Organizing project activities of students of mechanical engineering profile

This article describes various aspects of organization of engineering activities of students of mechanical profile at technical university. It also discusses personal needs of students and general methodological principles leading to effective training of engineering and graphic disciplines in a computerized teaching environment. Theoretical provisions are illustrated by examples from the students' engineering activities carried out in the process of project-oriented study of engineering and computer graphics. Various innovative forms of work on educational material in modules motivate students to in-depth study and creative processing of the acquired knowledge, formation of professional skills and engineering culture. In result of project activities students acquire skills to present their developments to potential consumers and employers, learn how to pass interview with manager, get acquainted with structure of professional activity. This helps to increase their competitiveness in job market in the future and motivation for educational activities in the present. The developed engineering cases contain professionally directed references and theoretical materials for all educational modules. They describe the basic principles, methods and concepts of mechanical engineering, basic skills in the field of computer-aided design. Certain technical and economic conditions are set in order to develop machine-building parts, assemblies, assembly products, original author's models based on computer technology. The used COMPASS-3D computer program has effective reference support for all modules studied in the field of computer-aided design. At any stage of their work students can also turn to a fairly extensive list of Internet links on the interested issues. All this contributes to creation of situation of success for a student, formation of integrative personality traits necessary in further professional activity.