Teaching and enhancement of critical thinking skills for undergraduate students in a computational fluid dynamics course

Tian, Zhao Feng

doi:10.1177/0306419016674133

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The harder the brain works, the more powerful the brain becomes and better would be critical thinking and further leading to enhancement of cognitive abilities. Inquiry based techniques are used to enhance critical thinking skills 17 and it is considered as an important skill in higher education 18 . Thus both complement each other.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Critical Thinking on Cognitive Enhancement

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cognitive abilities refer to brain based skills that are required to carry out any task ranging from the simplest to the most complex. Since these skills play a significant role in our day to day activities, efforts are being made by researchers for their further enhancement. The objective of the present study was to investigate if these abilities can be enhanced through a training module on critical thinking. Critical thinking involves something more than cognitive skills. Critical thinking is not static but a constantly evolving process and even more crucial in a military environment. This study consists of certain activities which are designed in such a manner that the solution of it can be generated through critical thinking. These activities were administered on 36 participants (20 male, 16 female). Each Participant’s baseline cognitive performance was assessed after which training was given to them in the form of different critical thinking activities followed by post assessment of cognitive abilities. Paired sample t - test was used which showed that There was a significant difference in the cognitive performance post critical thinking activities.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Critical Thinking on Cognitive Enhancement

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Working with CFD simulations can be a complicated procedure requiring both technical skills and competencies while covering the entire cognitive spectrum in the revised version of Bloom’s taxonomy of learning (Tian, 2017 ). The taxonomy is a prominent framework to effectively identify the learning outcomes.…”

Section: The Virtual Garage Concept: What Matters?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are physics-based numerical tools heavily applied in engineering design and analysis to solve problems in a time cost effective fashion. CFD comprises not only hard skills but also soft and cognitive skills such as critical thinking, decision making, creative problem solving and time management, together with advanced spatial reasoning skills (Tian, 2017 ). Therefore, the educational use of CFD simulations may be essential to prepare young students for real-life settings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An immersive virtual reality learning environment with CFD simulations: Unveiling the Virtual Garage concept

2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Virtual reality has become a significant asset to diversify the existing toolkit supporting engineering education and training. The cognitive and behavioral advantages of virtual reality (VR) can help lecturers reduce entry barriers to concepts that students struggle with. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are imperative tools intensively utilized in the design and analysis of chemical engineering problems. Although CFD simulation tools can be directly applied in engineering education, they bring several challenges in the implementation and operation for both students and lecturers. In this study, we develop the “Virtual Garage” as a task-centered educational VR application with CFD simulations to tackle these challenges. The Virtual Garage is composed of a holistic immersive virtual reality experience to educate students with a real-life engineering problem solved by CFD simulation data. The prototype is tested by graduate students ( n = 24) assessing usability, user experience, task load and simulator sickness via standardized questionnaires together with self-reported metrics and a semi-structured interview. Results show that the Virtual Garage is well-received by participants. We identify features that can further leverage the quality of the VR experience with CFD simulations. Implications are incorporated throughout the study to provide practical guidance for developers and practitioners.

show abstract

“…13,14 Using computer-based models and assignments can help the students understand the basic concepts and develop and apply critical thinking skills. 15,16 Replacing a written exam with assignments, however, could allow students to pass the course with minimal effort. 17 The use of assignments should therefore be combined with a written exam for undergraduate courses in order to truly assess their understanding of the course curriculum.…”

Section: Enhancing Student Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reforming heat and power technology course using student feedback to enhance learning experience

Aslanidou

Zimmerman

Pontika

et al. 2020

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The main outcomes of an engineering course should be for the students to achieve the educational goals, enhance their problem solving capabilities and develop essential skills for their future career. In that context, it is important to understand what motivates the students and what helps them develop an engineering mind-set. This paper discusses the improvement of a course with the use of student feedback to motivate students and help them develop essential skills. The purpose of the paper is to provide insight into how different aspects of the course are linked to the students’ growth. Different activities have been integrated in the course over the past years. The effect these have on the student motivation to follow the course and develop skills, knowledge and interest in the subject is discussed through the analysis of student performance, student feedback and the experience of the lecturers. The improvements in the course based on the student feedback were received positively by the students, whose learning experience improved, even though the workload of the course was high. Their motivation to successfully complete the course has also increased through the changes in the delivery of the course and the support by the teachers. The combination of student feedback and teacher experience is key for the improvement of a course, while ensuring that the students develop their engineering knowledge. Therefore, the teachers should strike a balance between helping the students find the solution and encouraging them to think on their own in order to develop essential skills.

show abstract

Teaching and enhancement of critical thinking skills for undergraduate students in a computational fluid dynamics course

Cited by 10 publications

References 10 publications

Effect of Critical Thinking on Cognitive Enhancement

Effect of Critical Thinking on Cognitive Enhancement

An immersive virtual reality learning environment with CFD simulations: Unveiling the Virtual Garage concept

Reforming heat and power technology course using student feedback to enhance learning experience

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About