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Session 1526

Field Experiences in the Engineering Curriculum Jess Everett, Linda Head, Beena Sukumaran, Joseph Orlins and Kauser Jahan Rowan University

ABSTRACT

Field methods are an important part of engineering often neglected in the undergraduate curriculum. Through the National Science Foundation’s Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) program, the College of Engineering at Rowan University is creating opportunities for undergraduate students to carry out engineering field activities as part of traditional courses and Engineering Clinics. Faculty from Civil and Environmental (CEE), Electrical and Computer (ECE), and Chemical Engineering (ChE) are participating in the project. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the initiative and describe two projects: • A weather station designed and built by a Clinic team of ECE, Mechanical Engineering, and CEE majors; and • Soil sampling and measurement procedures developed by a team of CEE majors.

INTRODUCTION

Field methods are an important part of engineering often ignored in the undergraduate curriculum. Using funds from the National Science Foundation’s Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) program, plus matching funds, the College of Engineering at Rowan University is incorporating field methods, both sampling and measurement, across its engineering curriculum, using • Preplanned field exercises in laboratory components of select courses and modules in Freshman and Sophomore Engineering Clinics, and • Open-ended field exercises as part of Junior and Senior Engineering Clinics.

Faculty from Civil, Chemical, and Electrical Engineering are involved in this project. Field equipment purchased for the project is used to obtain water, air, and soil/sediment samples, measure fundamental soil/sediment, water and atmospheric parameters in the field, and survey / map field sites. Activities supported by the requested equipment are both preplanned and open- ended. In preplanned activities, students complete specific tasks similar to traditional laboratory exercises, except the activities are conducted outside using field equipment. In open-ended activities, undergraduate students determine what media they need to collect and/or what field measurements they need to make to solve open-ended problems. Innovative features of the project are (1) incorporation of field methods into the undergraduate curriculum, (2) integration of activities across disciplines, and (3) open-ended multidisciplinary small-team field activities.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the initiative and to describe two projects:

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2001, American Society for Engineering Education

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Everett, J., & Orlins, J., & Sukumaran, B., & Jahan, K., & Head, L. (2001, June), Field Experiences In The Engineering Curriculum Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--9273