Inquiry-Guided Learning (IGL) in Graphical Communications Course

Inquiry-Guided Learning (IGL) is an active learning technique which promotes students critical thinking through guided independent investigation of complex problems without a single solution, which has been studied and implemented by many researchers in science and engineering fields [1-8]. It is believed that IGL can provide an opportunity to the students to explore their desires and consequently enhance students’ learning experience in the classroom. Graphical Communications, as a common course taught at first-year undergraduate level at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is designed to familiarize the student with the basic principles of drafting and engineering drawing, to improve three dimensional visualization skills, and to teach the fundamentals of a computer aided design program (CATIA). Faculty members show students step by step how to build a model and make sure they can follow and understand the procedure. However, students’ ability to use this knowledge and comprehension to explore real engineering design is unknown.