Engineering Senior Capstone courses are the hallmark of a B.S. in engineering degree, where students prove they are ready to become engineers. In these courses, students use prior knowledge and independent research to design, build, test, and analyze a system in their engineering discipline as a team. Due to the broad variety of projects, problems, and topics the capstone courses address, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. This book aims to streamline the capstone course instruction by developing, consolidating, and organizing OER materials into one place. Different modules correspond to the different course topics, where students can easily access materials relevant to their projects’ various goals and phases of development.
There are 7 modules based on the ABET Accreditation Criteria for 4-year Bachelor of Science programs in Engineering and Engineering Technology. Each module focuses on a specific Student Outcome listed in the Criteria and provides open educational resources for both knowledge and application aspects of student learning:
- Problem Solving – Applying Prior Knowledge and Skills
- Design – Ideation and Invention
- Communication – Written, Oral, and Graphical
- Ethics – Responsibilities, Safety, Global Impacts, and Standards
- Teamwork – Collaboration and Project Management
- Experimentation – Testing and Analysis
- Learning Strategies – Research and Troubleshooting
While technical skills help an engineer keep a job, the soft skills help them get the job. So in addition, there is a bonus module focusing on career readiness:
8. Career Readiness – Personal Presentation and Job Applications
This will develop students’ soft skills, such as interviewing, resume and cover letter writing, and developing a professional employment profile. Informative and applicable materials will help equip students with the tools they need to be well-rounded and successful individuals, with the personal presentation skills required to rise through the ranks professionally.
