Integrating Experiential Teaching with a Contemporary Chemical Engineering Curriculum

Northeastern University, Boston MA

Investigators

Abstract

Engineering (53) This project is developing a new teaching strategy that utilizes experiential activities simultaneously with open-ended problems to enhance the quality of the chemical engineering curriculum. The Transport/Separations curriculum theme is being redesigned to utilize laboratory and demonstration modules with an experiential strategy that introduces different modes of learning through discovery, development and design (3D approach). In discovery experiments students are discovering a concept related to a principle prior to a detailed explanation in the classroom. In development experiments students are developing techniques to provide feedback to expand an existing experiment that illustrates a principle covered in class. In design experiments, students are designing the experiment to illustrate a principle. New cutting edge technologies (i.e., microfluidics, bioseparation techniques, nanomaterials and electrochemical materials formulations and methodologies) are exciting students and increasing awareness of modern engineering context and careers. An assessment and feedback plan, designed and implemented with the help of an external evaluator, ensures continuous improvement of the module development and implementation. The project is assessing student understanding, retention of knowledge, and awareness of modern chemical engineering context relative to a control group exposed to the standard transport curriculum.