The lab component of a fluid mechanics course permits a great opportunity for students to engage with course material. These labs can take many forms including field trips, guided inquiry exercises, formulaic lab exercises, practical/hands-on skill development, CFD and design-build-test projects to name a few. Previous literature on self-determination theory suggests that many positive results can be gained by giving students a choice in their studies. Related literature on the importance of curiosity in students suggests similar benefits. This paper describes a multi-week lab experience where students were given the opportunity to study anything remotely related to fluid mechanics with very few restrictions on implementation. The project goals were proposed by a student, or a team of two students, and then refined with the assistance of the course instructor to ensure proper scope. Pre-project surveys were used to gage the importance students place on studying material which is of personal interest and to determine how other parts of the undergraduate curriculum match up with student interest. Post-project surveys were used to gather input on the student experience of completing the curiosity project. This paper details the results from the various assessments and discusses feedback from the course instructor, lab instructors and students relating to project implementation, opportunities for improvement and some of the advantages of such a lab experience.
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ASME 2017 Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting
July 30–August 3, 2017
Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Fluids Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5808-0
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Open-Ended Curiosity-Driven Fluids Lab Project
Thomas G. Shepard,
Thomas G. Shepard
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
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Christopher Haas,
Christopher Haas
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
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Rajagopala Menon
Rajagopala Menon
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
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Thomas G. Shepard
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
Christopher Haas
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
Rajagopala Menon
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
Paper No:
FEDSM2017-69211, V002T17A003; 8 pages
Published Online:
October 24, 2017
Citation
Shepard, TG, Haas, C, & Menon, R. "Open-Ended Curiosity-Driven Fluids Lab Project." Proceedings of the ASME 2017 Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting. Volume 2, Fora: Cavitation and Multiphase Flow; Advances in Fluids Engineering Education. Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA. July 30–August 3, 2017. V002T17A003. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/FEDSM2017-69211
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