This PowerPoint provides a description of Louisiana Tech University's Freshman Integrated Engineering Curriculum (Living with the Lab).

1. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
Living with the Lab
Freshman Integrated
Engineering Curriculum
David Hall, Hisham Hegab, Jim Nelson
For full paper see
2008 Frontiers in Education Proceedings Session S3G

2. Living with the Lab – integrates engineering, mathematics,
chemistry and physics in a systems-level, project-based
curriculum. Projects incorporate design, fabrication, and
troubleshooting to help students develop open-ended problem
solving abilities and self-reliance.

3. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
fall winter spring
Credits Course Course Credits
Course Credits
MATH 242 3
MATH 241 3
MATH 240 3
ENGR 120 2 ENGR 121 2 ENGR 122 2
PHYS 201 3
CHEM 100 2 CHEM 101 2
Classroom allows us to easily switch
between lecture, lab and shop activities

4. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
Living with the Lab
• Each student owns their own “lab” consisting of
– a laptop
– tools (multimeter, dial caliper, wire strippers, …) $80
– software (Mathcad, SolidWorks, MS Office)
– a robot kit (Boe-Bot) to provide a personal “lab” $100
• Student-owned labs provide a way to boost
hands-on learning beyond what is possible
using traditional laboratories

5. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
Seven “Threads” Define the Freshman Experience
1. SYSTEMS – one major project per quarter
2. ELECTROMECHANICAL – breadboarding, sensors, control
3. FABRICATION AND ACQUISITION – shop activities; locate, specify and purchase components
4. SOFTWARE – Excel, Mathcad, SolidWorks, Programming
5. FUNDAMENTALS
- electricity and DC circuits - conservation of mass
- conservation of energy - statics
- basic chemistry and electrochemistry - engineering economics
- least squares fitting to calibrate sensors
6. COMMUNICATION – formatting problem solutions, oral presentations, writing assignments
7. BROADENING ACTIVITES
- global and societal issues
- professional society meetings and student functions
- teamwork and creative problem solving techniques

6. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
ENGR 120 Project: Fabrication and Testing of Centrifugal Pump
teams of 2 students, turning into groups of 4 for pump performance testing

7. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
Approximate cost per pump = $5
Two students can fabricate the pump in
about 2 hours

8. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
ENGR 121 Project – The Fishtank
• Closed loop control of temperature and salinity in a small tank
• Teams of 2 initially later turning into teams of 4

9. To see YouTube videos of ENGR 120, 121 and 122 classes in action, go to
www.livignwiththe lab.com and click on “photos and video”

10. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
No Textbook – Course Materials are on Web

11. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
Course sections are coordinated with
common assignments and exams
Currently Teaching 433 students:
• 10 sections of ENGR 120
• 2 sections of ENGR 121
• 2 sections of ENGR 122

12. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
Student Notes Instructor Notes
Several hundred pages of notes define the courses.

13. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
Student Homework Instructor Solutions

14. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
• Strong analytical skills.
• Practical ingenuity, creativity;
innovator.
• Good communication skills.
• Business, management skills.
• High ethical standards,
professionalism.
• Dynamic/agile/resilient/flexible.
• Lifelong learner.
• Able to put problems in their socio-
technical and operational context.
• Adaptive leader.
AIM: Implement a project-intensive experience that
develops the knowledge, skills, confidence and
attitudes that lead to innovation.

15. Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science
Acknowledgments
• NSF CCLI Grant No. 0618288
• Louisiana Tech University
College of Engineering and Science