Implementing Entrepreneurial Mindset Learning Activities in Several Engineering Courses

The entrepreneurial mindset is characterized by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN)'s 3C's, which are curiosity, connections, and creating value. Entrepreneurially Minded Learning (EML) activities are designed to inspire curiosity and teach students to integrate information from many sources to gain insight and encourage them to create value by identifying opportunities and working in a team. To foster an entrepreneurial mindset, At The Citadel, EML is incorporated in a first-year seminar course via several case studies and a project focusing on the redevelopment of a brownfield site. EML is integrated in a junior level Probability and Statistics course via problem-based learning. To promote deeper conceptual understanding and to develop statistical problem-solving, M&M candies are used to illustrate data collection, frequencies and proportions, probability functions, sampling distributions, chi-square goodness-of-fit statistics, hypothesis testing, correlation and linear regression, and one-way analysis of variance. EML is incorporated into junior and senior level Materials Science classes via a problem-solving studio approach, directing students to actively connect what information is given, what assumptions can be made, and what additional information is needed. This approach is applied to foundational concepts in materials science including atomic packing, material density, phase diagrams, and material processing. Additionally, EML is incorporated into upper level engineering design courses by emphasizing connections and creating value for the stakeholders in the development of a new product. This paper discusses the various EML activities employed in the above-listed courses.