Fundamental Research in Engineering Education — Student Learning in Industrially Situated Virtual Laboratories

Authors

  • Milo D. Koretsky Oregon State University
  • Christine Kelly Oregon State University
  • Edith Gummer Center for Classroom Teaching and Learning, Education Northwest

Abstract

The instructional design and the corresponding research on student learning of two virtual laboratories that provide an engineering task situated in an industrial context are described. In this problem-based learning environment, data are generated dynamically based on each student team’s distinct choices of reactor parameters and measurements. The nature of the experimental design process used by the student teams, changes in their tolerance for ambiguity, the perception of reality in the virtual laboratory, and the progression of model development are discussed.

Author Biographies

Milo D. Koretsky, Oregon State University

Milo Koretsky is an associate professor in the School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering at Oregon State University. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from UC San Diego and his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, all in chemical engineering. He currently has research activity in areas related to thin film materials processing and engineering education and is interested in integrating technology into effective educational practices and in promoting the use of higher-level cognitive skills in engineering problem solving.

Christine Kelly, Oregon State University

Christine Kelly is an associate professor in the School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering at Oregon State University. She received her B.S. degree from the University of Arizona and her Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, both in chemical engineering. She currently has research activity in biological production and use of ligninolytic enzymes in biomass deconstruction for bioproducts and biofuels manufacture.

Edith Gummer, Center for Classroom Teaching and Learning, Education Northwest

Edith Gummer is the director of the Classroom- Focused Research and Evaluation Program for the Center for
Classroom Teaching and Learning at Education Northwest. She received her B.A. degree from Indiana University in biology, M.S. degrees from the State University of New York in biology and in science education, and her Ph.D. from Purdue University in curriculum and instruction. Her interests are in the development of innovative mathematics curricular activities and formative assessment in mathematics problem solving.

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Published

2011-07-01

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 3 (2011): Summer 2011

Section

Manuscripts