Math Doesn’t Need to Be Hard: Integrating Experiential Learning and Interactive Online Resources for Chemical Engineering

TitleMath Doesn’t Need to Be Hard: Integrating Experiential Learning and Interactive Online Resources for Chemical Engineering
Faculty/College/UnitApplied Science
StatusCompleted
Duration3 Years
Initiation04/01/2018
Completion05/01/2022
Project Summary

Two of the most computationally intensive courses in chemical engineering are reactor design (CHBE 355) and process control (CHBE 356). Undergraduates with limited mathematical knowledge have difficulty understanding core concepts. The design and implementation of modern, real-world process systems require programming skills and problem-solving proficiency. Graduates with only spreadsheet skills and limited programming abilities are uncompetitive in the job market. To address these issues, we propose creating open-source and interactive course content using Jupyter Notebooks and implementing a collaborative final design project. The online notebooks will integrate text, equations, and code in a productive, visual environment that supports active learning. Tight integration of Python programming in these courses will simultaneously teach students modern software tools and programming practices in solving engineering problems. The design project will integrate concepts from CHBE 355 and CHBE 356 as well as other curricular courses.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2018/2019
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorBhushan Gopaluni
Year 1: Funded Amount33,545
Year 1: Team Members

Bhushan Gopaluni, Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering / Associate Dean, Education and Professional Development, Faculty of Applied Science
Vikramaditya Yadav, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Jonathan Verrett, Instructor I, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science

Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2019/2020
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorBhushan Gopaluni
Year 2: Funded Amount12,785
Year 2: Team Members

Bhushan Gopaluni, Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering / Associate Dean, Education and Professional Development, Faculty of Applied Science
Vikramaditya Yadav, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Jonathan Verrett, Instructor I, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science

Year 2: TLEF ShowcaseYear 2: TLEF Showcase
Year 3: Project YearYear 3
Year 3: Funding Year2020/2021
Year 3: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 3: Principal InvestigatorBhushan Gopaluni
Year 3: Funded Amount3,651
Year 3: Team Members

Bhushan Gopaluni, Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering / Associate Dean, Education and Professional Development, Faculty of Applied Science
Yankai Cao, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Jonathan Verrett, Instructor I, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Vikramaditya Yadav, Associate Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science

Project Report2020-TLEF-Final-Report-Gopaluni-WEB.pdf