Fostering Early-Stage Design Thinking: A Hands-On Design Exercise for Freshman Engineering Students

A strong understanding of the engineering design process (EDP) is essential for engineering students, as it provides a framework to develop and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills.In engineering, senior design courses focus on the use of the EDP to develop solutions to complex problems.However, students frequently overlook the importance of the early stages of the EDP, eager to jump directly into product implementation.This paper describes an EDP exercise implemented with freshman electrical and computer engineering students, aimed at emphasizing the value of the early stages of the EDP, as well as teamwork and communication skills.The primary objective was for students to collaborate in teams and apply the EDP to address a real-world problem.The exercise spanned two weeks: the first week focused on familiarizing students with EDP concepts, defining the problem and those affected by it, identifying constraints, analyzing the market, and proposing a solution.In the second week, students implemented their proposed solutions by building mock prototypes, using craft materials, and presenting their results.As a result, students engaged deeply with the design process, concentrating on the early stages and bringing their solution to "life" through the construction of mock prototypes.This paper includes objectives, required tools, instructions, a timeline of the design process, and sample student work.Student reflections collected using a "classroom critical incident questionnaire" revealed high levels of engagement throughout the exercise, from problem identification to prototype presentation.