Session: 10-05-01: Applied Mechanics, Dynamic Systems, Experimental and Computational Methods, Modeling and Virtual Simulations of Dynamic Structures, Advanced Materials and Testing

Paper Number: 172645

Wind Energy Graduate Course to Support Hands-on Experiential Learning: Appalachian State Wind Farm 

Emphasis on graduate-level courses and research experience has been at the fore as Appalachian State earned R2 designation. The Appalachian State Wind Farm in the Innovation District Campus now has two Vestas V47 wind turbines in addition to an NPS 100 kW (Type 4) wind turbine installed in 2009 as part of a zero-carbon energy campus. This on-campus energy infrastructure has opened teaching and research pathways for students across departments and colleges. In this technical presentation, we summarize our ongoing efforts and experiences to develop a new graduate level wind energy course that emphasizes hands-on experiential learning. The collaborative graduate course encompasses project development, engineering technology, economics, instrumentation, data analytics AI, and energy policy. We aspire to leverage the knowledge and expertise of our faculty across departments and alumni alike to impart the future workforce with critical experiences and best practices of the renewable energy industry and sustainability.

We propose to design a dedicated graduate-level wind energy course leveraging the expert elicitation techniques, experience of similar programs in other universities, and evolving market trends. There are several graduate-level wind courses available in the public domain, e.g. WindU supported by NSF. However, we desire to optimize course content and lesson plans to reflect our local scope, constraints, and opportunities. The Appalachian State Wind Farm presents an opportunity to design a new course dedicated to graduate students without the need to reshuffle learning modules of the current course to satisfy the needs of both undergraduate and master's students.

The proposed graduate wind energy curriculum consists of classroom lectures, case studies, laboratory activities, field visits, and guest speakers. Our on-campus wind farm infrastructure, as a part of the Innovation District’s zero-carbon energy system, facilitates study of a local solution with a global impact. The new wind energy course will include about 12 learning modules. The objective of the course is to teach students problem solving, teamwork and marketable skills so that they can be successful in their career in a changing landscape. As a terminal master's program, our students are focused on employment in the renewable energy industry and acquiring the skills to advance in their careers. This new course aims to capture this spirit in design and delivery, utilizing hands-on experiential learning.

Extending hands-on experiential learning to a graduate-level program demands collaborative courses that leverage the knowledge and expertise of faculty across departments and colleges, and external organizations (industry partners and alumni) of the university. Such an integrated approach to course design resonates with the current quality enhancement plan (QEP) of the university - climate literacy - and such a course might inspire and challenge graduate students to excel in the workforce, research, or other career goals.  We hope to continuously improve this course following input from the wider engineering education community.

Presenting Author: Ram Poudel Appalachian State University

Presenting Author Biography: Ram Poudel is an assistant professor at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.

Authors:

Ram Poudel Appalachian State University
Brain Raichle Appalachian State University
Jim Dees Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics