Conference Session

Computer-Based Learning in Chemical Engineering Courses

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jamie Gomez, University of New Mexico; Vanessa Svihla, University of New Mexico

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

; this includes a two-strand research program focused on (1) authentic assessment, often aided by interactive technology, and (2) design learning, in which she studies engineers designing devices, scientists designing investigations, teachers designing learning experiences and students designing to learn. c American Society for Engineering Education, 2019 Techno-economic modeling as an inquiry-based design activity in a core chemical engineering courseAbstractPurpose. Authentic engineering practice is often introduced to students through engineeringproblem-solving in the classroom. These problems usually have a single, correct answer and failto guide students’ problem framing

Conference Session

Problem Solving and Communication in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Norman W. Loney, University of Cincinnati; Gavin Duffy, Dublin Institute of Technology; Sheryl A. Sorby, University of Cincinnati

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

indicator of success in chemicalengineering problem solving. That is, those students with high levels of spatial ability are betterat problem representation, which enables them to be more successful problem solvers. In thispaper, the project results are presented along with a detailed analysis of student performance onone of the problems.IntroductionAn essential component of engineering identity, problem solving is a skill whose developmentduring an engineering education is required by accrediting bodies [1]. It is widely accepted thatengineers are good problem solvers. Problem solving is not easy; it is a cognitively challengingprocess because a problem, by definition, is novel, has not been seen before, and storedinformation in long term memory

Conference Session

Problem Solving and Communication in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sarah A. Wilson, University of Kentucky

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

industrialcommunication needs.IntroductionPracticing engineers spend on average 64% of their time at work on communication, whether it bethrough formal communication assignments or informal communication amongst co-workers [1].Communication skills are critical to a successful career in engineering but teaching these skillscontinues to be a challenge. In a traditional engineering curriculum, students focus oncommunication of results through formal lab reports and presentations that are directed at expertaudiences (i.e., other students and faculty). These assignments successfully represent technicalunderstanding but are not fully representative of skills required of a bachelor level engineer inindustry. While several studies have looked at how communication is

Conference Session

Problem Solving and Communication in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Uchenna Asogwa, University of Toledo; Matthew W. Liberatore, University of Toledo; Amanda Portis Malefyt, Trine University; Timothy Ryan Duckett, Acumen Research and Evaluation, LLC

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

and energy balances. In the treatment group, students wereassigned ten textbook problems and nine YouTube problems. While the control group obtainedhigher PROCESS scores at the beginning of the study, both groups exhibited similar problem-solving skills near the end. Also, the rigor of student-written YouTube problems was similar totextbook problems related to the same course concepts.IntroductionIn June 2018, over four billion people had access to the Internet, which represents about 55% ofthe world’s population [1]. Almost all current undergraduate students began interacting with digitaltechnology at a young age and today many everyday tasks revolve around utilization of devicessuch as cell phones, tablets, and computers. These students are

Conference Session

Teaching and Assessment in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew W. Liberatore, University of Toledo; Kayla Chapman, University of Toledo

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

to many engineering education discussions, talks, andpublications, e.g., [1-6]. With both individual and meta-studies exhibiting benefits of activelearning for many learners, the interest appears warranted. Despite the evidence, active learninghas not been universally adopted in engineering courses with full-class lectures and statictextbooks still common. If a professor doing disciplinary engineering research does not adapt tonew research in their field, they are left behind. However, if the same professor adopts the samelecture and textbook for decades, little incentive to modernize the classroom is offered at many,research-focused universities. Here, the focus will be innovation at the cross section of activelearning and

Conference Session

Course Design, Course Projects, and Student Perceptions in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Nicolas Hudon, Queen's University; Louise Meunier P.Eng., Queen's University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

. Theproject is supported by surveys on students’ confidence level in problem solving which are usedto adapt our teaching to students’ needs. In the present contribution, an overview of the project isgiven and potential applications of a proposed concept map throughout the curriculum isdiscussed.Introduction The ability to solve problems is key to the success of engineers and engineering studentsalike 1 . However, it has been long recognized that teaching and reinforcing problem solving arecomplex tasks. Many students fail to apply effective problem-solving techniques in tutorials,assignments, and exams, especially in fundamental science courses. Moreover, except indesign-oriented activities, common problem-solving techniques are usually not re

Conference Session

Course Design, Course Projects, and Student Perceptions in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Lucas James Landherr, Northeastern University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

problems, morelecture hours, more textbook reading assignments, more in-class example problems, and more. Allrequests were essentially for optional material that would not be graded, but would provide morematerial for students to practice from. Table 1. Analysis of student feedback in mid-semester evaluations. Semester # of students responding Percent requesting more learning material Spring 2016 35 37% Fall 2016 49 61% Spring 2017 38 39% Fall 2017 74 39% Spring 2018

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering in K-12 and the First Year

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Robert P. Hesketh, Rowan University; Martha Grover, Georgia Institute of Technology; David L. Silverstein P.E., University of Kentucky

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

Education, 2020CACHE/ASEE Survey on Computing in Chemical EngineeringIntroductionCACHE (Computer Aids for Chemical Engineering) Corporation has conducted a survey in 2019on computing in chemical engineering education and industry. Previous surveys were conductedby CACHE of chemical engineers working in industry in 1997 and 2003. In these surveys mostof the questions pertained to chemical engineers working in industry with a limited number ofquestions related to what chemical engineers were taught at universities. In 2001 a survey wasconducted on computing practices in process simulation in chemical engineering education atuniversities [1]. For the 2019 survey CACHE surveyed both chemical engineers in industry andwhat faculty were teaching at

Conference Session

Course Design, Course Projects, and Student Perceptions in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Carl R. F. Lund, University at Buffalo, SUNY

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

using the traditionalapproach by the same instructor between 1986 and 2005. The class sizes ranged from 28 to 58.Overall course scores and grades sometimes include factors such as participation, attendance,etc. that are not direct measures of how well the students met the learning objectives. For thisreason, the combined exams scores, normalized to a 100-point basis, were used here as themeasure of student attainment of the learning objectives. The students’ exams scores are plottedas a function of the percentage of the homework assignments that the students submitted inFigure 1. 100 Exams Score (%) 80 60 40 20

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering in the Junior and Senior Year

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Michael David Mau Barankin, Colorado School of Mines; Kevin J Cash, Colorado School of Mines

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

any interested faculty to seek direct contact by email with any questions orrequests for materials, such as grading rubrics or reading guides.Introduction & BackgroundThe most recent survey of (primarily U.S.) chemical engineering programs in the “How WeTeach” series which focused on the Senior Design course took place in 2013 and revealed that: aplurality (46.8%) of respondents offered a single course (semester or quarter), a similarpercentage of lead instructors are full professors, most draw projects from a combination ofsources including industrial or faculty sponsorship and the AIChE design challenge, and a largeplurality use Turton, et al. for their textbook and Excel & Aspen Plus for software applications inthe course [1]. The

Conference Session

Work in Progress: Assessment, Evaluation and Hands-on Activities

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Justin F Shaffer, Colorado School of Mines; Jordan Lopez, Colorado School of Mines; Alexander Luther Ellis, Colorado School of Mines

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

behavior can be directly tied to their attitudes towards thatbehavior [1, 2]. For example, engineering students likely have strong positive emotions andattitudes towards math which could be a reason that they major in engineering. Positive attitudesor emotions may also impact retention of students in a major, as positive feelings towardsengineering have been shown to be correlated with retention rates in engineering programs [3].This can have important outcomes with regards to diversity in engineering programs as femaleshave been shown to have more negative attitudes or feelings towards engineering than males [4],which may contribute to differences in gender balance in some engineering programs.As attitudes and emotions are important in shaping a

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering in K-12 and the First Year

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Ashlee N Ford Versypt, Oklahoma State University; Daria Khvostichenko, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

water and how they can be used to enhance access topurified drinking water. This lesson is designed to be completed in one 1-hour period with twoexperiments and one physical activity. For more mature students, an inquiry-based experimentalactivity for designing a new filter is also provided. The goal of this paper is to disseminate thelesson plan and all the associated documentation to other educators and to provide some ideas foradapting the lesson to a variety of audiences.IntroductionWater filtration is an engineering process with great societal benefits and clear connections toseveral engineering disciplines. Design and deployment of water filters is a popular topic forengineering service learning courses and trips1-5, philanthropic efforts

Conference Session

Perceptions, Reflections, Collaborations, and Student Support in Chemical Engineering

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Yu Xia, Pennsylvania State University; Stephanie Cutler, Pennsylvania State University; Dawn McFadden, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

UniversityDr. Stephanie Cutler, The Pennsylvania State UniversityProf. Dawn McFadden, The Pennsylvania State University Abstract Working in teams is a vital component within the chemical engineering profession [1]. For senior chemical engineering students, the capstone design course provides an opportunity for students to work in teams to develop their teamwork skills in preparation for their future career. To better emphasize that necessary professional skills, especially teamwork, the Penn State Chemical Engineering capstone design course was redesigned for the 2017-2018 academic year. This paper aims to investigate student perceptions on their teamwork

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering in the Sophomore Year

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Tracy Q Gardner, Colorado School of Mines

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

BiologicalEngineering department. With the help of the school’s teaching and learning center, the coursewas fully designed and built online before day 1 of its inaugural 8-week summer offering andwas continuously facilitated by the instructor throughout the course. Of the 12 students whoattempted the course, all of whom had earned a D, F or W in MEB at least once before, 10passed with a C- or higher, one with a D, and one did not pass. This pass rate, along with quizand exam averages and overall course GPA, were not statistically different than those for both a15-week normal semester F2F and a 6-week summer F2F offering by the same instructor.Student evaluations and comments for the online course were strongly positive, even moresothan for F2F offerings in

Conference Session

Work in Progress: Hands-on Activities

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Negar Beheshti Pour, University of California - Berkeley; David B. Thiessen, Washington State University; Bernard J. Van Wie, Washington State University; Kitana Kaiphanliam, Washington State University; Aminul Islam Khan, Washington State University; Prashanta Dutta, Washington State University; Olivia Reynolds, Washington State University; Katelyn Dahlke, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Olusola Adesope, Washington State University; Olufunso Oje, Washington State University; Jacqueline Gartner Ph.D., Campbell University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

students. We accomplish these goals by using injection molding of see-through plastics and off-the-shelf ancillary componentry to make hydraulic loss, venturi meter, and double-pipe and shell andtube heat exchanger units. Remarkably all of these units behave as anticipated when compared totextbook industrial correlations and representative data will be presented. We will also touch uponrelevant factors being used to assess conceptual growth and motivation and to train faculty through anation-wide hub-and-spoke scheme.Background and MotivationsGolter et al. [1] first developed a set of hands-on classroom systems consisting of small heat exchangersand fluids systems, rack-mounted with small white boards for modeling equations. The concept waslater

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering in the Junior and Senior Year

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Richard Turton P.E., West Virginia University; Fernando V. Lima, West Virginia University; Brent A. Bishop, West Virginia University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

project prepare astudent for their first 1-2 years in process plant operations? It likely requires an integration ofthe process design, process control, and process safety courses to explain the operation ofchemical processes effectively.The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the approaches used by the authors to teachundergraduate students how chemical processes operate and to introduce a series of educationalmodules that address plant operation. The use of a “standard” steady-state simulator, the workhorse of the capstone design course, is unhelpful in teaching about plant operations, rather adynamic simulation of the process is required that possesses many of the features of theoperating plant. Such features include the correct

Conference Session

ChemE Curriculum: Junior, Senior, and Graduate

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Angela R Bielefeldt, University of Colorado, Boulder; Madeline Polmear, University of Colorado, Boulder; Chris Swan, Tufts University; Daniel Knight, University of Colorado, Boulder; Nathan E. Canney

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

deeper and more critical exploration in one or two targetedcourses may provide a combination that yields appropriate student education on ESI.IntroductionChemical engineering students, like all engineers, need to be educated about ethics and societalimpacts (ESI), in order to prepare them for their careers. Accreditation requires this knowledge,with the new ABET criteria 3 outcome (4) acknowledging the interconnected elements of ethicsand societal impacts: “an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities inengineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact ofengineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts” [1]. Inaddition, the Chemical Engineers Body of Knowledge

Conference Session

Works-in-Progress Postcard Session

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joshua A Enszer, University of Delaware

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

diagrams.In this work in progress, we summarize different ways that have already been proposed andimplemented in the literature to evaluate mind maps. Some rubrics view a map holistically, whileothers attempt to deconstruct maps into component pieces, like number of topics or number ofconnections, for scoring. We describe our experiences using some of these approaches inevaluating our own use of mind maps in the classroom.We have collected two years’ worth of mind maps from the University of Delaware’sIntroduction to Chemical Engineering course as part of an end-of-semester exercise that ispresented to students as a final exam preparation activity. We seek to address two questionsusing this activity: (1) Is there any relationship between the quality

Conference Session

ChemE Curriculum: Junior, Senior, and Graduate

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Margot A. Vigeant, Bucknell University; David L. Silverstein P.E., University of Kentucky; Kevin D. Dahm, Rowan University; Laura P. Ford, University of Tulsa; Jennifer Cole, Northwestern University; Lucas James Landherr, Northeastern University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

presents the results of the ninth survey since the reconstitution of the AIChEEducation Division Survey Committee in 2009. These surveys seek to define the state of the artin a given area of undergraduate chemical engineering instruction. Departments use surveyresults to inform curricular discussions and benchmark their program against national trends.Survey results are also useful for instructors as they select topics, software, and instructionalapproaches for their courses. Past surveys have considered first-year programs [1], Kinetics andReactor Design [2], Material and Energy Balances [3], Capstone Design [4], Electives [5],Transport [6], Process Control [7], and the curriculum as a whole [8]. In the coming surveycycle, the survey committee

Conference Session

Hands-On Projects and Demos

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jacob James Elmer, Villanova University; Daniel Adam Kraut, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

interdisciplinary techniquesto enhance the students’ understanding of ChE concepts.Module 1: 3D-Printed Amino Acid Building Blocks to Teach Protein StructureThis first module uses 3D-printed alpha carbon atoms (C) and peptide bond groups (CONH) toshow students how amino acids assemble into peptides and form complex structures simply byrotating the bonds around the alpha carbons. Students can use the models to prepare their ownRamachandran plots or build secondary structures (e.g., alpha helices and beta sheets). No draftingor coding experience is required for this module, but a 3D printer is needed to print the parts.Module 2: 3D-Printed Plate & Frame Heat ExchangersThis module allows students to design, build, and test their own plate & frame

Conference Session

ChemE Curriculum: Freshman and Sophomore

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tracy Q. Gardner, Colorado School of Mines

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

Constructive Learning OpportunitiesAbstractTo set the stage for this paper, please view the following YouTube video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdxEAt91D7k (Kid Snippets: “Math Class”, by BoredShorts TV). This is a perfect demonstration of so many things that frustrate both students andprofessors and also of something my father used to say all the time and that exemplifies whyteaching through “professing” or telling students things, even if you are interacting with themone-on-one as you do it, doesn’t tend to work well:Catch Phrase #1 – “A person convinced against their will is of the same opinion still”Active learning beats passive learning when it comes to students understanding concepts andretaining information and skills – that is clear [1

Conference Session

Novel Classrooms

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Christina Smith, Brown University; Ann Sitomer, Portland State University; Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

problem solvingsessions, creating homework solutions, grading, and holding office hours. GTAs may also findthemselves working within pedagogically sophisticated learning environments such as workingwith small groups of students in a Studio setting, as we have recently reported [1, 2]. Withinthese spaces GTAs are asked to “facilitate” student learning. By “facilitate” we mean that theyare encouraged to shift activity, as much as possible, away from directly showing students howto do their work to asking students questions, eliciting their thinking, and encouraging groupinteractions.As such pedagogical strategies become more complex, the professional development of GTAsbecomes critical. While graduate students are familiar with negotiating a course

Conference Session

Diversity and Global Experiences

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Randy S. Lewis, Brigham Young University; Terri Christiansen Bateman, Brigham Young University; Carol J. Ward, Brigham Young University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

have addressed various aspects of the studentlearning outcomes which are: 1. Problem Solving – Students gain experience in the design process that includes innovative problem solving skills applied to the design and implementation of global projects in developing regions of the world in the context of real needs, constraints, and opportunities. 1 2. Global Engineering – Students demonstrate an appreciation for global aspects of engineering, including social and technical constraints related to design and the importance of sustainability. 3. Teamwork and Leadership – Students demonstrate effective teamwork and leadership skills and an appreciation for other

Conference Session

Novel Classrooms

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jacob James Elmer, Villanova University; Andre Palmer, Ohio State University; Jessica O Winter P.E., Ohio State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

, the studentslearn and perform every step necessary to express fluorescent proteins (e.g. GFP, mCherry) andchromoproteins (e.g. aeBlue, tsPurple, eforRed, et al.) in bacterial and animal cells by completingthe following modules.Module 1: Molecular Genetics & Cloning The course begins with an overview of DNA and different cloning techniques, includingPCR and Circular Polymerase Extension Cloning (CPEC). The first module includes 5 labs, inwhich the students amplify the gene for a colorful chromoprotein with PCR (Lab 1), clone thatgene into an expression plasmid (Lab 2), transform the new plasmid into E. coli (Lab 3), thenextract (Lab 4) and sequence (Lab 5) the plasmid.Module 2: Bacterial Fermentation – Expression of Chromoproteins

Conference Session

ChemE Curriculum: Freshman and Sophomore

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Katherine Rae Tanner, Ohio State University; Rachel Louis Kajfez, Ohio State University; Krista M Kecskemety, Ohio State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

total, 32 complete response sets were included in the analysis fromstudents who answered all three surveys and chose chemical engineering as their major in any ofthe three surveys. These responses were selected to investigate the major selection path ofstudents who opt in and stay in the chemical engineering program by the end of their first year.IntroductionThere is a large body of research concerning how a student chooses a college major, but little ofthis literature narrows down majors beyond concentrations or categories like STEM or NaturalSciences [1]. There has been research into the initial decision of choosing a major with twoprimary focuses: experiences before college and anticipated salary after college [1, 3, 4]. Forexample

Conference Session

Hands-On Projects and Demos

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anthony Butterfield, University of Utah; Katrina My Quyen Le, AMES High School; Kerry Kelly, University of Utah; Pascal Goffin, University of Utah; Thomas Becnel, University of Utah ; Pierre-Emmanuel GAILLARDON, University of Utah

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

, where it may be measured, has been enthusiastic and almost wholly positive.Introduction:Citizen scientist (CS) projects generally engage a large number of non-professional scientists inconducting novel research. Most often, the work conducted depends greatly on recruiting andtraining many amateur researchers to contribute to scientific tasks which would not bemanageable for a typical university research group. Such work may also be referred to as crowd-sourced science, or community science.While engaging the general public in scientific research is not a new concept, the ability toconnect and coordinate vast numbers of volunteers over the internet has facilitated a recent boomin CS work [1]. Several projects have been remarkably successful

Conference Session

ChemE Curriculum: Junior, Senior, and Graduate

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Katharyn E. K. Nottis, Bucknell University; Margot A. Vigeant, Bucknell University; Michael J. Prince, Bucknell University; Amy Frances Golightly, Bucknell University; Carrine Megan Gadoury, Bucknell University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

the total HECI and their respectivesub-tests than those who used computer simulations. This same pattern was seen with conceptarea and gender.Introduction and Background Heat and temperature concepts are found at all levels in the science curricula [9] and arewell-known for creating conceptual difficulties for learners [28]. Carlton [1] found manystudents described temperature as “…a measure of how hot or cold something feels” (p. 102).Others found students believed there is no difference between heat and temperature or that heatis a form of energy [6], [7], [25], [29]. While it could be hypothesized that the more courseworktaken, the greater the conceptual understanding, Jasen and Oberem [9] found that the number ofcourses/semesters

Conference Session

Diversity and Global Experiences

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David DiBiasio, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Kristin Boudreau, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Leslie Dodson, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Curtis Abel, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

-ups based upon patentable or other newtechnology. Instead, it is a much broader approach that challenges students to engage in the “3 C’s”(curiosity, connections, and creating value). EML is an excellent complement to project-based learning,collaborative pedagogies, and other student-centered activities both in and out of class. The KEENframework is summarized in Figure 1. In this paper we describe a unique project that was implemented in the first course in chemicalengineering (material and energy balances). We used the 1980 Titan missile accident in Damascus, AK asa focal point. Our EML module included basic mass balance analysis put in an historical context butextended to include a qualitative chemical process accident case study

Conference Session

ChemE Curriculum: Junior, Senior, and Graduate

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Erick S. Vasquez, University of Dayton; Zachary J. West, University of Dayton; Matthew Dewitt, University of Dayton; Robert J. Wilkens, University of Dayton; Michael J. Elsass, University of Dayton

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

American Society for Engineering Education, 2018 Effective Teamwork Dynamics in a Unit Operations Laboratory Course1. IntroductionThe Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Laboratory is a unique course that relies heavily on acooperative team effort for successful learning that leads to a compelling laboratoryexperience[1-3]. In this course, team assignments play a critical role in the performance of agroup because every laboratory session involves peer interactions, hands-on experimentationfrom start to finish, data analysis and discussion, and a significant amount of writing time, i.e., aworkload that is intentionally more than one individual is expected to manage. The dauntingworkload for this course should

Conference Session

Labs and Experiments

Collection

2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kristen Ann Thompson, Loras College

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

to improve understanding use of these tools.IntroductionOne of the most important things we do in educating engineers is to transfer knowledge offundamental physical principles. In the process of educating, we must then break downmisconceptions. These misconceptions can be difficult to change, requiring overwhelmingevidence or a “crisis” to change from the normal beliefs [1]. In the experiment described below,students use a common water aspirator to drop the pressure of a volatile liquid in a flask. Use ofa relatively large volume that students can touch gives them the experience of using multiplesenses to help bring them to the point of “crisis” in their own theories of what is required tomake a substance boil.While teaching Thermodynamics