Design subjects have become popular in the engineering education. In these subjects, an active learning skill was introduced to students. Students have to decide a theme and the way how to study it and to find answers by themselves. This learning method was developed in the early year courses in the University of Tokushima. The common learning curriculum among whole university adopted this design subjects from 2005 of the school year and eleven more new subjects started. "Roots finding" is one of them and the objectives are to gain abilities of self-study through the research on a particular subject, and make report then presenting them. Self-learning ability, research ability and presentation skills were enhanced through this subject.