Combining Flipped Classroom and Integrating Entrepreneurially Minded Learning in DC Circuit Analysis and Design Course

The student body at xxx University consists mostly of adult learners. The majority students in the College of Engineering (CoE) work full-time. The college successfully developed and implemented a program curriculum which is designed for the working adult and are eleven weeks long. The CoE observed that active learning supported the non-traditional students' in learning the course material. Like the active-learning approach, the flipped classroom approach also targets higher-levels of thinking [1]. The flipped classroom helped students determining knowledge, stimulating curiosity, and fostering engagement. Applying the flipped classroom approach in different course sequences also served as the first step to convert the face-to-face course for online delivery in the future. The method had been applied in CoE's EE110, Introduction to Engineering, developed for fully online delivery. [1]. Engineers need to solve challenging and complex real world problems. In recent years, more universities and faculty are engaged in incorporating entrepreneurial minded learning (EML) into the engineering curriculum. "EML is not about start-ups, it is about thinking creatively and creating value for society" [2]. Since it is not easy for students to build up entrepreneurial skills within one course or a couple of courses, the CoE decided to embed entrepreneurial skills in engineering learning activities throughout the program curriculum from lower level courses to higher level courses. By this way, students will have the opportunity to develop and build up their entrepreneurial mindset. Having students be introduced to EML earlier will prepare them to integrate the skills better in their later courses. Sophomore level course EE221 DC Circuit Analysis is the first circuit course in Electrical and Computer Engineering Program. CoE decided to embed EML in the course along with other courses in the program. Course EE221 has lecture and lab sections. The paper reviews the CoE's experience and preliminary results of combining the flipped classroom and embedding EML in the course. The traditional lectures were replaced by flipped classroom method. And the original labs were modified to incorporate EML components. The preliminary results showed positive feedback.