Pressure For Fun: A Course Module for Increasing Chemical Engineering Students’ Excitement and Interest in Mechanical Parts

Authors

  • Will J. Scarbrough University of Cape Town
  • Jennifer M. Case University of Cape Town

Abstract

A new module in a first year mechanical drawing course was designed with the primary goal of exciting chemical engineering students about mechanical things. Other goals included increasing student ability and confidence to explain how things work. A variety of high intensity, hands-on, facilitated group activities using pumps and valves were planned and executed and are described in detail in this article. Results from a before-and-after Likert-type survey suggest that the course module succeeded in its objectives.

Author Biographies

Will J. Scarbrough, University of Cape Town

Will J. Scarbrough is currently a postgraduate in the Engineering Education Research Group within the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town. He was appointed as lecturer/course organizer for the duration of this module. Previous experience includes work in inspiration and excitement through the robotics programs of F.I.R.S.T. , a nonprofit based in the United States. He received his A.B. in engineering sciences with a minor in education from Dartmouth College in 1998. His research interests include science and technology education, inspiration, and classroom knowledge networks.

Jennifer M. Case, University of Cape Town

Jennifer M. Case is a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town, with a research focus on educational development. Her early career experience was in teaching high school mathematics and science, and she subsequently completed an M.Ed. in science education at the University of Leeds and a Ph.D. at Monash University. Her research interests are in student learning, with a focus on improving the success of students from nontraditional backgrounds. She lectures in the junior undergraduate program.

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Published

2006-09-01

Issue

Vol. 40 No. 4 (2006): Fall 2006

Section

Manuscripts