Engineers invent and innovate

First-year students at CU gain a hands-on introduction to engineering through a design and build projects course. In fall 1998, a course with an emphasis on entrepreneurship was piloted to provide advanced and transfer students with similar hands-on opportunities. This paper summarizes course components and lessons learned, and describes some of the products invented. Students design and build an invention of their choice, and explore entrepreneurial topics including profitability, marketing, raising venture capital, angel investors and patenting. Creating mini-business plans forces teams to estimate the manufacturing cost of their product and forecast potential sales revenues. A two-week introductory design project provides an early opportunity for creativity, as well as insight into individual strengths and weaknesses in a team environment. Assessment results are presented as learned from student focus group interviews and pre- and post-course innovation skills assessment surveys. In spring 2000, two student teams received funding from NCIIA to continue development of their products.