FHU's Intro to Engineering Students Learn the Process of Invention

"Writing is Thinking."

That's the mantra FHU Professor of Engineering Ben Clark uses to inspire students in his Introduction to Engineering course, where freshmen don't just study concepts - they live them. The goal is to give students a deep understanding of engineering as a process, not just a collection of facts.

"The intent is to show how engineers accomplish their jobs daily," he said. "What are they trying to achieve? What lives are they trying to improve?" This focus on real-world impact is evident in many of the various student projects that ranged from the practical (such as a wall-mounted medical canister for the nursing department) to the entertaining (an amplifier and bluetooth compatible speaker constructed from cardboard). In the course, students followed key steps including research, prototype, testing, disposal and documentation, as well as "upgrading and constantly making an invention better."