Engineering of Everyday Things

The The Engineering of Everyday Things project is an NSF-sponsored Research Project with the goal of improving how engineering students learn core concepts in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer.

We are developing laboratory exercises in which students investigate the behavior of everyday technology -- blenders, hair dryers, bicycle pumps, toasters. The laboratory exercises are based on a guided inquiry approach that seeks to

• engage students in problem-solving as they conduct the experiment, not waiting until they write a lab report;
• expose and correct misperceptions;
• develop the ability to reason qualitatively.

The project demonstrates modern pedagogical practices and the cycle of research-based curriculum improvement. One outcome of this work is the laboratory-tested curricular materials that can easily be replicated at other institutions. The simplicity and low cost of the laboratory hardware will make it feasible for wide spread adoption.

We hypothesize that the inquiry-based approach will increase student learning and increase the ability of students to apply scientific reasoning. We further hypothesize that the hands-on learning experience offered by the laboratory exercises will appeal to students with concrete learning styles. This will improve retention and sustain the interest of a broader range of students than a purely lecture-based presentation.

The project Principle Investigator is Gerry Recktenwald [] in the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department at Portland State University. The co-Principle Investigator is Bob Edwards [] in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department" at Penn State -- Behrend.

The project is funded by a Course Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement grant from the National Science Foundation.