Abstract
An Approach to Select Effective Projects for Engineering Computer Graphics Abstract Engineering Computer Aided Graphics (known as AutoCAD) has been offered at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) for approximately 2-½ years to an average of 30 junior Civil and Environmental Engineering students per semester. At FGCU, as well as at many other universities across the nation, this two-credit hour course is usually structured into two 1-¼ hour sessions per week. The major problem faced herein is that this is not sufficient time in which to effectively cover course materials. Selection of the design project has become crucial to maximizing the student learning outcomes. The instructor challenges the students by selecting a design project with real life parameters; in this case, the new buildings being constructed on campus. Students are provided with only a text file of the proposed plan of one of the future campus buildings. Students are divided into groups of two to four and required to use their combined imaginations and engineering abilities to produce a design that meets the minimum expectations outlined by the instructor. On the last day of class, students showcase their final designs in a poster presentation. Grades are assigned by invited guests. Surveys, feedback from the judges, and performance by the students have demonstrated that this approach is very effective in improving a student’s learning outcome, ability to work with others, design ability, and communication skills. Other schools could also use such an approach to increase student participation and to improve student learning in engineering computer graphics courses.