Fostering Innovation through an Active Learning Activity Inspired by the Baghdad Battery

摘要

A hands-on activity based on general electrochemistry concepts with the aim at introducing design science elements is presented. The main goals of the activity are to reinforce electrochemical principles while fostering innovation in the students through the assembly and optimization of a voltaic device and subsequent evaluation by powering several light emitting diodes. The voltaic device consists of metal clips that function as electrodes prepared from Cu and Al metal sheets immersed in rice wine in a paint box, which works as the electrolyte. The active learning activity highlights the historical context of energy storage devices, and can be used as a tool for fostering "outside-the-box" thinking in the students, as well as encouraging team collaboration. This active learning activity is suitable for high school students with a background in chemistry, for undergraduate engineering and architecture students, and for general undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory general chemistry course, regardless of their interest in design science.