Conference Session

Impact of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill on Chemical Engineering Education & Misc.

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Daniel Knight, University of Colorado, Boulder; Frances C. Ray-Earle, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado Center for Biorefining & Biofuels (C2B2); Nancy S. Tway, University of Colorado

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

AC 2011-1039: AN ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR EVALUATING A FOURSITE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROGRAM IN BIOFUELS ANDBIOREFINING ENGINEERINGDaniel Knight, University of Colorado, Boulder DANIEL W. KNIGHT is the engineering assessment specialist at the Integrated Teaching and Learning Program (ITLL) and the Broadening Opportunity through Leadership and Diversity (BOLD) Center in CU’s College of Engineering and Applied Science. He holds a B.A. in psychology from the Louisiana State University, and an M.S. degree in industrial/organizational psychology and a Ph.D. degree in coun- seling psychology, both from the University of Tennessee. Dr. Knight’s research interests are in the areas of retention, program evaluation and teamwork

Conference Session

ABET and Curriculum-Level Assessments

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Larissa V. Pchenitchnaia, Texas A&M University; Lale Yurttas, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

experiment and evolve in order to keep pacewith advances in knowledge, changes in professional practice, and shifting conditions in society.The need for responsive academic programs is particularly a concern in scientific andtechnological fields where the growth of knowledge is exponential (Rugarcia, et al.,[1]). Achemical engineering department at a big research extensive university developed andimplemented several strategies to address these issues: (1) curriculum content reform anddevelopment; (2) faculty and students assessment activities; (3) integrated assessment plans andprocesses throughout the chemical engineering curriculum. The research points out that a majorchallenge is not initiating curricular reform but institutionalizing the reform

Conference Session

Focus on Capstone Experiences in the Chemical Engineering Curriculum

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Senra, Lafayette College; Scott Fogler, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

Vision 10 Negotiation Skills, Financial Planning 11 Time Management5, Cross-Cultural Communication 12 Entrepreneurship 13 Gender Issues in Engineering, Proper Decorum in the Workplace 14 Final Project PresentationsThese areas are explored using the following means. Problem Solving Lectures: Creative problem solving skills are developed using theproblem-solving heuristic outlined in the text Strategies for Creative Problem Solving by Foglerand LeBlanc, whose origins are derived from the McMaster Five-Point Strategy.6,7 The heuristicwill be described in more detail later. Group Problems: Students

Conference Session

SPECIAL SESSION: Educational Methods and Tools to Encourage Conceptual Learning I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Donald P. Visco Jr., University of Akron

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering, Educational Research and Methods

concept andadhered to the size constraints of the project. This work is an update on this process.Student Design Desktop Modules – The Process PlanIn an effort to best describe the overall goal of the project, it is illustrative to sketch out a long-termimplementation plan. As such, a seven-year plan is provided, which allows ample time forfeedback and refinement of the ideas. While seven years might seem like a long time, the processhas refinement/feedback steps incorporated directly. The outline of this process plan is providedbelow.Year 1: Students design and build a desktop module to demonstrate a single thermodynamicsconcept.Year 2: Students take existing student-designed modules from the previous year and refine them tobetter demonstrate

Conference Session

ABET and Curriculum-Level Assessments

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Howard S. Kimmel, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Angelo J. Perna, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Shari Klotzkin; John D. Carpinelli, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Reginald Percy Tomkins, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

connected to the subject matter that students are expected to acquire and retain. Thechallenges for university faculty to undertake changes in their syllabi (i.e. curriculum) andinstructional methodologies are very similar to those faced by K-12 teachers working toward thealignment of their curriculum and instruction with state content standards and indicators ofacademic progress 2. University faculty will need to realize that, as K-12 teachers have modifiedtheir teaching practice and lesson planning, faculty will also need to change their practice to meetaccreditation expectations. Page 22.1332.2An informative parallel exists between the attitudes

Conference Session

ABET and Curriculum-Level Assessments

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kevin D. Dahm, Rowan University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

assessing whether the changes led to improved attainment ofdesired outcomes1.Approximately 35% of recently evaluated programs were cited with shortcomings inCriterion 3.3 Two potential pitfalls that have been identified in recent literature are: notcreating a sustained, continuous assessment plan, and not articulating expectations in amanner specific enough to be useful. This section expands upon these two potentialproblems, and the remainder of the paper describes the approach to program outcomesassessment adopted in the Chemical Engineering program at Rowan University.Continuous Assessment and Continuous ImprovementABET evaluations are scheduled to occur every six years. Shryock and Reed5 note that“some programs treat the six-year time lag

Conference Session

Focus on Entry Experiences in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Margot A. Vigeant, Bucknell University; Lori Smolleck, Bucknell University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

curricula for the science classroom, students arerequired to create a detailed science mini-unit in teams of two. The topic of study foreach unit is derived from the Pennsylvania State Education Standards. Inquiry must beutilized as the main method for teaching and an ENGR Gizmo must also be infused intoat least one of the lessons. The duration of the unit must be between 3 and 5 consecutivelessons and each lesson is designed to be active, interesting, education, fun andmeaningful. Students are encouraged to use current research in the field of scienceeducation to complete the assignment and all lessons must be aligned with the state andnational science education standards.In addition to planning the unit, students are also asked to justify the

Conference Session

Poster Sessions for Unit Operations Lab Bazaar and Tenure-Track Faculty

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Danilo Pozzo, University of Washington; Jim Pfaendtner, University of Washington; Marvi A. Matos, University of Washington; William B. Baratuci, B-Cubed; Jim L. Borgford-Parnell, University of Washington; Arne S.A. Biermans, University of Washington

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

structure, we also continue to meet the original learning objectives ofinstructing students on the basics of experimental planning and reporting.Introduction and motivation for a consolidated Chemical Engineering laboratory: Most Chemical Engineering curricula include at least one or two laboratory courseswhere students develop their hands-on skills by working on experimental stations that are relatedto fundamental processes used in traditional chemical industries. Various independent stationsare usually used in the laboratory to cover a wide range of important Chemical Engineeringconcepts such as heat exchange, distillation and chemical reactions. Typically, these individualunits are conceptually independent from each other because the

Conference Session

Impact of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill on Chemical Engineering Education & Misc.

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tamara Floyd Smith, Tuskegee University; Nadar Vahdat, Tuskegee University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

of the course is to introduce chemical engineering students to the professionearly in their academic careers. The course includes content ranging from informationabout chemical engineering career opportunities to simple chemical engineeringcalculations. One component of the multi-faceted course is the discussion of pertinentcurrent events. The Gulf Coast Oil Spill was deemed the highest priority current eventand discussed during the Fall 2010 semester. It is also planned to be discussed during theSpring 2011 semester.For the oil spill assignment, CENG 0110 students were asked to develop a three minutepresentation focused on one of the following six topics: timeline, root causes, methodsfor control/containment, environmental impact, economic

Conference Session

Focus on Capstone Experiences in the Chemical Engineering Curriculum

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David F. Ollis, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

. In response, we have developed a yet broader first year experience encompassinga pair of two unit courses, one each in fall and spring. In the first, professionaldevelopment topics are followed by creation of an independent, ten page researchproposal. The second, spring semester effort requires the student, in consultation withher new advisor, to develop a NSF length proposal for the prospective PhD effort, andpresent it to her nascent PhD committee and course instructor. Additionally, earlierengagement with the PhD committee is now achieved through a January, second yearoral report to the PhD committee. The customary university Preliminary Exam occurs atthe beginning of year three, and includes both a document (progress and plans) and

Conference Session

Emerging Areas: Biotechnology, Microtechnology, and Energy

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jason M. Keith, Michigan Technological University; Daniel López Gaxiola, Michigan Technological University; Daniel A. Crowl, Michigan Technological University; David W. Caspary, Michigan Technological University; Abhijit Mukherjee, Michigan Technological University; Dennis Desheng Meng, Michigan Technological University; Jeffrey D. Naber, Michigan Technological University; Jeffrey S. Allen, Michigan Technological University; John T. Lukowski, Michigan Technological University; Barry D. Solomon, Michigan Technological University; Jay Scott Meldrum Sr., Michigan Technological University; Thomas F. Edgar, University of Texas, Austin

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

short, open -endedenergy questions, to better discern any improvement.AcknowledgmentsThe United States Department of Energy (DE-FG02-04ER63821) and the CACHECorporation are acknowledged for partial support of this project.Bibliography 1. Energy Policy Act of 2005, August 2005, available online at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi- bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ058.109.pdf, accessed January 2011. 2. Multi-Year Research, Development and Demonstration Plan: Planned Program Activities for 2005-2015, Technical Plan – Education, April 2009, available online at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/mypp/pdfs/education.pdf, accessed January 2011. 3. J. M

Conference Session

ABET and Curriculum-Level Assessments

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joseph J. McCarthy, University of Pittsburgh; Robert S. Parker, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

processes to allow the comprehensive study of systems ranging from poly-merization reactors to enzyme-catalyzed metabolism to (bio-)artificial organs. The Dynamics and Modeling class is the first of a two-part Systems Engineering pillarsequence. This course covers dynamical analysis of process systems, process control fun-damentals, feedback, basic process modeling, and optimization. The second course in thissequence is the Design course which formally combines topics from all other pillars to allowboth product and process design.Assessment Plan for the Pillars CurriculumIn order to illustrate the educational impact of the new curricular structure, this section in

Conference Session

Poster Sessions for Unit Operations Lab Bazaar and Tenure-Track Faculty

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Deniz Rende, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Nihat Baysal, Yeditepe University; Sevinc Rende, Isik University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

situation, leading all students design and plan a comprehensive project proposal with thedetails about the technical specifications and supplier contacts. Table 3 represents the skillsintroduced during UOL2. Table 3: The skills introduced during UOL2 course on a weekly basis.The students who successfully complete the transfer courses, UOL1 and UOL2, are eligible toregister for Experimental Chemical Engineering III (UOL3) course. This final course aims to Page 22.960.5provide students representative small scale units to study the fundamental chemical processes,such as distillation, liquid-liquid extraction and gas absorption. In this

Conference Session

Project-Based, Inquiry Guided, and High Performance Learning Environments: Effective Approaches

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bernard J. Van Wie, Washington State University; Denny C. Davis, Washington State University; Paul B. Golter, Washington State University; Ashfaq Ansery, Washington State University; Baba Abdul, Washington State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

2and exercises contained in the TC, TMC & TWA are designed to evoke responses surroundingthe 12 team performance indicators.Table 2. Performance factors assessed in the TIDEE instruments used in this study.Perform Area Performance Factors Inclusive Climate: Building an inclusive supportive climate for all members.Team Rela- Member Commitment: Gaining buy-in and interdependence of all members.tionships Conflict Resolution: Resolving conflicts to enhance teamwork.Joint Goal Establishment: Establishing shared team goals.Achieve- Planning and Management: Managing tasks to achieve team goals.ments Joint Work Products: Producing competent consensus outputs. Work

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering in Silico

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Debra Gilbuena, Oregon State University; Ben Uriel Sherrett, Oregon State University; Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

, consisting mostly of developing teacher expertise.Understanding and planning for the transportability of educational interventions is beingemphasized by funding agencies at the national level. The aspects of transportability specificallystudied in this paper include usage history and current adoption information, the VirtualLaboratory Project’s perceived sources of effectiveness, barriers to implementation andadaptations made during the implementation process. This paper is a subset of a largerinvestigation on student learning in virtual laboratories. Artifacts of implementation and teacherand student perceptions were the primary data sources for this investigation.Thus far, the Virtual Laboratory Project has been adapted to high school, community

Conference Session

Impact of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill on Chemical Engineering Education & Misc.

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Willie (Skip) E. Rochefort, Oregon State University; Gail Ellen Gerdemann, STEPs at Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

the MaterialsStore. After writing up a design proposal, a budget, and rationale for why the design is expected to be successful,each team is ready to gather materials. One student from each group is assigned to pick up the materials thegroup needs. In the typical classroom with thirty students and one sink, a water distribution and disposal systemneeds to be planned. For this lab use Petri dishes (or other small wide pans) to reduce the amount of water neededfor each test; each group has a small container of water at their station and another empty container for disposingof waste water to reduce trips to the sink. Also have a large tub for the class for collecting waste water to bedisposed outside later. It works well to have the teacher be

Conference Session

SPECIAL SESSION: What Works to Retain Students in Chemical Engineering Programs

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Adrienne R. Minerick, Michigan Technological University; Donald P. Visco, Tennessee Technological University; Susan M. Montgomery, University of Michigan; Daina Briedis, Michigan State University; Neeraj Buch, Michigan State University; Jon Sticklen, Michigan State University; Colleen A. McDonough, Michigan State University; Patrick Walton, Michigan State University; Amanda M. Portis, Michigan State University; Eldred H. Chimowitz, University of Rochester; Willie (Skip) E. Rochefort, Oregon State University; Keith L. Levien, Oregon State University; Nimir Elbashir, Texas A&M University; Jennifer Condit, University of Rochester ; Stephen Lindeman

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

added to a “first year ChE”email list, which is used to provide relevant information such as how to makeappointments and choosing appropriate courses. I meet with students to discuss ourprogram and complete long-term course plans. Page 22.1315.4Welcoming and supporting our sophomoresThe first 15 minutes of the first day of ChE 230, the Material and Energy Balancescourse, serve as a welcome to the department. The department chair, representativesfrom all departmental student groups and I extend our welcome, and provide informationof how we can assist them. Students then complete forms letting us know their

Conference Session

Focus on Capstone Experiences in the Chemical Engineering Curriculum

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Philip H. Harding, Oregon State University; Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

experimental • Background research • Dependent variables plan (description, nomenclature, units, expected values)Student teams undertake two unit operations projects separated by a project management Page 22.431.8fundamentals project performed during laboratory time (see Figure 4). Laboratory preparation isfurther reinforced by having student teams prepare partial reports after their first laboratoryperiod working with a particular unit operation project. Specifically, they submit an abstractdraft, Background

Conference Session

Focus on Capstone Experiences in the Chemical Engineering Curriculum

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rebecca K. Toghiani, Mississippi State University; Carlen Henington, Mississippi State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

evaluation of student understanding through use of multiplechoice/fill in the blank questions. Performance on these evaluations will be captured using ascore that may be submitted for credit. This coming semester (Fall 2011), the module will bedeployed as a self-paced instructional unit with assessment of student performance using themyCourses platform. Plans are to provide the refined module to other educators wishing toincorporate the content into their courses. The modular format allows the content to be readilyincorporated into a variety of courses in the chemical engineering curriculum in addition tochemical reactor design, including process or plant design, advanced separations, or an electivefocused on process intensification

Conference Session

ABET and Curriculum-Level Assessments

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

PhD Valeriy Solomonov, Lomonosov Moscow State Academy of Fine Chemical Technology (MITHT); Olga Belyaeva, Ph.D., Lomonosov Moscow State Academy of Fine Chemical Technology (MITHT); Alla Frolkova, Lomonosov Moscow State Academy of Fine Chemical Technology (MITHT)

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

presuppose deep scientific knowledge of physical and chemical laws,molecular and quantum chemistry, fine technologies, models based on types of interaction,thermodynamic, kinetic and mathematical regularities as well as on modern computertechnologies and programs.Multi-level structure of educational programs in Lomonosov Moscow State Academy of FineChemical Technology (MITHT)The multi-level education system for chemical engineers has been tested and developed for20 years since 1991 up to the present in Lomonosov Moscow State Academy of FineChemical Technology3. The former system consisted in the linear professional curriculacovering five and a half years. Such curricula were successfully realized in the former SovietUnion under conditions of a plan

Conference Session

Emerging Areas: Biotechnology, Microtechnology, and Energy

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Arthur Felse, Northwestern University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

through a cylinder: Page 22.466.8Solute transport in the Mass and fluid transportglomeruli through poresFarheus effect in Segregated fluid flow in pipesblood flow (marginal zone theory)Generalized model Mass flow balancefor drug transport inan organ For vascular space: For interstitial space: For cellular space: Overall mass transport: Page 22.466.9Future plans:Future plans for this course include: (i) Adding guest lectures by medical school

Conference Session

Focus on Capstone Experiences in the Chemical Engineering Curriculum

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Daniel Lepek, The Cooper Union; Richard J. Stock, Cooper Union

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

statement of its significance, that is, what problem or opportunity the action would address) 3. Background (summarizes what has been done to date that has led to the proposed course of action) 4. Solution or Plan (what would be done? how? where?, methods and procedures, expected outcomes) 5. Qualifications (brief bios of the primary team, establishing their competence to carry out the proposed action) 6. Conclusion or SummaryAppendices: i) Budget (realistic, as complete and detailed as possible, including overhead costs, but also economical, bearing in mind that a proposal may be in competition for funds from other proposals) ii) Schedule (anticipated dates for each stage of the process and its

Conference Session

Poster Sessions for Unit Operations Lab Bazaar and Tenure-Track Faculty

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael E. Prudich, Ohio University; Daina Briedis, Michigan State University; Robert Y. Ofoli, Michigan State University; Robert B. Barat, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Norman W. Loney, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Ali Pilehvari, P.E., Texas A&M University, Kingsville; Michael J. Elsass, University of Dayton; Robert J. Wilkens, University of Dayton; Danilo Pozzo, University of Washington; Jim Pfaendtner, University of Washington; William B. Baratuci, University of Washington; Jim Henry, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga; Bridget R. Rogers, Vanderbilt University; John F. Sandell, Michigan Technological University; Adrienne R. Minerick, Michigan Technological University; Jason M. Keith, Michigan Technological University; Horacio Adrian Duarte, Texas A&M University, Kingsville; David W. Caspary, Michigan Technological University; Charles Nuttelman, University of Colorado, Boulder; Pablo LaValle, University of Michigan; Naoko Ellis, University of British Columbia; Sergio Mendez, California State University, Long Beach; Arne Biermans, University of Washington

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

lose it” prevailed.The faculty responded to this situation by re-designing our undergraduate unit operations courseto include both statistics content and its direct application in the planning of laboratoryexperiments and analysis of data.The original junior-level three-credit course was comprised of two hours of lab (two 2 ½-hoursessions per week) and one hour of lecture. The course included a good blend of traditional andmodern experiments and lecture topics on lab safety, writing skills, professionalism and ethics,and a token discussion of statistics and experimental design. When a one-credit junior seminarcourse, “Chemical Engineering as a Profession,” was introduced in our curriculum, studentslearned about many of the professional topics

Conference Session

ABET and Curriculum-Level Assessments

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Karyn L. Biasca, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point; Steve Hill, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

to fill out a short evaluation form to provide information on student performanceduring their internships. Although supervisors were diligent about providing evaluations werequested, a sense of uneasiness remained about assessment of these internships.Our continuing concern about granting academic credit (and a grade) for internship work aboutwhich we had little knowledge led to development of a new plan to assess students duringinternships.A Different ApproachDuring faculty discussions on how to deal with this issue, we agreed that the internship is a veryimportant part of our students’ education. The question that arose was “Why?” What do theseinternships add to the required coursework that is so valuable? Put another way, what are

Conference Session

SPECIAL SESSION: Educational Methods and Tools to Encourage Conceptual Learning I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dan Cernusca, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Daniel Forciniti, Missouri University of Science & Technology

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering, Educational Research and Methods

; 3) coaching through deliberate and planned feedback to guide students performance as they move from novice to expert level, and 4) fading of support, by removing the existing scaffolds as students become more competent;This redesign activity focused on both classroom activities and the development of supportingmaterials that students could use outside the classroom. The process started with identifyingclassroom activities that match various stages of the cognitive apprenticeship and, when neededredesign them to better address the goals of each stage. Page 22.891.3For some of these activities, we developed supporting materials

Conference Session

Emerging Areas: Biotechnology, Microtechnology, and Energy

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Arthur Felse, Northwestern University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

" = incidental component (< 5%) Page 22.1393.9Future plans:This course has been and will continuously evolve to satisfy instructional needs of non-chemicalengineers. Immediate future plans are: (i) inclusion of a web-based virtual lab module to conductexperiments and analyze data, (ii) inclusion of CHE lab tours and mini field trips to give studentsa better perspective on engineering concepts, and (iii) expanding the ethics component.References:1. AIChE100: A Century of Achievement-Vision for the Future: 1908-2008, Chapter 25. http://www.aiche.org/uploadedFiles/About/Centennial/Books/100/AIChE_A_Century_of_Achievements_Chap 25.pdf. Last accessed

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering in Silico

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Erick J. Nefcy, Oregon State University; Philip H. Harding, Oregon State University; Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

could be considered avisual model component.The Virtual CVD Laboratory Project investigated in this study was not designed as a technologyreplacement for a traditional laboratory experience. Rather, it affords the opportunity for studentsto experience thinking and solving problems that are industrially situated and are not available incurrent university curricula. Because the experiments are virtual, they are easy and quick forstudents to perform. This aspect affords students unusual depth of thought as they are notconstrained by the haptic elements needed to make measurements but rather are able to plan runsand analyze results in the iterative experimental design process. In this way, it is not the directinteraction with the virtual laboratory

Conference Session

Focus on Entry Experiences in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Catherine E. Brawner, Research Triangle Educational Consultants; Susan M. Lord, University of San Diego; Matthew W. Ohland, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

have. … So I decided to get a degree in chemical engineering so if one day I have to go back to med school, I would go. (B1) I originally wanted to do premed, but then, my uncle who’s an engineer kinda talked me out of it. He was like, well, what if you don’t get into medical school your first year? What are you gonna do? And he was like, if you come to engineering, you’ll get all the credentials that you need in order to go into medicine, but you’ll also have a fallback if you decide that’s not what you want to do, or …if you want to take a break, or something like that. So, he kinda persuaded me. Moderator – And are you still planning to go to med school? I’m thinking I want to take a

Conference Session

Emerging Areas: Biotechnology, Microtechnology, and Energy

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Polly R. Piergiovanni, Lafayette College

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

students gave several presentations on various topics. We were also fortunate to be invited to tour a nearby pigment plant, where the students saw full size examples of the unit operations and safety measures we had discussed.LaboratoriesThe students met in the laboratory on Fridays for two hours for different activities.About half the activities were done individually, and half done in a group of two or three(with each group including at least one engineer). The exercises are described below. Inaddition, I had planned to have the students extract indigo from the plant leaves, but I wasunable to keep my plants alive through the Pennsylvania winter. Dead plants do not yieldmeasurable indigo. 1. Natural dyes and the necessity of mordants: Each

Conference Session

Poster Sessions for Unit Operations Lab Bazaar and Tenure-Track Faculty

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Jefferson Baird, University of Pittsburgh; Schohn L. Shannon, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

– the opposite of what might be expected as students should develop greaterexperimental acumen as they perform more experiments. One reason may be that juniors mayfeel that they are confined by the structured labs, thereby limiting their perceived improvementin experimental design capability.Overall, all student answers tended towards agreement and strong agreement to the posed Likertscale questions with little disagreement. These favorable results, along with a substantial numberof positive open-answer responses, indicate that the majority of students believe that the Pillarlab course structure has value in their chemical engineering education.Future WorkThis Likert scale survey is an initial study of a planned longer study that will follow