Discovering Engineering is the foundation course for engineering. The course invites students to discover engineering by tackling an open-ended design project, as well as learning a variety of essential technical and non-technical skills. The major project for the course is to work in teams to design and build a robot rover that can autonomously navigate around a maze.
Throughout the course, students undertake a variety of learning activities that introduce the key engineering concepts that are needed to successfully complete the project. Students learn about the engineering design process, including understanding what is needed in a project, generating concepts, prototyping, analysing, and implementing a solution. Students work in teams, allowing them to develop their collaboration and communication skills, as well as their project management skills. This is complemented by learning about the importance of reflective and ethical professional practice. At the same time students will also learn about basic electronics, coding and problem solving, providing a range of fundamental skills needed by a modern engineer.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Demonstrate research into engineering concepts, technology and contexts.
- Select and use appropriate engineering tools to model and analyse engineering components.
- Design a solution to an open-ended problem using an engineering process.
- Identify responsibilities within an engineering team in relation to professional practice.
- Communicate engineering concepts and solutions effectively using different media to professional and other audiences.
- Demonstrate self-reflection and evaluation of ideas
Work Integrated Learning
Projects
This course will give you the opportunity to practice teamwork, build communication skills, problem solving skills and develop project management skills.
Other Information
Professional Skills Mapping:
Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment and Professional Competencies
Indicative Assessment
- Engineering Design Report (15) [LO 1,3,5,6]
- Mid-semester Test (15) [LO 1,2]
- Lab Quizzes (15) [LO 2,5]
- Rover Project (40) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Reflection (15) [LO 1,5,6]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
- 24 x 1 hour lectures
- 3 x 2-hour computer labs
- 3 x 2-hour project workshops
- 6 x 1-hour Project group updates with optional 1-hour drop-in
- Plus group and individual study
Prescribed Texts
No prescibed texts.
Areas of Interest
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Information Technology
- Software Engineering
- Engineering
- Computer Engineering
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.