(78b) Propagation of Hands-on Desktop Learning Pedagogy across Institution and Program Types

Low Cost Desktop Learning Modules (LC-DLMs) were created at Washington State University (WSU) within the Chemical Engineering program to aid in student comprehension of a variety of engineering concepts. The LC-DLMs are hands-on apparatuses that can be used to represent the theories behind process units seen in industry. Activities associated with the modules may be used to supplement lecture material. Although the LC-DLMs have been proven to work within the initial classroom setting, the pedagogy will not reach its full potential without translating to other disciplines and outside institutions. Because of demonstration through the initial years of testing at WSU, the engineering education community has gained awareness of the LC-DLMs, but the next step requires propagation of this learning method. Although the terms “propagation” and “dissemination” are commonly used interchangeably, they act as two separate steps that lead to the overarching goal of adoption; dissemination is the sharing of methods, while propagation is successful use of such methods by professors in other disciplines and at outside institutions. Teaching seminars, online platforms, and instructional videos are a few methods considered to ease the transition of a new implementation into the course curricula at beta institutions. To test the translatability of the LC-DLMs a set of modules were implemented within chemical engineering and/or mechanical engineering at WSU, the University of Kentucky – Lexington and Paducah, University of Central Oklahoma, and University of Idaho. In this study, student assessment results from the beta implementations will be presented, as well as instructor feedback on ease of use.