The Use of "How Does it Work?" Type Projects in a Mechanical Engineering Program

“How Does It Work?” type projects involve a student or a group of students being assigned an engineering device or system to study. They must gather information about how it works, on how it is implemented and on whether any problems have been encountered with the device or system during its operation and they must then prepare a report and/or presentation on their findings.

In gathering the required information, the students must use the Web and books including handbooks and manuals, consult with trades-people involved with maintaining and repairing devices or systems of the type being considered and they must arrange to view examples of the device or system and take suitable photographs to complement the other information they have gathered. The latter requires that examples of the device or system be in use within a reasonable distance of the academic institution at which the student is studying. Devices and systems that are suitable for such projects are often in use by the academic institution itself.

Examples of suitable project topics are discussed in this report and some details of typical projects of this type are discussed here. A discussion of the way in which “How Does It Work?” type projects can be incorporated into design and engineering science courses to help illustrate the practical application of the course material is also presented. The advantages and disadvantages of projects of this type will also be discussed.