Revitalized First Principles Thinking for Engineering Education: A Novel Course Delivery Approach Designed for the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Integrating first principles concepts in engineering education has proven to be a valuable approach to enhancing student learning and comprehension. By emphasizing fundamental principles and their practical applications, this teaching methodology equips students with a deeper understanding of the subject matter and fosters critical thinking skills. This work explores the benefits and challenges of incorporating first principles in engineering course delivery. It highlights various instructional strategies and tools that can be employed to effectively integrate first principles into the curriculum. Additionally, the paper discusses the potential areas for future research and pedagogical development in leveraging first principles to enhance engineering education. Through this exploration, educators can gain valuable insights and guidance on leveraging first principles concepts for optimal student learning outcomes in engineering courses. The survey found that 81% of learners prefer to have a focus on a few basic principles in a specific course to learn better. When given multiple choices, the survey showed that 64% prefer physics-based principles, 42% prefer technology-based principles, and 28% prefer mathematics-based principles. These findings indicate the preferences of students and highlight the importance of tailoring instructional approaches to incorporate the desired first principles.