Peer Mentorship Model to Enhance Design Engineering Education

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents the design, implementation, and impact of a simultaneous curricular intervention in freshman and senior capstone design courses at an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering program. The two primary objectives of this intervention were to i. Enhance students' understanding of the design process, emphasizing the importance of end-users and stakeholders, and ii. To create an opportunity for students to be rewarded for learning and teaching their peers. This study lays the foundation for a long-term longitudinal study to understand further the impact of peer mentorship and socio-technical projects from freshman to senior years. Published literature indicates that undergraduates teaching other undergraduates is one of the most effective methods for achieving both cognitive and attitudinal goals of undergraduate education. The paper will present the benefits and challenges associated with engaging seniors and freshmen while solving an authentic design challenge through surveys and focus groups. These results will help develop the framework to build vertical integration within the curriculum for effectively teaching engineering design.