ADAPTING A FRESHMAN MANUFACTURING COURSE TO DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology mechanical engineering department requires a freshman course in Design for Manufacturing (DFM). This course introduces project management skills including product design, resource planning, process planning and cost analysis via a curriculum employing project-based learning. But the primary focus is consideration of manufacturing processes and the inherent limitations involved in producing a successful product design. Assessments conducted at the conclusion of the first semester offering indicated that students had gained a fundamental understanding of DFM. The majority of the students showed a high level of interest in learning how to operate manufacturing equipment. However, based on anecdotal student feedback, it was also evident that a smaller but significant percentage of students were not interested in and were somewhat intimidated by the hands-on operation of machining equipment. Therefore, for the 2015/2016 academic year an alternate lab series was offered. The original lab series focuses on using manual machining processes whereas and the alternate lab series employs 3D printing and introduces the student to Computer Numerical Control (CNC) manufacturing. Each path has elements in common with the other but also are unique within themselves. Ideally each student can learn the fundamentals of manufacturing using the method they are most comfortable with and improve self-efficacy in the process.