Introduction to Engineering Technology is a typical first-year course in the mechanical engineering technology curriculum of many institutions. The course is intended to introduce students to a number of aspects in the discipline of engineering, including design and manufacturing, engineering ethics, team work, and other areas, with the goal of motivating students in the engineering profession. As a means of improving instruction and better engaging students in their learning process in an Introduction to Engineering Technology course at the Wentworth Institute of Technology, this paper presents a series of hands-on active learning activities, which deploy innovative materials and techniques supported largely by information technology. These innovative learning activities include the use of hands-on lab projects, a focus on interdisciplinary topics, and the leveraging of Internet resources, video, and You Tube clips. All hands-on projects are directly related to each subject area in the mechanical engineering field, which helps students to understand and "to feel" the engineering profession. Feedback from students concerning the course has been positive, and anecdotal observations indicate that the innovative learning activities motivated the students and enhanced their learning experience.