Conference Session

New Classrooms, New Challenges II: Assessing Non-traditional Approaches

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas Allen Knotts IV, Brigham Young University; W. Vincent Wilding, Brigham Young University; William G. Pitt, Brigham Young University; Morris D. Argyle, Brigham Young University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

objectives, termed competencies, for each required course in thecurriculum. Each competency was designed to correspond to a specific Program Outcome suchthat assessment of mastery of the course competencies demonstrates achievement of the ProgramOutcomes. For several years, mastery of the competencies has been measured using surveys ofboth faculty and students. The student surveys required each pupil to assess his or her mastery ofeach competency on a scale of 1-5. Though this approach has provided a numerical evaluationof the students’ perceived abilities of each class as a whole, and has ensured minimum standardsare kept, it has proven difficult to glean opportunities for specific improvement from these data,and changes to the curriculum have been

Conference Session

New Ideas for the ChemE Core

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rebecca K. Toghiani, Mississippi State University; Priscilla J. Hill, Mississippi State University; Carlen Henington, Mississippi State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

recently developed separation processes (pressureswing adsorption, pervaporation, gas permeation). Within the module, case studies are used todemonstrate the superior performance of hybrid systems coupling these conventional and morerecently developed separation processes. Page 25.169.3Overview of Separations Course at Mississippi State UniversityThe junior level separations course is taught on a traditional semester. The text used isSeparation Process Engineering: Includes Mass Transfer Analysis [20]. Topics included in thecourse are shown in Table 1.This course is taught on a 14.5 week semester, so covering the given topics is a

Conference Session

ChemE Potpourri

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey R. Seay, University of Kentucky; David L. Silverstein, University of Kentucky

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

energy content per unit volume due to both differences in densityand energy content on a molecular basis. The calculation of higher heating value is incorporatedinto the module to illustrate this concept. Next, the concept of thermodynamic cycles is introduced. Most internal combustionengines used for transportation operate on either the Diesel or Otto cycle. These cycles arecovered in detail in the module and cycle efficiency and turbo charging is discussed. The effectof engine configuration on fuel economy is also presented. Page 25.180.3Figure 1. Solar basis of petroleum based and biobased liquid fuelsFigure 1. Solar basiss of petroleum

Conference Session

New Classrooms, New Challenges II: Assessing Non-traditional Approaches

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew Cooper, North Carolina State University; Lisa G. Bullard, North Carolina State University; Steven W. Peretti, North Carolina State University; David F. Ollis, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

as students enter their junior and senior years. A drawback ofwritten assignments is the potential for plagiarism of outside materials by students. Plagiarism isproblematic from an academic perspective for two commonly-cited reasons: (1) the student(s)who plagiarize neither develop associated writing skills nor learn the intended lesson content1,and (2) students within a class where other students are plagiarizing without knowledge of theinstructor may receive comparatively poor grades even though they are learning and developingthe intended skills.Prior to word processing and the Internet, plagiarism required considerable effort: students mustfirst locate a book, article or old report, then write or type the outside text. However, in

Conference Session

Adaptive and Supportive Learning Environments

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Julie E. Sharp, Vanderbilt University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering, Minorities in Engineering

-class training offer these reasons: 1. Students do not always take advantage of the career center for a variety of reasons. Maybe they have a heavy schedule and are pressed for time. Maybe they think they do not need the training. These doubting students often do not realize what they lack. Only after in-class training do they discover what they did not know and needed to learn. 2. Particularly in large schools, sometimes career centers cannot offer intensive training to everyone. For example, some years ago, a career center director spoke to my class and encouraged students to take advantage of the center’s mock interview training. Thinking I was being helpful, I offered extra credit for this activity. About

Conference Session

New Classrooms, New Challenges II: Assessing Non-traditional Approaches

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard L. Zollars, Washington State University; Adam Scott Carter, Washington State University; Christopher Hundhausen, Washington State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

a better means forpromoting discussion during critiquing periods in a studio-based teaching approach. We arecurrently in the process of testing whether student skills are increased more by using the softwarewith the messaging turned on in a traditional teaching approach or by using the software with themessaging turned off but in a studio-based teaching approach.Studio-Based LearningStudio-based learning (SBL) techniques have been used in a variety of disciplines, most notablyin architectural education.1 The technique is rooted in a type of constructivist learning theorycalled sociocultural constructivism.2 The studio-based approach typically encompasses four keysteps (see Figure 1). 3 First, students are given complex and meaningful

Conference Session

New Classrooms, New Challenges II: Assessing Non-traditional Approaches

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University; Kenneth J. Williamson, Oregon State University; Jeffrey A. Nason, Oregon State University; Goran Jovanovic Ph.D., Oregon State University; Chih-hung Chang, Oregon State University; Adam Z. Higgins, Oregon State University; Craig M. Gates, Oregon State University; Richard Mark Roehner, Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

State University. We will provide a description of the studio approach, and analysis ofstudent perception of the first quarter of the widespread studio implementation in three classes:material balances, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. We will also comment on theadministrative support and department culture needed for this type of curricular innovation.The foundation of the studio architecture is based on the demonstrated effectiveness of activelearning pedagogies from the physics education research community. These methods seek topromote a substantially higher level of engagement from students during in-class times. In arecent study, Deslauriers et al.1 studied the effectiveness of active learning reform pedagogiesusing a split design

Conference Session

"Modular" Learning

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew Cooper, North Carolina State University - Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

analysis using the same rote problem-solution procedures specified in the lecture. Thistype of “plug-and-chug” approach only requires students to (1) remember the problem-solutionprocedure, (2) understand how to apply the problem-solution procedure, and (3) apply theprocedure to the given data. While this approach can be used to evaluate students’ application ofstatistical concepts to engineering data, due to its deficiencies students often struggle tounderstand the relationship between statistics and the real-life processes to which they will beapplying statistics in their careers.A particular concept in engineering statistics for which the rote problem-solution approach isespecially poor is the subject of design of experiments (DOE). The DOE

Conference Session

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

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joel J. Versypt, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Ashlee N. Ford Versypt, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

activities for K-12, particularly with Girl Scouts and students from rural areas. Page 23.885.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2013 Mapping Rural Students’ STEM Involvement: Case Studies of Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Enrollment in the States of Illinois and Kansas1. IntroductionMany, including The National Academies 1, President Obama’s Administration 2, and technicalindustry leaders 3, have recently called for improving the participation and performance ofAmerica’s students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to maintain

Conference Session

Adaptive and Supportive Learning Environments

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Shiran Zhavian; James P. Abulencia, Manhattan College

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering, Minorities in Engineering

disciplines of engineering to their students, with the goalof preparing them for the practical, real-world experiences they will encounter in theirprofessional life. Though much of the field includes anecdotes and teaching strategiesthat educators have tried and “worked”, not as much has been done to examine specialpopulations, in particular Deaf engineering students. Most of the research in this areafocuses on the interface between the Deaf student and educator. One study examines theeffect of using sign language interpreting, real-time text, and both [1]. Here, the authorsconclude that providing real-time text produced significantly higher performance fromDeaf students, and that the combination did not produce any greater benefit. Anotherpaper

Conference Session

ChemE Potpourri

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bill Jay Brooks, Oregon State University; Debra Gilbuena, Oregon State University; John L. Falconer, University of Colorado, Boulder; David L. Silverstein, University of Kentucky; Ronald L. Miller, Colorado School of Mines; Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

. Page 25.1054.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2012 Preliminary Development of the AIChE Concept WarehouseIntroductionThe AIChE Concept Warehouse is being developed with the goal of creating a community oflearning within the discipline of chemical engineering (ChE) focused on concept-basedinstruction. Many engineering educators and industry partners emphasize the need for students toapply their knowledge to new and challenging problems.1 In order to do so, our students mustlearn with understanding.2 A lack of conceptual understanding has been shown to severelyrestrict students’ ability to solve new problems, since they do not have the functionalunderstanding to use their knowledge in new

Conference Session

Best. Class. Ever.

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Linda S. Davis, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Deborah Lynn Grubbe P.E., Operations and Safety Solutions, LLC; Ronald Lee Cutshall Sr., R. L. Cutshall Sr., Consulting; Steven J. Swanson; Michael T. Harris, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Arvind Varma, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

assessing the effectiveness ofthe course development in educating our students in the area of process safety management. Thetimeline for the first two years of course development is given below.PSM Course SurveyName: ______________________________ (optional)(Questions 1-3 will assess your current understanding of PSM. Circle your answers.) 1. Which of the following is not an element of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 – Process Safety Management? a. Mechanical Integrity b. Management of Change c. Safety Culture d. Employee Participation 2. What is the most compelling reason for companies to have a strong PSM process? a. They will lose money if a facility shuts down due to an incident. b. Injuries will be prevented and

Conference Session

New Classrooms, New Challenges I: Novel Approaches to Courses

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Arthur Felse, Northwestern University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

a catchphrase. It has become a committed part ofengineering practice. A recent survey conducted by CSC and Chemical Week magazine amongstleaders in the chemical industry showed that about half identified RC to have a positive effect ontheir business, while 75% are retooling their product development to comply with RCregulations5. A significant minority felt that RC has a negative effect on the industry (Figure 1). Retooled product development 75% efforts Increased competitive edge 50% Reduction in overall costs 33% Increased price to customers 25% Decreased competitive edge 17% Increased

Conference Session

Adaptive and Supportive Learning Environments

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brian Robert Dickson, University of Strathclyde

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering, Minorities in Engineering

theory1 was devised by Meredith Belbin to measure the performanceof groups and identify common Team Roles; from studying over 200 teams at HenleyManagement College, UK, he observed individuals appeared to demonstrate a set ofcharacteristics consistently in a group exercise.Belbin asserts that the team roles are not equivalent to personality types, and that unlikepsychometric tests used to sort people into personality traits, the Belbin Self PerceptionInventory (SPI) scores people on how strongly they demonstrate behavioural traits commonlydisplayed in team roles. (See Table 1) A person may and often exhibits strong tendenciestowards multiple roles and typically two of these roles will feature strongly, a “primary” and“secondary” role. Equally

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

economic analysis:Figure 1: Screenshot of the ASPEN model that is provided to the students for the initialevaluation of the effect of changing process conditions. A highly simplified ASPEN model for a bio-ethanol production plant was developed andprovided to the students so they would use it as a basis for analyzing the impact of their resultson the operation of the whole plant. The simulation model contains units that are representativeof all the experiments that students perform in the laboratory. This common framework alsoserves to discuss the full process from a common perspective with all students. One typicalexample for the use of the simulation model is for students to evaluate real-world parameters inthe laboratory (e.g. actual

Conference Session

SPECIAL SESSION: Interdisciplinary Course Design Opportunities for Chemical Engineers

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey A Nason, Oregon State University; Bill J. Brooks, Oregon State University; Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

ofchemical, biological, and environmental engineers at the start of a sophomore level materialbalances class: 1. Are student responses to a content specific attitudinal survey (CLASS-Chem) consistent with responses to a general approaches to learning survey (R-SPQ-2F)? Is each survey consistent within itself? Page 22.942.4 2. How does student performance on in-class interactive conceptual questions (WISE) relate to student exam performance. Is student performance related to their reported attitudes and approaches to learning? 3. How do students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the interactive pedagogy correlate to

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

with MIDFIELD. Address: 3504 Corin Court, Raleigh, NC, 27612-4100. Telephone: (+1) 919.782.4427. Email: rtecinc@bellsouth.netSusan M. Lord, University of San Diego Susan M. Lord received a B.S. from Cornell University and the M.S. and Ph.D. from Stanford Univer- sity. She is currently Professor and Coordinator of Electrical Engineering at the University of San Diego. Her teaching and research interests include electronics, optoelectronics, materials science, first year engi- neering courses, feminist and liberative pedagogies, and student autonomy. Dr. Lord served as General Co-Chair of the 2006 Frontiers in Education Conference. She has been awarded NSF CAREER and ILI grants. She is currently working on a

Conference Session

Focus on Entry Experiences in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brian J. Anderson, West Virginia University; Robin S. Hissam, West Virginia University; Joseph A. Shaeiwitz, West Virginia University; Richard Turton, West Virginia University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

developed that are suitable for undergraduates at all levels, from freshman through seniors. Two of these problems will be described in this paper, two have been described elsewhere,1 and many others are available on the web.2 Sophisticated mathematical techniques are not involved; instead a pedagogy is described that requires students to identify the trends of the components of the objective function and to understand how trade-offs between these components lead to the existence of the optimum. The ability to solve “routine” optimization problems has been simplified by advances in computing power over the last generation. Earlier editions of current design textbooks3 presented a sequence of optimization techniques aimed at minimizing the number of

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

(Accreditation Board of Engineering andTechnology) are now asking Schools of Engineering and Schools of Computer Sciences in post-secondary institutions to meet criteria for accreditation that focus on outcomes at all levels,including program outcomes.ABET EC 2000 has eight criteria, including Program Educational Objectives (Criterion 2), andProgram Outcomes and Assessment (Criterion 3), both of which tie to Continuous Improvement(Criterion 4) 1. According to the ABET criteria, the focus of an institution’s assessment effortsshould be on the systematic measurement of student learning outcomes. As a result, outcomesassessment and continuous program improvement should become essential elements ofeducational programs. An outcome-driven assessment system

Conference Session

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

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nancy K. Lape, Harvey Mudd College

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering, Educational Research and Methods

du Genie Chimique (CNRS), ENSIC-INPL in Nancy, France. Page 22.1525.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2011 Tiered Scaffolding of Problem-Based Learning Techniques in a Thermodynamics CourseAbstract:Problem-Based Learning (PBL) holds the promise of training students to tackle ill-defined, ill-structured problems and enhance transference of student knowledge fromtypical classroom activities to real-world design and analysis. However, some educationalresearchers (e.g. Kirschner, Sweller et. al.1, 2) contend that minimal guidance techniquessuch as PBL fail to

Conference Session

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

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University; Ronald L. Miller, Colorado School of Mines; John L. Falconer P.E., University of Colorado, Boulder; Michael J. Prince, Bucknell University; Margot A. Vigeant, Bucknell University; Stephen J. Krause, Arizona State University; David L. Silverstein, University of Kentucky

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

Effective concept questionschallenge students with qualitative questions that cannot be answered by memorization.There is interest in applying these methods to engineering education. For example, a search ofASEE conference proceedings over the past 15 years shows 24 papers with a title includingconcept inventory or concept inventories and 17 papers with peer instruction, clickers orresponse systems in the title. This special session combines speakers who have developedconceptual questions and applied them to Concept Inventories or to Peer Instruction in chemicalengineering and materials science. The objectives of this special session are (1) to develop aricher understanding of conceptual learning by comparing and contrasting these approaches, and(2

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering in Silico

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew W Liberatore, Colorado School of Mines; Charles Russell Vestal, Colorado School of Mines

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

havegrown up with access to computers, the Internet and many other electronics for daily use. Themen and women who make up this demographic are designated as digital natives or the NetGeneration. Numerous studies on the positives and negatives of the technology savvy studentsin education and the work force have been published [1-6]. YouTube Fridays (YTF) began as away to encourage attendance at 8am on Friday mornings during the Fall 2008 semester. The firstfive minutes of class was dedicated to videos related to the professor’s research at the beginningof the semester and the course, namely thermodynamics, for the remainder of the semester. Aftershowing the videos, a short discussion on the videos relationship to the course topics followed.The

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

Figure 1. Figure 1. Combining Separation with Reaction Module Content.Moving Bed TechnologyAn introduction to moving bed technology is provided. The basic configuration of a moving bedprocess is shown, along with the flow paths of the liquid and solid phases. The majority ofinstruction in undergraduate chemical engineering is focused on transport of liquids throughpiping and delivery systems; thus, the challenges of moving a bed of solid particles aredelineated. These challenges include particle attrition as well as limitations on liquid phase Page 22.1295.4velocity to avoid fluidization of the solid particles. Select screen shots

Conference Session

Emerging Areas: Biotechnology, Microtechnology, and Energy

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Polly R. Piergiovanni, Lafayette College

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

determine what I wanted to communicate to the students; that is, Ineeded to establish learning outcomes. I selected the following objectives:By the end of the semester, students will be able to: 1. Use multiple perspectives to answer important questions about a complicated problem 2. Explain the chemical differences between dyeing with indigo and dyeing with other natural dyes 3. Create a process flow diagram, identify major process equipment and explain briefly how they work 4. Write a technically competent laboratory report on the processes studied 5. Show an understanding of what a professional is and the ethical responsibilities of a professionalEach week, the students spent two hours in class and two hours

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

. Page 22.1319.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2011Special Session: The Impact of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill on Chemical Engineering EducationGulf Coast Oil Spill Clean-up Technologies Using Absorbent Materials Stephanie E. Silliman1, Audrey G. Oldenkamp2, Gail Gerdemann3and Dr. Skip Rochefort2,(1)Chemical Engineering Department, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA,(2) School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis,(3) STEPs Program, Oregon State University, Corvalis, ORIntroductionOn April 20, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded, releasing approximately 210,000gallons of oil per day into the Gulf of Mexico. On July 15, 2010 the

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

improvedtheir abilities in teamwork, time management and communication skills, skills crucial to aprofessional engineer, but often underemphasized in academic settings.Introduction: Students are given the opportunity to learn the essentials of chemical engineeringand to begin to develop their closed ended case based problem-solving skills, writing abilitiesand oral presentation skills. However, many problems facing students in classroom settings arelimited in scope, an issue magnified by the dramatic shift and broadening of scope seen in the jobexpectations of chemical engineers over the past 30 years.1-3 This shift has required chemicalengineers to be integrated with a large number of different fields such as materials science,electrical engineering

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

Individual Written Report (Experiment #1), an Oral Presentation(Experiment #2), and a Poster Presentation (Experiment #3). In addition, a Team Assessment isrequired, in which students evaluate their team members, and is an integral part of the finalcourse grade. During the fall of 2010, the first three weeks were devoted to teaching importantlaboratory skills to the students. These skills include exercises and tutorials related to making Page 22.1578.7solutions from stock solutions, serial dilutions, and pipetting correctly and accurately. Pastexperience has indicated that students struggle with these areas.Lab ModulesE. Coli Growth and

Conference Session

Focus on Entry Experiences in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David F. Ollis, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

of steps, each carefullydelineated to ensure creation of future needed information in a logical sequence. Anexample sequence for an isothermal process appears in Table 1(next page), from FR, pp101-102 (3rd ed). Page 22.1459.2 The process of executing Table 1 steps 1-11 in proper sequence represents a levelof solution complexity not previously encountered in high school or first year science andmathematics courses. It is at first a bit intimidating, and the interconnectedness of stepsrequires a strict sequence approach, without which hazards abound.Table 1Sequence of operations to solve process balances (F & R

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

Experiences in Six Integrated Pillar CoursesAbstractThe NSF-funded “Pillars of Chemical Engineering” program was implemented in 2003 at theUniversity of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, with the traditional undergraduatecourses in chemical engineering restructured into six Pillar or core courses.1 The purpose was todevelop a completely integrated chemical engineering curriculum with one of the six Pillarcourses taught each semester, beginning in the fall of the sophomore year. The Pillars aredesigned to introduce students to engineering fundamentals in mass and energy balances,thermodynamics, kinetics, transport phenomena, process control, and design while providing anaccompanying laboratory experience for each Pillar. These six Pillar

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

course for efficacy at concept demonstration. In a follow-on year, the nextgroups of students were assigned the task to modify the existing desktop modules in order to betterexpose the most salient thermodynamic concepts of the particular desktop module. This paperprovides an update on the approach to this point.IntroductionHands-on learning is an engagement strategy that purports many educational benefits, most notablyan improved concept learning.1 This experiential learning approach is increasingly popular inengineering disciplines across the United States. In fact, a simple search of the term “hands-on” ofthe ASEE Conference Proceedings archive from 1996 – 2010 identified 213 papers with that searchterm in the title alone. These papers are