Creativity and the Engineering Student

One of the interesting words that occur at the university in the verbiage of many students, especially those who enter as freshmen is "creativity." The use of the word is generally not positive. Students will remark that they are NOT creative and that creativity does not seem to have any bearing on their lives in engineering. When pinned down they remark that creativity exists over in the land of Arts and Letters, in dancing on the theatre stage, or in "creating" that other stuff that has no focus on the real and technical world. There is a seeming wall that has been created to separate those who speak the technical lingo and those who perform in creative atmospheres. Over the years, it has been the purpose of a number of classes in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at XXX to attempt to steer students away from thinking that the technical world is NOT creative into a sense that not only is the technical world and its inhabitants creative but that it and they require creativity to survive. It is with that focus that this paper delves into the conversations between students and instructor, assignments that require a change of perspective on what creativity really is, and assessments of the work that are garnered from these students. It is hoped that a great deal more conversation can be had across all engineering courses to remove the separation wall that seems to exist in the minds of many students when it comes to thinking about their own creativity and how it will enhance the lives that they will lead as engineers. By discussing where creativity plays a role in engineering, we can enhance the life of education in engineering. Discussed will be the conversations that take place in a number of classes to acquaint students with their creativity along with a variety of activities that allow them to experiment with creative abilities. Reactions by students along with their creations will be presented.