Different approaches to teach thermal analysis; roles of undergraduate students: trainee, tutor and designer

摘要

To provide future engineers with first-hand working knowledge on the thermal behavior of materials (such as polymers, metals, ceramics and even organic substances like foodstuffs or pharmaceuticals), it is necessary to design learning experiences that develop both transferable and disciplinary skills. This can be achieved by walking them through a thorough and comprehensive process that includes the fundamental scientific concepts and elements of experimental methodology, data acquisition and analysis. With this objective in mind, we designed a program at our institution in which students and faculty are involved in the construction of portable thermal characterization devices, an activity that provides fitting scenarios for developing different of cognitive and analytical competencies and experimental skills. Through their involvement in this research-based learning, students come to understand the thermal characterization of materials. In addition, they develop data-acquisition skills, learn graphic programming and how to construct equipment for the characterization of materials. The students can achieve different levels of expertise depending on their roles and involvement with the use and development of instrumentation for evaluating the thermal properties of materials. The students who participated in the learning process of thermal analysis were able to change roles-they may have started as trainees and then went on to become either tutors or designers of instruments used for thermal characterization.