Engineering Sciences 21

Introduction to Engineering

Overview

The student is introduced to engineering through participation, as a member of a team, in a complete design project. The synthesis of many fields involving the laws of nature, mathematics, economics, management, and communication is required in the project. Engineering principles of analysis, experimentation, and design are applied to a real problem, from initial concept to final recommendations. The project results are evaluated in terms of technical and economic feasibility and social significance. Lectures are directed toward the problem, and experiments are designed by students as the need develops. Enrollment is limited to 64 students.

Prerequisite: MATHEMATICS 3 or permission of the instructor.

Distributive: TAS

Instructor

William Lotko
Office:	Room 217b, Cummings Hall
Telephone:	646-3485
E-mail:	wlotko@dartmouth.edu
Office Hours:	Open, anytime or by appointment

Classes

MWF at 11:15-12:20, plus Tuesday (X-hour) from 12:00-12:50. The x-hour will be used for regular meetings during the first half of the course. The course also entails group presentations of 4 project milestones - some of your presentations will need to be scheduled outside the normal class time.

Textbook

This course does not use a textbook, but some useful reference books are listed at the end of this page.

Evaluation

ENGS 21 does not have homework assignments or examinations in the usual sense. Your grade will be based on the performance of your project team, as evidenced by four written reports and three oral presentations (white paper, project proposal, progress report, and final report) and the design and development of a prototype of a novel device, system, or process, which addresses a demonstrated need consistent with the course theme. Additional information about the milestones and the course objectives can be found in the circular "ENGS 21: Objectives and Expectations".

Support & Resources

As described in the circular, "ENGS 21: Project Support Services", you will have access to the multitude of technical and administrative support services and facilities available at the Thayer School, plus a $500 discretionary budget to complete the project. Your team will also be assigned an experienced teaching assistant, who will help keep the team on track and who understands the ENGS 21 project experience.

Blackboard

More information about this course, including guidelines and rubrics for evaluation of the four project milestones, handouts, and links to useful information, is available at the ENGS 21 Blackboard site. You can login to Blackboard using your DND username and password. If you have registered for ENGS 21, you will see a link in your "My Courses" list.

References

	de Bono, "Lateral Thinking", 1973	the quintessential guide to effective brainstorming.
	Adams, "Conceptual Blockbusting", 4th ed., 2001	how to transcend limiting thought patterns.
	Gold, "The Plenitude" Creativity, Innovation, and Making Stuff	from the seemingly contradictory but complementary perspectives of the artist, scientist, designer, and engineer. How can we in good conscience accept the pleasures of creating stuff that only creates the need for more stuff? "We should be careful to make the world we actually want to live in."
	Drucker, "Innovation and Entrepreneurship", 1999	the classic reference and gold standard for innovation and entrepreneurial strategies.
	Dominick et al., "Tools and Tactics of Design", 2000	all around excellent textbook on team-based engineering design.
	Finkelstein, "Pocket Book of Technical Writing", 2nd ed., 2005	useful guide to the art and form of technical writing.
	Maxwell, "The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player", 2002	how to be a better team player.
	Maxwell, "The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader", 1999	a practical guide to leadership.
	Pernick & Wilder, "The Clean Tech Revolution: The Next Big Growth and Investment Opportunity", 2007	"should be required required reading for every responsible citizen of this planet"
	Okala Ecological Design, "Course Guide", 2007	a course guide to sustainable design. Click here for a pdf preview.
	McDonough & Braungart, "Cradle to Cradle", 2002	"a manifesto calling for the transformation of human industry through ecologically intelligent design"