(221e) Integrating Laboratory Experiments into Chemical Engineering Core Courses

Continuous practice with chemical engineering (ChemE) topics reinforces student learning; and when taught in multiple contexts it is also more likely to lead to true knowledge transfer than simply memorizing information. This process takes time and requires that students see material in a variety of settings over an extended period of time. The senior ChemE laboratory sequence at the University of Kansas has always served to give students a deeper perspective on theory covered in their core chemical engineering classes and recent advancements have been made to improve the integration between the laboratory and preceding fundamental courses.

Three newly commissioned experiments on fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and chemical kinetics were specifically designed for incorporating into the teaching of their junior-level counterpart courses. Mobile design of these experimental systems allows them to be brought into the classroom where students are able to get a close-up look at how practical experiments are conducted. Projects given to the students using data collected in the senior laboratory also introduce concepts of experimental uncertainty, technical report writing, oral communication, teamwork, and leadership skills prior to ever setting foot in the lab.

This presentation will provide an overview on the three experiments used by students in their first chemical engineering laboratory course and their integration into the corresponding junior-level core courses.