A CDIO-ORIENTED TECHNOLOGY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT COURSE FOR ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING STUDENTS

This paper describes a one-semester course, given to third-year Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EE) students at Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art, since 2011. The course was developed in accordance with CDIO standards. This integrative course is delivered by two co-teachers, one from the EE Department and the other from the Industrial Design Department. Each year a different topic is chosen for the course. Throughout the course, students plan, research, design, develop, implement, and present a product prototype. The prototype must be a physical and functional model that effectively communicates the proposed idea. Students are expected to use the tools and experience gained during course sessions, including basic aspects of industrial design and prototyping. The course provides an opportunity to implement both theoretical and practical knowledge acquired through previous EE core courses along with elements of industrial design. In the course, students integrate interdisciplinary knowledge elements to conceive, design, implement, and operate real-world systems and products. Looking forward, this active learning experience forms a basis for carrying out challenging capstone projects, and for future successful integration into the engineering industry.