Chemical Engineering Screencasts

Authors

  • John L. Falconer University of Colorado
  • Garret D. Nicodemus University of Colorado
  • Janet deGrazia University of Colorado
  • J. Will Medlin University of Colorado

Abstract

Screencasts are videos made by digitally recording a computer screen (often a Tablet PC that can be written on) with accompanying narration. More than 430 screencasts are available online for chemical engineering courses (engineering calculations (computing), material and energy balances, fluids, heat transfer, thermodynamics, kinetics/reactor design, and separations/mass transfer) at and on iTunesU. These screencasts have been watched more than 43,000 times in their first year of availability and downloaded more than 41,000 times from iTunes U. Screencasts can be prepared quickly and used to present solutions to example problems, software tutorials, exam reviews, explanations of concepts, and mini-lectures. Most are less than 10 minutes in length, and many are about 5 minutes long. Feedback from students in a number of courses has been overwhelmingly positive; students indicated that the screencasts were extremely helpful for learning. They also have the potential to save instructor time. These screencasts can be viewed on computers, tablets, or smartphones.

Author Biographies

John L. Falconer, University of Colorado

John L. Falconer is the Mel and Virginia Clark Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and a President's Teaching Scholar at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research interests include zeolite membranes, heterogeneous catalysis, photocatalysis, and atomic and molecular deposition. He teaches kinetics and thermodynamics courses.

Garret D. Nicodemus, University of Colorado

Garret D. Nicodemus is a post-doctoral researcher in the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at the University of Colorado. He has taught a course in material and energy balances and has been involved in developing conceptests and screencasts for chemical engineering courses. His research interests include tissue engineering and polymeric materials for membranes in gas separations.

Janet deGrazia, University of Colorado

Janet deGrazia is a senior instructor in the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at the University of Colorado. She teaches a number of courses in the department including a course on technology for non-engineers. As chair of the Undergraduate Committee, her interests lie in curricular innovations and the use of technology in education. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in chemical engineering.

J. Will Medlin, University of Colorado

Will Medlin is an associate professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the ConocoPhillips Faculty Fellow at the University of Colorado. He teaches courses in kinetics, thermodynamics, and material and energy balances. His research interests are in the area of surface science and heterogeneous catalysis.

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Published

2012-01-01

Issue

Vol. 46 No. 1 (2012): Winter 2012

Section

Manuscripts