This article describes how a one-hour introductory course in design of experiments (DOE) can be used to attract high school students to study science and engineering in general and quality management in particular. The course is based on a 22 factorial design inspired by the Pepsi Challenge and is evaluated in the light of the “Seven Good Principles to Achieve Good Learning.” Results of the course show that it is possible to teach DOE to students in high school and at the same time provide a fun experience. Many of the statistical concepts appear to have been grasped up to the level of comprehension of effects and statistical significant effects compared to random error effects.