About Toward a Meaning-Filled Introduction to Holistic Engineering
| Authors | Timmer, Kevin J. |
|---|---|
| Date | 2013 |
| Proceedings | Proceedings of the 2013 Christian Engineering Conference |
| Publisher | Dordt College |
| Place | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Vol / Pages | pp. 24u201338 |
| URL | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nWewpMgLoMBrzNPL4QjkdvEdP2_kgx_2/view |
Type: Conference Paper
Tags: Christian Engineering
Abstract
I recently revamped my first semester freshman engineering course from what might be characterized as an introduction to engineering science to more of an experiential, hands-on introduction to the practice of engineering. The new course format not only serves our students better as they try to discern their calling, but also provides an ideal platform for a more meaningful introduction to holistic engineering; that is, engineering done in the full context of a Christian perspective of reality. In this paper I outline my biblically based definition of holistic engineering and show how past practices in my freshman engineering course may have impeded student engagement with the full meaning of this concept. The instructional methods used for three specific hands-on activities (a creativity exercise, a reverse engineering project, and a biomass cook stove design project) incorporated in the modified course and their corresponding contributions to meaningfulness are described in detailed.