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Implementation of Undergraduate Coaches as a Student Resource in a Laboratory Course

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Conference

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Baltimore , Maryland

Publication Date

June 25, 2023

Start Date

June 25, 2023

End Date

June 28, 2023

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering Division (ChED) Technical Session 9: Student Experiences in Laboratory Courses

Tagged Division

Chemical Engineering Division (ChED)

Page Count

11

DOI

10.18260/1-2--43536

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/43536

Download Count

178

Paper Authors

biography

Adam T. Melvin Louisiana State University and A&M College

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Adam Melvin is an Associate Professor in the Cain Department of Chemical Engineering at Louisiana State University. He obtained a BS in Chemical Engineering and a BA in Chemistry from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University.

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Abstract

Recent years has shown increased success in the use of undergraduate students as teaching assistants or supplemental instructors in core chemical engineering courses. While typically utilized in traditional lecture-based courses, there is significant promise in utilizing undergraduate student as a peer resource in lab-based course. This paper summarizes how undergraduate teaching assistants, referred to at X University as coaches, were integrated into a junior level lecture/laboratory course. The course is designed to teach experimental statistics in the lecture component (two days a week) with the students performing experiments on three different unit operations (one day a week) for 3 four-week experimental cycles. The main responsibilities of the coaches were focused in the laboratory component and include student oversight in the lab, help with debugging lab equipment issues, assistance on data analysis and experimental design, and insight on lab instructor expectations. Undergraduate coaches were recruited during the semester and served either one or two semesters prior to graduation. The coaches utilize their experience from the class to help the students and are provided additional training on the unit operations used that semester. Preliminary assessment indicated that the undergraduate coaches were an invaluable student resource providing quick answers to questions and encouragement on difficult assignments.

Melvin, A. T. (2023, June), Implementation of Undergraduate Coaches as a Student Resource in a Laboratory Course Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43536

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