Abstract
Experiencing the product realisation process through the creation of an artefact is a vital element in the education of engineering designers. Providing such experiences at University can prove problematic. A new approach is described in which mechanical engineering students achieve such experiences through using the World Wide Web (WWW) as a rapid prototyping and production medium. They work in teams to design, develop, prototype and deliver a simple homepage on the WWW on the subject of concurrent engineering. Concurrent engineering principles and practice provide both the subject matter and a means for developing the product on the Web. The exercise is founded on an experiential model of learning and a coherent framework for describing concurrent engineering. Through provision of structured mechanisms for student reflection on their process, the students can demonstrate learning as illustrated in this paper.
