Session: 09-04-02: Fluid Mechanics, Aerospace, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Energy Systems

Paper Number: 97069

97069 - A Case Study of Collaborative Teaching and Learning in Engineering Experimentation: the Hydrostatic Vacuum Tube 

 

An experimentation course in the mechanical engineering program at The Cooper Union in New York, was designed to foster a collaborative learning environment. Like many undergraduate engineering laboratory-based experimentation courses, students are tasked with working in groups to design experiments and prepare detailed technical reports and presentations. This experimentation course having two sections and two instructors facilitates collaboration at the faculty level as well. Not only do the two instructors of each section work together, but some projects in the course have “clients” and “advisors,” which allow for further collaboration with other faculty and in some cases other students involved in adjacent projects at the college. The present study describes the nature of the course, the collaboration, and assessment of student teamwork using the Comprehensive Assessment for Team-Member Effectiveness (CATME) tool.  A case study is detailed for one project utilizing a developed and re-engineered hydrostatic vacuum tube apparatus and assessment of pressures. The elements of co-teaching and faculty collaboration facilitate opportunities for learning in mechanical engineering. The effectiveness of student teams are tracked through student feedback and assessment, with various approaches taken to forming teams and having teams provide peer evaluations. The new test apparatus, the Hydrostatic Vacuum Tube (HVT) previously reported, is being instrumented to include a range of experiments, and multiple ways of assessing the pressure measurements from gauges and transducers and tracking uncertainty with this apparatus. There were two clients on the current project. One client had interest in assessment and calibration of a sensor, while the other client was interested in having a transient pressure measurement for the HVT.  Students use the test stand to calibrate and test a pressure gage under vacuum conditions using a manometer as a standard, along with a pressure gauge and pressure transducer. The goal of the module for the students was to re-develop the instrumented apparatus and assess the transient changes in pressure using multiple approaches. The student work builds on earlier experiments conducted based on the hydrostatic vacuum created as the air pocket expands, and a draining tank experiment. The apparatus is to be developed and instrumented with additional pressure assessment equipment such as a pressure gauge and pressure transducer. The present work provides validation experiments and helps track the transient changes in the pressure. Overall, this study reports on the nature of collaborative work at both the student and instructor level and the use of the thermal fluids apparatus to compare experimental results with theoretical predictions. 

Presenting Author: Kamau Wright Cooper Union

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Kamau Wright is an Assistant Professor at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.

Authors:

Kamau Wright Cooper Union
Wootton David Cooper Union
George Sidebotham Cooper Union
Melody Baglione Cooper Union
Reid Chambers Cooper Union
Jason He Cooper Union
Zachary Potoskie Cooper Union
Lionel Gilliar-Schoenenberger Cooper Union