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Introducing engineering
Engineering encompasses a broad range of disciplines from design to manufacturing. This free course, Introducing engineering, introduces a number of key themes that explore how engineering is undertaken in our modern world. These themes include engineering design, rules that govern engineers, manufacturing for products and electricity generation using solar energy.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- understand the characteristics of 'engineering' and the role engineers have played in shaping engineering up to the present and into the future
- understand a range of principles in science, mathematics and engineering in order to make well-founded decisions as part of a design process
- have an appreciation of the design decision-making process when developing new products
- recognise the effects on the conduct of engineering relating to issues such as patents, standards and risk
- understand the use of appropriate candidate/potential materials and processes for the manufacture of a given artefact.
First Published: 07/04/2014
Updated: 19/06/2019
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However, as is unfortunately typical of OU courses, this one is obviously dated, a few examples:
1) there have been significant advances in PV technologies in the last decade (as highlighted by the NREL graph, though the associated question did state that self-analysis would be required against the current data.)
2) there have also been significant advances in additive manufacturing (AM), together with reductions in cost.
3) human-induced warming is already (November 2024) close to 1.31 °C, with Antarctic core samples indicating 1.49 °C.
4) the course focused on PV, though the current government is investing heavily in wind turbines. In addition, the PM feels that an 81% cut in emissions can be achieved as soon as 2035 (a 3% improvement on the previous government's pledge.)
5) post-Brexit.