Conference Session

Project-Based Service Learning

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Maya Trotz, University of South Florida; Ken Thomas, University of South Florida

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

AC 2009-820: TEACHING SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPTS THROUGH ANAPPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY: STUDYINGSTORM-WATER PONDS AT THE UNIVERSITY AND IN LOCAL COMMUNITIESMaya Trotz, University of South FloridaKen Thomas, University of South Florida Page 14.1155.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 Sustainability concepts through an applied environmental engineering laboratory: studying stormwater ponds at the University and local communitiesAbstractStormwater ponds are vital for the control of floodwaters and the reduction in pollution loadsreaching larger water bodies. Community awareness programs aim to reduce

Conference Session

Environmental Engineering Curricula

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Audra Morse, Texas Tech

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

University, TAs have been employed to coverundergraduate lecture courses in addition to the laboratory classes typically taught by TAs, due Page 14.223.3to the departure of faculty and the hiring of new faculty with reduced teaching loads. To help theTAs, the author of this article taught a special topics course during the spring 2008 semesterbased on the ExCEEd teaching model. The purpose of the course was to introduce and exposeTAs to the ExCEEd teaching model and assess teaching effectiveness. Topics of the ExCEEdmodel were presented at weekly class meetings. TAs were observed at the beginning and endingof the semester to assess each TAs

Conference Session

Environmental Engineering Curricula

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Montserrat Rabago-Smith, Kettering Univeristy; Jennifer Aurandt, Kettering University

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

ibuprofen was developed by The BHC Company. This synthesis on the otherhand, involves only three steps, and the atom utilization is much higher. Also,the use of HF in the “Green” synthesis was discussed. This example teaches theimportance of atom economy, the use of shorter and efficient chemical reactions,as well as the safety of the chemicals used in the synthesis process. Then, thestudents are introduced to the concept of atom economy, reaction yield, and theirrelationship in the development of efficient and environmentally friendlysynthesis. When talking about atom economy, the reactions covered in Module 1and the reactions performed in their laboratories were reviewed. Thus, thestudents could reinforce previous knowledge while learning new

Conference Session

Sustainability in Engineering Courses

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jennifer Aurandt, Kettering University; Terri Lynch-Caris, Kettering University

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

module students synthesized biodiesel and analyzed theproducts through chemical analysis and using it as fuel in a jet engine. The 12principles of Green Chemistry were presented as foundational knowledge for comparingthe life cycle of petroleum-based diesel to vegetable-based biodiesel. Students’ learningwas assessed quantitatively for each module along with qualitative comments using theStrengths, Improvements, and Insights (SII) format. From feedback gathered in the firstcourse offering, the Green Chemistry module was enhanced to include the use of thestudent-made biodiesel in a laboratory jet engine housed in the Mechanical EngineeringDepartment. In addition to the student assessment, the role of Green Chemistry in thiscourse was assessed by

Conference Session

Sustainability in Engineering Curricula

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jess Everett, Rowan University; Peter Mark Jansson, Rowan University; Krishan Bhatia, Rowan University; Chris Moore, Rowan University; William Riddell, Rowan University; Chris Baralus, Rowan University

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

eight semesters at Rowan. Each clinic class involves students inteamwork (often interdisciplinary), hands-on activities, and report writing and presentation.The Freshman Clinic is focused on engineering measurements (Fall) and competitive assessment(Spring). Fall lectures teach survival skills and other topics important to freshman engineers,such as note taking, problem solving, engineering judgment, and ethics. Laboratory componentsin the Fall introduce students to engineering concepts. In Spring clinic, students work on asemester-long competitive assessment project. Competitive assessment is the systematic testingof existing products, for the purpose of improvement and comparison. For example, studentshave assessed beer brewing, portable

Conference Session

Project-Based Service Learning

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Angela Bielefeldt, University of Colorado, Boulder; Kurt Paterson, Michigan Technological University; Chris Swan, Tufts University

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

opportunities.About 50 of the colleges in the book include engineering or pre-engineering programs.Examples of programs profiled include the EPICS program at Purdue University; the ColoradoSchool of Mines Minor in Civic Engagement and a special interest area in humanitarianengineering; Colorado State University’s Service-Learning Graduate Teaching CertificateProgram; and the University of Pennsylvania’s CommuniTech. However, more important than alist of programs and courses is an understanding of the outcomes that can result from studentengagement in PBSL.Although this paper focuses exclusively on the students’ educational outcomes, of equalimportance are the impacts on the community partners. The community should be a true partnerin the process and feel

Conference Session

Service Learning Projects in Developing Countries

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Maya Trotz, University of South Florida; Amy Stuart, University of South Florida; Daniel Yeh, University of South Florida; Helen Muga, University of South Florida; Linda Phillips, University of South Florida; James Mihelcic, University of South Florida

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

University of South Florida. He is also appointed as a Patel Research Fellow by the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions. He worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate with Stanford University under the National Science Foundation’s Center of Advanced Materials for Purification of Water with Systems (WaterCAMPWS). Dr. Yeh is a registered professional civil & environmental engineer with research and teaching interests in water & wastewater engineering, global water management, water/energy nexus, infrastructures and green buildings. In particular, he develops and applies membrane and biological processes for water purification, wastewater treatment and reuse, and energy

Conference Session

Service Learning Projects in Developing Countries

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bradley Striebig, James Madison University; Susan Norwood, Gonzaga University

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

AC 2009-82: WEST AFRICAN TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, ANDRECIPROCITY IMPLEMENTATION IN BENINBradley Striebig, James Madison University Dr. Bradley A. Striebig is an associate professor of Engineering at James Madison University. He has a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Penn State University, where he was the head of the Environmental Technology Group at the Applied research Laboratory. Prior to accepting a position to develop the engineering program at James Madison University, Brad was a faculty member in the Civil Engineering department at Gonzaga University. He has worked on various water projects throughout the US and in Benin and Rwanda.Susan Norwood, Gonzaga University Susan

Conference Session

Sustainability in Engineering Curricula

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michelle Jarvie, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

teaching materials hasbeen lead by environmental engineering programs and faculty, mining engineering was the onlyprogram criteria which specifically mentioned all three component concepts of sustainability.IntroductionRecently, sustainability has evolved as a discipline in its own right. Universities have developedgraduate programs where the focus of study centers on sustainability, such as master’s programsat the Rochester Institute of Technology1 and the University of Michigan2. However, institutionsmust not make the mistake of focusing upon the evolution of sustainability into a stand-alonediscipline, while neglecting the integration of sustainability related classes and concepts into allprograms of engineering. A compelling argument for the

Conference Session

Sustainability in Engineering Courses

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Scott Morton, University of Wyoming; M.P. Sharma, University of Wyoming

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

AC 2009-2452: THERMODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS IN DETERMININGWORLD CARRYING CAPACITYScott Morton, University of Wyoming Scott Morton received his Bachelor and Master degrees in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Wyoming in 1972 and 1978 respectively. He worked as an engineering consultant, a self-employed business owner, and a plant engineer before joining the University of Wyoming Mechanical Engineering faculty as a Research Scientist in 1999. He holds four patents and has two pending. Current research activities are in the areas of wind and solar renewable energy and computer aided laboratory instruction. Some of his many projects include radial flow and augmented flow

Conference Session

Environmental Engineering Curricula

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Angela Bielefeldt, University of Colorado, Boulder

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

notapplicable. Examples of these ratings are shown in Table 3. Students have not yet rated allcourses, as this rating exercise was only piloted on selected courses in Civil Engineering. Thenot applicable ratings were averaged into the scores as a zero. Students do vary their ratingssomewhat, although self-assessments of learning are of questionable value. The goal is for thestudent feedback to be used as a logic check on faculty claims in order to indicate potentialdisconnects. These areas will then be targeted for specific review of student work and/ordiscussions with the faculty on whether the learning objectives were being achieved. Becausecourse learning outcomes may vary when different instructors teach courses, reliableexpectations for the