Implementing Entrepreneurial-minded Learning (EML) in a Manufacturing Processes Course

At Ohio Northern University, ME-3421 Manufacturing Processes is a technical elective course for juniors in the Mechanical Engineering discipline. Project-based learning techniques (PBL) have been known to underscore skill-based learning outcomes. For this course, PBL was enriched by including Entrepreneurial Minded Learning (EML) activities. EML activities are designed to inspire students' curiosity about the world around them, teaches them to integrate information from many sources to gain insight, and encourages them to creating value by identifying opportunities and working in partnerships with fellow students. It also teaches them to explore a contrarian view of accepted solutions. In the Manufacturing Processes class, two EML modules were developed and deployed in stages. These were (i) a manufacturing process selection activity and (ii) an activity related to environmental and economic impact of manufacturing processes. Both activities included a stakeholder or a customer as well as unexpected design alternatives. In addition, unlike conventional PBL, the project information was kept ambiguous by design, and the customer's requirements were not all clearly spelled out at the project start, and even changed as the project progressed. As an example, during the implementation of manufacturing process selection activity, students interacted with the customer and selected the best manufacturing process for a product based on quantity produced and properties (strength, finish, tolerances, etc.) needed. Students then presented their work to the customer. A few assessments were implemented including written reports, presentations, peer evaluation on teamwork, and a survey. By implementing entrepreneurial minded learning experiences in coursework, students will not only learn the technical theory, but they will be trained to identify problems and solve them in innovative ways.