Conference Session

Using Communication and Writing Techniques to Improve Student Learning

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mariajose Castellanos, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Joshua A Enszer, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

included complaints about having to “know” toomany equations, the existence of an apparent disconnect between theory and real worldexamples, and a textbook they do not enjoy using. We believe that focusing on how studentsunderstand their own work with the textbook addresses not only the last complaint, but also theother two, and to that end have modified our thermodynamics course structure with an emphasison reading activities and self-reflection.Now in class, students practice regular reflection through a short weekly assignment that we call“the reflection paragraph,” which supplements the regular problem solving homework. Studentsare instructed to write 200 words to explain what they have learned and to provide evidence ofthat learning. They are

Conference Session

Using Communication and Writing Techniques to Improve Student Learning

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Shannon Ciston, University of California, Berkeley; Sean Poust, University of California-Berkeley

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

capstone design and laboratorycourses. The course runs as a one-semester, stand-alone course (not coupled to a complementarytechnical or laboratory course) with assignments ranging from laboratory reports, design reports,resumes, cover letters, interviews, technical presentations, and project proposals tocommunication with lay audiences. This paper takes a case study approach to examine theevolution of the laboratory report assignment over the course of three semesters. We found thatincorporating additional authenticity into laboratory report writing assignment motivated studentengagement and learning. Midterm and final course evaluations are used as data to reflect on theeffectiveness of three iterations of the assignment:· Fall 2011: Common

Conference Session

Real and Virtual - "New" Approaches to Teaching "Old" Courses

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Daniel D. Burkey, University of Connecticut; Daniel D. Anastasio, University of Connecticut; Aravind Suresh, University of Connecticut

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

generated. These tasks included actions students couldtake during their experiments (such as presenting evidence of intermediate data analysis), duringdata analysis (such as looking up examples in textbooks or asking specific questions to theinstructors), while writing (such as peer editing or taking their draft to the university WritingCenter), and throughout the semester (such as carrying a full experimental design from the firstgroup of the semester to the last).Criterion 3 was difficult to implement at first. It was undesirable to make all of the optional tasksreward XP, which translated directly into points and, hence, grades. Doing so made the optionaltasks feel compulsory, and the extra points might skew the class grades by an

Conference Session

Grasping the "Concept"

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rajesh V Shende, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

collaborative learning activities gives students more opportunities in developingconceptual learning through social interactions among peers. This we can refer to as conceptgroup learning activity.In a group environment, conflicts and controversies are resolved through proper explanation,justification; reflection and search for new knowledge.8 Student groups often come up withmutual support or solution via elaborative help that stimulates reorganization of thoughts andidentification of knowledge gaps thereby generating solution seeking ability among the studentgroup members. These circumstances also help students developing elaborate conceptualunderstanding by making use of new analogies, revisiting and reformulating their knowledge,which becomes more

Conference Session

Real and Virtual - "New" Approaches to Teaching "Old" Courses

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James P Abulencia, Manhattan College; Margot A Vigeant, Bucknell University; David L. Silverstein, University of Kentucky

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

the teaching of concepts in an introductory thermodynamics coursethrough video. This generation of students is technology savvy, and regularly communicates bymeans other than face-to-face interactions (e.g. texting). Additionally, the popularity of sites suchas Khan Academy makes the idea of teaching with video difficult to ignore. Thus, we assert thatthere is value in using this media for instruction, and that this media can be leveraged for use in achemical engineering course. During this study, students will be asked to 1) take a conceptdiscussed during class, and articulate it in video media using everyday examples that otherstudents can relate to (autodidactic learning) 2) watch peer-made videos that teach these concepts(peer-to-peer

Conference Session

Grasping the "Concept"

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Adrienne R Minerick, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

concepts in a clear visual and verbal fashion to readers of the manuscript.A few graduate programs have implemented formal training of students in the research process.Most notable is David F. Ollis’ efforts described in his 1995 article2 in Chemical EngineeringEducation on “The Research Proposition.” Additional U.S. graduate programs include requiredcourses in the curriculum on writing research proposals (University of Oklahoma3) and researchmethods (Michigan Technological University4 and Arizona State University5). Structuredtraining in research methods is also endorsed in international communities such as in ErstaSköndal University College in Stockholm, Sweden6 and National University of Singapore7.However, to the author’s best knowledge, no

Conference Session

Perspectives and Approaches to Teaching Simulation and Design-Based Courses

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David L. Silverstein, University of Kentucky; Lisa G. Bullard, North Carolina State University; Warren D. Seider, University of Pennsylvania; Margot A Vigeant, Bucknell University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

research interests lie in the areas of educational scholarship, including teaching and advising effectiveness, academic integrity, process design instruction, and the integration of writing, speaking, and computing within the curriculum.Dr. Warren D. Seider, University of Pennsylvania Dr. Warren D. Seider is a professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Penn- sylvania. He received a B.S. from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. For many years, he has contributed to the fields of process analysis, simula- tion, design, and control. In process design, he co-authored FLOWTRAN Simulation—An Introduction and Product, and Process Design

Conference Session

Grasping the "Concept"

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sayara Saliyeva, Nazarbayev University; Dinara McLaughlin; Moulay Rachid Babaa, Nazarbayev University; Hella Tokos, Nazarbayev University; Stefaan Jan Rogier Simons, University College London; Sarim Naji Al Zubaidy, Nazarbayev University; Joseph A. Menicucci Jr., Nazarbayev University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

secondment from University College London, a strategic partner of NU. He is now the Director of UCL’s International Energy Policy Institute at their campus in Adelaide, Australia.Prof. Sarim Naji Al Zubaidy, Nazarbayev University Sarim Al-Zubaidy is Vice-Dean (Teaching Learning) at the School of Engineering, Nazarbayev Univer- sity, Kazakhstan. He has over thirty year experience in both senior academic and administrative positions in a variety of higher education institutions around the world. He has authored over 100 peer reviewed articles and technical papers. His expertise ranges from traditional to newly formed universities to those in transition.Dr. Joseph A. Menicucci Jr., Nazarbayev University Joseph A. Menicucci

Conference Session

"How Do We Compare?" - Students, Case Studies, and Learning Approaches

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Allison Godwin, Clemson University; Geoff Potvin, Clemson University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

engineering students. Finally, chemicalengineering students were particularly confident in their abilities to perform tasks related to theirscientific and course activities (write a lab report, interpret experimental results, applyknowledge to an assignment/test, get good grades). Students who choose chemical engineeringover other engineering disciplines come from marginally high socio-economic status.In addition to other factors, chemical engineering students showed a stronger interest and priorperformance in science than other engineers. In light of these findings, this paper explores thisemergent connection between science, specifically chemistry, and chemical engineering majors.In a recent paper, Zhang and colleagues found that, upon leaving

Conference Session

Grasping the "Concept"

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Debra Gilbuena, Oregon State University; Christina Smith, Oregon State University; Bill Jay Brooks, Oregon State University; Talia Sidne Finkelstein, Oregon State University; Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

form of use does not expose students to the site. Even at the basic level of using offline, instructors already using peer instruction or active learning with concept questions need only make minor changes to current practices and the AIChE Concept Warehouse may save them preparation time. 2. Online refers to using the website infrastructure and features. A major benefit of this mode of use is the ability to view results from assignments, which are presented aggregated, tabulated, and archived for later use and are available for download in Microsoft Excel format. If an instructor wants to use more of the features available online, instead of downloading questions they can integrate the use of