An Innovative Approach To The Introduction To Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering Course: Pressure

An innovative Introduction to Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering course is described. The course material focuses on the concept of pressure to relate concepts and subject matters in the intended field. Selfand group-guided inquiry is used in and out of class. Group activities are also prescribed. The course makes use of three non-fiction popular accounts of engineering feats, relating to 1) a high-pressure environment in the deep sea, 2) a low-pressure high altitude environment and 3) the pressure-less space environment. Traditional and reflective homework assignments are used to motivate the students to pursue their intended engineering education. Student outcomes included renewed enthusiasm for studying engineering, discovery of summer job opportunities related to field of study, development of student networks, and a deepening technical sophistication throughout the semester.