Work in progress — Engaging students in thermodynamics with Engineering Scenarios

Abstract

This NSF CCLI Phase II project is focused on addressing improvements in student pedagogy and educational materials for the thermodynamics curriculum.The project intends to complete the development of the "Engineering Scenario" concept as a textbook supplement based on actual engineering facilities and real-world problems. The material is based on an expanded case study format and constructed in a web based format, allowing extensive integration of narrative, pictures, video, and web links to expand the background material. The Phase I project allowed for the development and testing of a single Scenario based on a local plant. Lessons learned from the previous assessment are guiding current development and expansion to include multiple facility types and locations for Phase II. This will be supplemented by input from student focus groups and readability test results.Assessment will occur at multiple institutions and will make use of engagement surveys, concept inventories, and student focus groups.Index Terms -active learning, pedagogies of engagement, problem based learning, thermodynamics.

Measuring student engagement in thermodynamics courses

“…Accompanying supplementary and background information promotes increased inquiry-based or student-centered learning, better addresses student real world expectations, and leads to an increase in overall student engagement. The development of the Engaged in Thermodynamics material has been detailed in a number of papers [2,3]. There is great pedagogical flexibility in allowing varying levels of use by the faculty member.…”

Engaged in Thermodynamics – Bringing It to Industry and the Classroom

“…The assessments also indicated that there was a link between student performance and engagement 1 . Further assessment during Phase 2 demonstrated that the impact was highly dependent on how the material was used and what the overall course format was.…”