Introduction to Engineering. Course I: Challenges of Engineering. Course II: Engineering Projects.

This guide, which is designed to be used in a two-course sequence, is intended to prepare college-bound high school juniors and seniors for engineering and related courses at the college level. The guide was developed as part of an experimental competency-based curriculum that integrates the high-tech applications of mathematics and science concepts into pre-engineering activities. The following topics are covered in the first course: the engineering profession and related careers; engineering graphics, descriptive geometry, and measurement; contributions of engineering in history; fundamentals of problem solving; the science and properties of materials; methods of working with different materials to solve problems; communication of technical information; use of the design process to improve devices or systems; research methods and use of technical libraries and patent information; computers and problem solving. In the second course, the course objectives are related to students and society as a whole, the concept of the technological team is reviewed, and a formal seminar on an engineering case study is presented. A program description, descriptions of the two courses, task/competency analyses for each of the two courses, and a bibliography are included in the guide. Appendixes contain lists of related information and resources, suggestions for advisory committees, career and educational information, a list of engineering projects and case studies, formulas and charts for student reference, a glossary of engineering terms, a laboratory facilities and equipment list, instructional materials (transparency masters, student handouts, and sample group projects), and an explanation of evaluation techniques (tests and performance/problem-solving exams). (MN)