Enhancement of the Engineering Measurements Laboratory for Semester Conversion

This work will discuss the enhancements made to the Engineering Measurements Laboratory at the Rochester Institute of Technology during a conversion from a quarter-based to a semesterbased calendar. This conversion increased the duration of the course from 10 to 15 weeks. As a result, the syllabus was expanded to include an additional independent study lab that focused on experimental design. In this independent study, students were tasked with the characterization of a system by (1) identifying a practical real world engineering system, (2) performing multiple experimental trials under multiple operating conditions, and (3) analyzing the results. The addition of multiple data sets at multiple conditions gave students an appreciation for statistical analysis of measurement uncertainty and repeatability. In addition to the change in the content of the course, the Toyota A3 report format was used for all labs to expose students to a wider variety of tools for technical communication and to foster a spirit of creative and innovative problem solving. This paper will present data regarding student performance, feedback from students and instructors, and recommendations for similar efforts.