High impact activities to improve student learning
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With the support of the College of Engineering and the university, the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution(ETID) at Texas A&M University (TAMU) started the Product Innovation and Development (PID) Initiative in 2012. The main objective of the initiative is to provide engineering students at all levels with opportunities in learning product development in the real-world setting. This article discusses the details of the activities organized by PID Initiative and how they impact the student learning. The focus of PID Initiative activities is innovative product development. Undergraduate students from ETID department are recruited to form teams that develop new products. The student teams, with the help of faculty members, generate ideas for new products, conduct market analysis, design and manufacture the product, sell the products, and provide technical support to the customers. The PID Initiative projects generate revenue to support student learning. The objective is to become self-sustainable in the long run. Some of the project materials are used in several courses to enhance the current curriculum. Through the product development process, PID Initiative provides the students with entrepreneurial experiences. Examples are provided to illustrate the PID Initiative process. To further increase the impact, future plans include organizing student seminars and offering a certificate in new product development. American Society for Engineering Education, 2013.
