Introductory Mechanical Engineering Education Applying Experience-Based Learning in National Institute of Technology

Abstract

This paper describes introductory education for mechanical engineering with application of experience-based learning at a Japanese National Institute of Technology. For first-year students, a cross-discipline class designated as ‘Introduction to Engineering’ was introduced. In classes managed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, students learned experience-based lessons that included experiments and manufacturing in addition to conventional lectures. Responses to questionnaires administered to students indicated that almost all had enhanced interest in mechanical engineering. This report describes that experience-based learning gives National Institute of Technology students opportunities to learn proactively in pursuit of their goal.