@inproceedings{c6a4a603b40a44908050eaa1da9224f0,
title = "A study of biologically-inspired design as a context for enhancing student innovation",
abstract = "This article describes an investigation of the use of biologically-inspired design as a context from which to teach innovative design. The research compared ideation behavior among mechanical engineering students from a capstone design class to mechanical engineering students who had taken a semester-long course specifically focused on biologicallyinspired design. Both groups of students were presented with the same design challenge, and pre-established metrics were used to characterize the novelty and variety of the resultant designs generated by the students. The designs from the biologically-inspired design students had an average novelty score 80% higher than those from the control group of capstone students, and the result was statistically- significant. The biologically-inspired design students also had a 37% higher average variety score, although a small sample size led to a high variance and prevented statistical significance. The increased scores for novelty and variety imply a greater tendency toward innovative design among the biologically-inspired design students. The source of greater innovation is unclear but may be due to improved analogical reasoning capabilities among the biologically-inspired design students.",
keywords = "Design, Entrepreneurship, Ideation, Innovation",
author = "Brent Nelson and Jamal Wilson and Jeannette Yen",
year = "2009",
doi = "10.1109/FIE.2009.5350871",
language = "English (US)",
isbn = "9781424447152",
series = "Proceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE",
booktitle = "39th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference",
note = "39th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference: Imagining and Engineering Future CSET Education, FIE 2009 ; Conference date: 18-10-2009 Through 21-10-2009",
}