Enhancing first-year engineering design through an integrated storytelling framework
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22165289 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Claudio de Freitas (Purdue University Fort Wayne), Cláudio Freitas (0000-0003-2841-8751, Purdue University Fort Wayne, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-21 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2504-284X • E-ISSN: 2504-284X |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/feduc.2025.1709767 |
| OpenAlex | W7125187930 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 27 |
This study explores how storytelling can support first-year engineering (FYE) students’ learning of the Engineering Design Process (EDP) when combined with Project-Based Learning (PJBL), Community-Based Learning (CBL), and Team-Based Learning (TBL). In a FYE course, students worked in teams as fictional engineering companies, assumed professional roles, and completed projects for both fictional and real clients. Using a quasi-experimental pre–post design with surveys ( N = 64 complete responses) and reflective prompts ( N = 78), we examined changes in students’ perceptions of engineering design. Quantitative findings showed significant gains in familiarity with EDP steps, confidence in applying the process to real-world problems, and recognition of creativity, sustainability, and teamwork as central to engineering. Items on ethics, innovation, and everyday applications showed no significant change. Qualitative analysis identified four themes: identity and authenticity, motivation and engagement, understanding of the design process, and preparedness for real-world challenges. Together, the results suggest that storytelling, when integrated with PJBL, CBL, and TBL, enhances engagement and fosters professional identity development in first-year engineering students
Engineering design process · Engineering education · Perception · Preparedness · Storytelling · Teamwork · Biomedical and Engineering Education · Engineering Education and Curriculum Development · Problem and Project Based Learning
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Fostering sustainable development values among engineering students using Service-Learning
Teaching of transferable teamwork competencies in higher education
Mapping the global research on project-based learning
Implementation and evaluation of service learning at higher education institutions
Challenges and Difficulties to Teaching Engineering to Generation Z
Motivating Project-Based Learning
A General Inductive Approach for Analyzing Qualitative Evaluation Data
| Highly cited | No |
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