On Improving “Thought with Hands”

Authors

  • G.K. Sureshkumar Indian Institute of Technology
  • K.C. Khilar Indian Institute of Technology

Abstract

To improve the application of thought in laboratory exercises and to develop many useful skills in undergraduate Chemical Engineering students, a laboratory course consisting of dual-step laboratory exercises and a report of recommendations/innovation from the student was introduced for the fluid mechanics laboratory.  The first step of the dual-step exercise consisted of a standard exercise (concise version) followed by rigorous analysis of the data; the second step consisted of either designing and carrying out a new experiment/addressing a different question with the same/slightly modified experimental set-up, or formulating and testing hypotheses for unexpected trends in the data.  Students worked in groups under the direction of an elected group leader.  The need, details, outcomes, and experiences of the dual-step laboratory exercise/recommendations report are discussed, and some samples of student exercises are presented.  The student and laboratory staff responses are also presented.

Author Biographies

G.K. Sureshkumar, Indian Institute of Technology

G,K, Sureshkumar (G,K,) is currently Associate Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He received his BTech. in Chemical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and his PhD from Drexel University His research interest is free radical-based improvements in the productivity of bioreactors. He can be reached at <gksuresh@che.iitb.ac.in>

K.C. Khilar, Indian Institute of Technology

Karlie C. Khilar is currently Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He earned his BTech degree in Chemical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and his PhD from University of Michigan. He and his students work in nanoparticle production and colloid-associated contaminants transport in porous media.

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Published

2002-09-01

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Manuscripts